Sport Boxing

Finally, boxing is the winner

Written by Ben Blaschke

We should never have had to wait this long, but better late than never.

After six years of frustrating negotiations, the fight we have all been hoping for is finally going to take place with Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao to meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 2 May in a clash that is certain to stop the sporting world.

Boxing as a whole hasn’t had a whole lot to cheer about recently with the sport flooded by so many belts and supposed “world champions” that genuine super fights such as this have just about become a thing of the past. Even the fact that it has taken this long for Mayweather and Pacquiao to come together is absurd and both should feel embarrassed that they have for so long refused to give the fans the fight they have been demanding to see.

Both have been accused of dodging their rival for fear of hurting their brilliant career records – particularly Mayweather who would no doubt love to retire undefeated.

But let’s forget about all of that now. It’s going to happen.

And although the winner can lay claim to their victory being the highlight of their careers, ultimately it doesn’t really matter who comes away with the belts – Pacquiao putting his WBO welterweight belt on the line and Mayweather his WBC and WBA belts.

Instead, that we will finally witness a genuine super fight is just the jolt the sport of boxing needs. Let’s hope the event lives up to the hype.