#360view: Anti-climax a disservice to Floyd

Andy Lewis 03:07 04/05/2015
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  • In command: Mayweather Jr.

    The Mayweather/Pacquiao superfight is finally in the books and the sense of anticlimax is palpable. Oscar De La Hoya felt the need to apologise to fight fans, while the curious situation of Mike Tyson live tweeting the action from ringside ended with his verdict of “underwhelmed”.

    The opinions of those two ring legends were clearly shared by the near 17,000 punters at the MGM Grand Garden Arena who angrily jeered Mayweather as he lapped up his unanimous decision victory.

    Tyson’s social media nit-picking was indicative of the disgruntled consensus, and it all begged the question as to whether anyone had seen Mayweather fight before?

    “My son deserves better,” said Floyd Senior, his father and trainer. “They don’t know boxing, that’s the problem.”

    It’s not very often anyone, anywhere concurs with the largely objectionable elder Floyd but a few might today. Like him or loathe him – and there are many reasons for the latter – Junior was masterful in Las Vegas, a display not too far behind his 2012 dissection of Saul Alvarez at the same venue.

    Floyd does Floyd, and on Saturday he had his gameplan off to a tee. He made full use of his numerous advantages – particularly size and reach – and a scenario widely predicted beforehand unfolded inexorably before our eyes.

    A faded Manny Pacquiao, who later complained of a shoulder injury, tried his best to pressure him but beyond some success in the fourth and sixth rounds and launching the odd skirmish thereafter, it was the American who dictated the pace.

    Mayweather proved again he is a master boxer and it was simply never going to be a slugfest. Instead, a strategic battle played out between the two veterans.

    It smouldered without ever really catching fire, but was intense and compelling viewing at the same time and absolutely nothing like the non-event it has been labelled by some of the knee-jerk condemnations issued in its aftermath.

    Perhaps after five years of build-up, it never really stood a chance. However, for a week boxing has been firmly back in the global spotlight and you can only hope some of the casual fans enticed along for the ride have enjoyed the hype, the cinematic atmosphere that big fights conjure and also appreciated some of the skill on show rather than be contaminated by the subsequent negativity.

    Hopefully a few even tuned in early and witnessed emerging star Vasyl Lomachenko’s insane skillset during his ninth round TKO of Gamalier Rodriguez on the undercard. Indeed, the main event was era-defining for its combatants, but also era-ending for the sport. 

    Mayweather says he’ll only be around for one more fight, scheduled for September, and Pacquiao’s post-fight disclosure of his injury problems compounded the physical deterioration on show in the ring.

    It’s hardly a surprise that a 36-year-old veteran of some 65 bouts – some wars among them – might be failed by his body at such a crucial time.

    The Mayweather/Pacquiao era is near a conclusion, and it is time for a fresh generation of fighters to step into the void. It will take time but hopefully the past week will have persuaded a few new fans to stick around and watch their progress.

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