Showtime/HBO PPV Fight Preview (Main Event)

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao

The fight is finally here.  After five long years of waiting and wondering if it would ever actually happen, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will finally step in the ring against each other.  It took a lot to make this fight happen but boxing heads along with the suddenly interested in boxing sport fans are happy it finally got done.  The fight will be this Saturday on a joint pay-per-view telecast between Showtime and HBO and it is being billed as many things, including "The Super Bowl of Boxing" and "The Fight of the 21st Century."  The fight is scheduled to go 12 rounds and it will be a welterweight unification fight with Mayweather putting up his WBC and WBA titles while Pacquiao puts his WBO title on the line.  Also adding to the intrigue of the fight is the fact that Mayweather is ranked #1 in Big Time Boxing's Top 10 P4P rankings while Pacquiao is on his heels on the #3 spot.

Mayweather is looking to go 48-0

At this point in his legendary career Mayweather doesn't need to change things.  He has been fighting the same way for a long time and it has never failed him.  Mayweather is known as a defensive wizard and when it is all said and done he may go down as the greatest defensive fighter of all-time.  Mayweather's defense is so good because of his excellent footwork and trademark shoulder roll that deflects most oncoming punches.  Along with that defense Mayweather brings exceptionally fast hands into the ring, that hand speed allows him to be a tremendous counter puncher and he is one of the most accurate punchers in the sport, often landing 60% of his power punches, an unheard of number.  Mayweather is an orthodox fighter whose best punches are his jab to the body and straight right hand upstairs.  However, Mayweather can also catch opponents off guard with his nice, short left hook.  When it comes to ring intelligence not many have a higher IQ than Mayweather, who is legendary for figuring opponents out and picking them apart.  One thing that helps him is his stamina, while his opponents often fade late in fights from throwing and missing so often, Mayweather stays sharp and never seems to tire late in fights.  While Mayweather has faced many great opponents Pacquiao may be the best of them all.

When it comes to undefeated records Mayweather is closing in on history.  He currently stands at 47-0 with 26 knockouts and he has said numerous times that he plans to retire soon.  Don't expect that retirement to come before he challenges Rocky Marciano's record of finishing his career 49-0.  Certainly if Mayweather makes it to 49-0 safely he will look to break the record and go 50-0.  Mayweather really became a superstar after beating Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 but he had some tough fights before that most notably against Zab Judah, and his first bout with Jose Luis Castillo.  Since 2007 Mayweather has picked off a whose who of the boxing world, including some who are Hall of Fame bound.  Some of the top fighters Mayweather has handled include Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.  Despite his impressive resume it is Pacquiao who will help make or break Mayweather's legacy.

Pacquiao dropped Algieri but couldn't stop him

Much like Mayweather, the way Pacquiao fights is no big secret.  Pacquiao is an aggressive southpaw who throws punches from angles not thought humanly possible.  Pacquiao's hand speed is a thing to behold and he certainly rivals Mayweather in that category.  In fact Pacquiao's hand speed might even surpass Mayweather's, at least when throwing combinations.  Pacquiao was once known for his tremendous power and while he can still drop opponents he doesn't seem to have the same finishing power.  In his last bout against a severely outclassed Chris Algieri, Pacquiao dropped the Long Island fighter six times but couldn't finish him off.  Still, Pacquiao is a dangerous puncher who has a good jab and a always improving right hook.  His money punch however, is his left hand and he throws a heavy straight left hand.  While Pacquiao's footwork is great his defense isn't.  Usually fighters with the footwork of Pacquiao would be good defensively since they could get in and out so quickly, something Pacquiao does do well, but the Filipino fighter does take a lot of clean punches.  Pacquiao has never been known for his defense and his defense is really just a great offense.  As is the case for Mayweather with Pacquiao, this fight will be the Filipino's toughest test.

Pacquiao burst onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere in 2001 when he won an IBF super bantamweight title by beating then champion Lehlo Ledwaba.  Pacquiao didn't rest on his laurels very long and went on to fight some of the best the sport had to offer while winning titles in a record eight different weight classes.  Pacquiao holds a record of 57-5-2 with 38 knockouts and he has fought some of the best.  Some of his battles include wins over Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Timothy Bradley.  However, Pacquiao also has losses against Bradley, albeit a horrible decision, Morales, and a stunning one punch knockout loss to Marquez that put him to sleep.  Legacies are on the line in this fight, now fans will just wait to see whose legacy takes the hit.

This fight may be an exciting one from start to finish but there is also a chance it disappoints.  If Mayweather's legs have slowed enough Pacquiao might be able to take advantage and really touch him up with his multitude of punches.  However if Mayweather is able to do what he usually does, which is figure opponents out, he may be able to outbox Pacquiao from start to finish.  One thing to take note of is the fact that Mayweather is the naturally bigger man and may actually have the better chance of scoring the knockout.  It is true that Mayweather has had some problems with southpaws in the past and he has fought one in awhile but even with those problems he has always come out ahead.  As for Pacquiao he has had trouble with counter punchers like Marquez, and the straight right hand is known as the southpaw killer.  That is unfortunate for Pacquiao because Mayweather has one of the most accurate straight right hands in all of boxing.  This fight will definitely break some monetary records but the sports world is hoping that the action lives up to the hype.

PREDICTION: This will be a good fight but it will be Floyd Mayweather who comes out ahead.  Manny Pacquiao will be busier which will force the judges to give him some rounds but Mayweather will win fairly decisively by the way of unanimous decision.