Floyd “Imali” Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 Kos) and Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 Kos) are set to clash on May 2nd, 2015 in one of the most hyped fights in boxing history. This fight is so huge they are even planning to sell tickets to the weigh-in due to crowd control issues. The proceeds will not be going to the promoters or the boxers, noma. It all goes to charity. Still, this is a first for the state of Nevada, which traditionally requires that all weigh-ins be free of charge for fans to attend.
Izinga lokulindela elizungeze le mpi libe nesikhathi eside lokwakha. Ngokwengxenye engcono yeminyaka eyishumi edlule, lawa majuggernaut amabili ompondo-we-pondo awakwazanga ukwenza le mpi yenzeke ngesizathu esisodwa esingenangqondo ngemuva kwesinye. Njengomuntu ngubani uqobo wahambela okunye kokusebenza komphakathi kukaMayweather eVegas, Ngingakufakazela ukuthi umpetha we-welterweight onganqotshwa kaninginingi ucaphune ukwenqaba kukaPacquiao ukwenziwa isitayela sokuhlolwa kwegazi ngesitayela se-Olimpiki lapho ebuzwa ngemizamo eyenziwe yokuthi le mpi isayinwe eminyakeni emihlanu edlule.
UMayweather uze waqhamuka nomculo omncane we-rap ukuzwakalisa lolu daba ngamagama alula:
“Uma ufuna ukulwa nokuhamba phambili, kufanele uvivinye,” ukhishwe ngesikhathi sokuhlala kokunye kokuzivocavoca okuvulekile.
UPacquiao ushintshe isimo sakhe esivivinyweni futhi wanqoba isithiyo esikhulu kunazo zonke lapho ehlangana mathupha noMayweather futhi wavuma ukuthi uzoba “B” side ngakho-ke kufanele ithole ukuhlukaniswa okuncane kwesikhwama. Njengoba ividiyo engenhla ichaza, UMayweather wabe esekwazi ukuphatha inqubo yezingxoxo.
Yize ochwepheshe besasho ukuthi le mpi izoba enkulu kunayo yonke emlandweni wezemidlalo, umbuzo kufanele ubuzwe uma lokhu kubhanqwa kwenzeka sekwephuze kakhulu emisebenzini yabo bobabili abalweli ukuze ijabulise njengoba abanye ochwepheshe babikezela ukuthi kuzoba.
Kwakuhlale kungicacela ukuthi le mpi izokwenzeka, kepha kwacaca ukuthi kuthatha isikhathi eside ukusayina izinkontileka, amathuba angcono okuwina kukaFloyd. Still, UFloyd wavuma 2012 ukuthi isizathu sangempela wayengafuni ukulwa noPacquiao sasingenxa yokukhathazeka kwezempilo. Ukuphikile ukuthi wethukile, ezibiza “uhlakaniphile” ngokucabanga ngomndeni wakhe nangempilo yakhe kuqala. Still, waphikelela ekutheni isizathu esiyinhloko sokuthi impilo yakhe ibe sengcupheni kuleyo mpi ukuthi uPacquiao wayenza ngempela ama-steroids, njengoba uMayweather asho njalo wagcina ngokumangalelwa. Laba bobabili bahlala ngaphandle kwenkantolo futhi impi isiyasondela, ngakho-ke abanye abalandeli bacabanga ukuthi konke kungamanzi ngaphansi kwebhuloho. Abanye bacasulwa ngokusobala ukuthi bekufanele silinde isikhathi eside ukuze le mpi ize iphumelele.
Umlingisi wesibhakela uMarvin Hagler uze waphawula muva nje ukuthi uMayweather walinda uPacquiao esemdala kancane ngaphambi kokusayina ukuze alwe naye. UHagler uqhathanise amaqhinga kaMayweather noSugar Ray Leonard alinde uHagler abe mncane “ithambile” yena ngaphambi kokuba basayine inkontileka yabo yokulwa. Leyo mpi yaba nempikiswano enkulu futhi yashiya uHagler emunyu kakhulu ngalo mdlalo owamenza waduma.
Ngakho, impi kaMay-Pac izokwenzeka, kanti uMayweather uyintandokazi esobala. Ukuze ufunde kabanzi ngohlangothi lokugembula lwale ndaba, hlola Ukubheja isibhakela endaweni yaseWilliam Hill. Inzuzo enkulu kunoma yimuphi umbheja onenhlanhla kuzoba ukubheja okuphumelelayo ePacquiao, kodwa kulula ukuzibuza ukuthi ngabe uPacquiao ngempela usemdala kakhulu ukuthi anganqoba kulokhu. Ngemva kwakho konke, kukhona amathani wokukhathazeka ngemisipha yenkonyane kaManny ebamba phezulu, futhi kubikwa ukuthi usebenzisa ukhilimu ophulukisayo obiza izinkulungwane zamaRandi ngebhodlela ngalinye ukuxazulula le nkinga.
Mayweather (38) is actually the older fighter, but the 36-year-old Manny’s fought 17 more bouts in the pro ranks and will likely be the most active puncher “Imali” ever faced. Mayweather’s normally spectacular and overwhelming defensive prowess just might be tested.
This fight may not be worth every penny you spend on tickets or the Pay-Per-View feed, but the fact that it is finally happening is still special. It will still be a fight boxing fans everywhere around the world can enjoy and appreciate. It’s ultimately up to the fighters to prove they are both up to the task of making sure this fight lives up to expectations. Chances are, Floyd will do his best to leave the MGM Grand with an uneventful decision win. Let’s just hope Pacquiao has enough left in the tank to make sure this is the most competitive fight Mayweather’s ever been in. It may not be the most opportune time for this fight to happen, but it’s a lot better to get it late than never.