The Fight of the Century

Tyler J. ScottTHE SANTA CLARAApril 30, 2015

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n Saturday, the hyper-anticipated bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will finally be underway.

This is the fight the world has wanted for years, and it is finally going to come to fruition. Boxing fans were beginning to think it would never happen, since there have always been obstacles and intricacies that were standing in the fight’s way, but now it finally is.

“Money” Mayweather comes in with an undefeated 47-0 record and 11 world championships, as well as 26 knockouts. “Pac-Man” Pacquiao comes in with a record of 57-5-2 and 38 KOs.

As Olympic gold medalist and five-weight professional world champion Sugar Ray Leonard said on Monday, “This is more than just a fight. It’s about bragging rights. It’s about legacies. It’s about history. This is one of those mental, psychological, spiritual fights, a fight to make your palms sweat.”

Everyone expects this to be a huge, legacy-defining fight, but this brawl carries even more baggage than anyone thought it could.

Money Mayweather has been accused of domestic violence incidents since 2002. With the undefeated fighter looking to make $100 million from this contest, his history is being brought back to light.

People everywhere are screaming at the injustices of decade-long accusations, saying that no one should buy this fight and support a blatant woman-beater.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has even used this “good versus evil” dynamic to promote the fight.

“(Pacquiao) is really against domestic violence,” he said. “It is a big issue maybe in the Philippines for him and being a congressman he can control some of that stuff. That is a big plus for me that (Pacquiao) does not like the guy, I think the killer instinct is going to come back a lot faster.”

Boxing great Oscar De La Hoya, who has fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao, said that the former wins by “outsmarting” and “outthinking” his opponents. He waits and capitalizes on mistakes. Pac-Man, on the other hand, just keeps coming and coming, like “a fly you can’t shoo away.”

Mayweather’s main criticism is that he has been ducking Pacquiao for years. Unlike every former boxing great, it seemed like he was avoiding a fight against one of the best as to not tarnish his undefeated pedigree.

But he’s no longer running. Before the fight was even a reality, Pacquiao offered to fight him for free, with all of the proceeds going to charity. He has said of Mayweather, “He’s afraid.”

Both of these men’s places in history will be decided on Saturday. The winner will likely join the “Mount Rushmore” of boxing with Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, among others. We’re in for a good one.

Tyler J. Scott is a junior marketing major and the editor of the Sports section.