Deur: Tony Penecale

Find Tony on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TornadoTP

FINALLY!!!! After six years of arguing, negotiating, finger-pointing, and the real possibility that it would never happen, the long-awaited superfight between Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is finally about to happen. There is a possibility of grossing upwards of $300 million between them, easily the richest event in sports history. Mayweather is set to make $180 miljoen. He would earn $15 million per round, $5 million per minute, & $83,333.33 per second. Pacquaio would make $120 million and would earn $10 million per round, $3,333,333.33 per minute, & $55,555.56 per second. Las Vegas is a gambling town, and after years of bluffing, raising the ante, and calling each other out, both fighters have put all their chips in. Their legacies are on the table. Nou, it’s time to see who is really holding the Aces when they step in the ring.

OUDERDOM, REKORD, EN STATS

Mayweather: Ouderdom: 38 jaar oud

Rekord: 47-0 (26 Uitklophoue)

Hoogte: 5'8"

Gewig: 146 * * Gewig vir die laaste bout (9-13-14)

Bereik: 72"

Pacquiao: Ouderdom: 35 jaar oud

Rekord: 57-5-2 (38 Uitklophoue)

Hoogte: 5’6”

Gewig: 144 ** Gewig vir die laaste bout (11-20-14)

Bereik: 67"

RING prestasies

Mayweather:

1996 Olimpiese brons medalje

WBC Super Veergewig Kampioen ('98-'02)

WBC liggewig-kampioen ('02-'04)

Ring Tydskrif Liggewig Kampioen ('02-'04)

WBC Junior weltergewigkampioen ('05-'06)

IBF-weltergewigkampioen (’06)

WBC-weltergewigkampioen ('06-'07)

WBC Junior middelgewig-kampioen (’07)

WBA Middelgewig Kampioen Junior (’12)

WBC-weltergewigkampioen (’11-Pres)

Ring Tydskrif weltergewigkampioen ('06-'07)

Ring Magazine Pound-4-pond #1 Boxer ('05-'07, ’12-Pres)

Pacquiao:

WBC Flyweight Champion (’98-‘99)

IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (’01-’03)

WBC Super Veergewig Kampioen (’08)

WBC liggewig-kampioen (‘08)

IBO Junior Welterweight Champion ('09)

WBO Welterweight Kampioen (’09-‘12)

WBO Welterweight Kampioen (Om'14 -Pres)

Ring Magazine Pound-4-pond #1 Boxer (’08-‘12)

Ring Magazine Pound-4-pond #4 Boxer (Pres)

STYLE

Mayweather:

A pure boxer with great speed who does everything well with an arsenal that includes a snapping jab, accurate right hand and a left hook that can be doubled and tripled with tremendous effect. Gebruik fynbewegings om teenstanders te vries en ponsbane oop te maak. Druk sy ken goed agter sy skouer om met stampe te rol. Selfs op die toue, hy is 'n moeilike teiken om 'n stewige hou op te kry. Hy het nie groot slaankrag nie. Most of his stoppage victories come from outpunching and outclassing his opponents but rarely scoring clean knockouts.

Pacquiao:

Pacquiao boxes from a southpaw stance, moving forward and bobbing and feinting his way in. Once in close, he uses his right hand to find the range and then unleashes his powerful left, either straight or looping, and he will often double and triple it to the body and head. Uses quick head shifts to slip punches while moving forward. Has soundly developed under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, developing a decent right hook, either as a lead punch or thrown behind the left. Uses quick head shifts to slip punches while moving forward. Is no longer the feared finisher he once was earlier in his career.

STERK

Mayweather:

* Ervaring – Boxing is in Mayweather’s blood, and he’s been involved in the sport since his childhood. Het 'n uitgebreide amateurloopbaan voltooi deur die bronsmedalje in die '96 Olimpiese Spele te wen. Hy het die afgelope tyd suksesvol op kampioenskapsvlak meegeding 17 jaar, facing and defeating fighters with a variety of styles.

* Kondisionering – Mayweather is ’n fiksheidsfreak met ’n wonderlike werksetiek wanneer dit by opleiding kom. Min vegters druk hulself soveel as Mayweather in die gimnasium, doen selfs middernagtelike opleidingsessies. Dit is duidelik in die ring wanneer sy stamina hom in die laat rondes dra.

* Ring Generaalskap – Mayweather ken elke duim van die ring en hoe om 'n geveg te beheer. Hy weet wanneer om aan te val, wanneer om te boks, wanneer om die hitte te verhoog, en wanneer om te kus. Mayweather besit die ring wanneer hy daar is. Selfs die seldsame kere wanneer hy in gevegte verstom was, hy kon vinnig tot rus kom en die dreigement onderdruk.

Pacquiao:

* Unorthodox Style – Pacquiao is very unorthodox, even for a southpaw. He moves straight in but is hard to time with his bobbing and head feints. Before most opponents can time his onrushes, he is throwing whirlwind punches from a variety of angles.

* Speed – Pacquiao is fleet of foot and the owner of very fast hands, especially for a boxer with such considerable power. He quickly moves into position and fires rapid one-two combinations. He’s expanded his arsenal to include blinding combinations of hooks, uppercuts, and double or triple left hands.

* Stamina – Pacquiao is always in tremendous shape and fights just as hard in the last round as he does in the first. He applies a ton of pressure and is constantly punching, wearing opponents down in the process.

SWAKHEDE

Mayweather:

* Veroudering – Mayweather may have an unblemished record, but Father Time has never been defeated. Mayweather has been more flat-footed in recent bouts. His first encounter with Marcos Maidana was a rough and tumble affair where Mayweather looked very ordinary. The rematch was more definitive but unimpressive.

* Distractions – Maweather loves to be in the public eye and never shies away from controversy. Most notably are his public disputes and reconciliations with his father and trainer, Floyd Mayweather, Senior. The most recent camp turbulence came in the form of a training camp dispute between Floyd Sr. and Alex Ariza, working as the strength and conditioning coach. A non-harmonious training camp could lead to unnecessary distractions.

* Ponskrag – Most of Mayweather’s stoppage wins came from an accumulation of punches. Die gewone resultaat is dat die skeidsregter of opponerende hoek die geveg stop om verdere straf te voorkom. Notwithstanding his controversial and explosive knockout of Victor Ortiz, dit is skaars om te sien dat Mayweather 'n wedstryd met een vuishou voltooi, dating all the way back to his days as a 130-pounder.

Pacquiao:

* Killer Instinct – Pacquiao was once regarded as a ruthless buzzsaw, cutting through opponents until they succumbed. He has since lost that edge, failing to win a fight by stoppage since 2009. More of a concern is that on several occasions he eased up on outclassed opponents, allowing them to survive the last few rounds.

* Trouble with Counterpunchers – Pacquiao is an aggressive, offense-first fighter who will freely throw punches, but he can be timed and is often open to be hit with counters. Juan Manuel Marquez gave him fits with movement and counter punches, even scoring a spectacular knockout over Pacquiao with a perfectly-timed counter right hand.

* Ouderdom – Pacquiao is no longer the phenomenon he was in his 20s. He is now in his mid-30s. As he has physically aged, he has also taken on a super human schedule with political aspirations in his home country, numerous personal appearances, and several difficult bouts.

VORIGE VER

Mayweather:

(09-13-14) Mayweather neutralized and outboxed Marcos Maidana in a rematch from their closer-than-expected bout from four months prior. While the action was sparse, it was a case of Mayweather using his superior skills and intelligence to thwart his aggressive but limited opponent.

Pacquiao:

(11-20-14) Pacquiao won a dominating unanimous decision over the game but vastly inexperienced Chris Algieri. Pacquiao was in control from the start and scored a total of six knockdowns, somehow failing to score the knockout some experts thought he needed to be in position for the Mayweather fight to happen.

THREE BEST PERFORMANCES

Mayweather:

* Diego Corrales (1/20/01) – Kenners was verskeur oor wie om in hierdie een te kies, met baie wat na Corrales leun om met KO te wen. Mayweather het hom nooit in die geveg toegelaat nie, knocking him down five times before the referee halted the bout in the 10th round.

* Arturo Gatti (6/25/05) – Hoewel Mayweather ’n stewige weddery-gunsteling was, baie het verwag dat Gatti dinge vir Mayweather moeilik sou maak. It never happened, as Mayweather floored Gatti in the first round and dealt out a severe beating before Gatti’s corner stopped the bout after six one-sided rounds.

* Ricky Hatton (12/8/07) – Hatton was onoorwonne toe hy aan die geveg deelgeneem het en het 'n wedstrydplan van konstante druk opgestel om Mayweather uit te dra. Na 'n paar ongemaklike rondtes, Mayweather kon sy reeks vind en oorneem, Hatton twee keer in die 10de ronde te vloer en 'n stilstand afgedwing.

Pacquiao:

* Oscar De la Hoya (12/06/08) – It’s hard to imagine now, but the consensus at the time was that De la Hoya would destroy the smaller Pacquiao in a landslide. It was a landslide, but it was Pacquiao dishing out the beating, ripping De la Hoya apart with both hands. After eight one-sided and brutal rounds, a swollen and bloodied De la Hoya was beaten into permanent retirement.

* Miguel Cotto (11/14/09) – Pacquiao impressively dismantled the larger and physically imposing Cotto. Pacquiao dropped the Puerto Rican superstar twice early. From the 6th round on, Pacquiao had Cotto in a defensive shell, battering him until the referee stopped the bout in the 12th round.

* Ricky Hatton (05/02/09) – Pacquio ran through Hatton in fast and destructive fashion. Hatton–while still an underdog–was expected to provide a challenge with his strength and mauling tactics. Pacquiao unveiled an improved right hook and had Hatton down twice in the first round before crushing him with a devastating knockout in the second.

COMMON OPPONENTS

*Oscar De la Hoya

– Mayweather: Split Decision 2007

– Pacquiao: WIE 8^ste ronde 2008

*Miguel Cotto

– Mayweather: Unanimous Decision 2013

– Pacquiao: WIE 12^ste ronde 2009

*Ricky Hatton

– Mayweather: WIE 10^ste ronde 2007

– Pacquiao: KO 2^nd ronde 2009

* Shane Mosley

– Mayweather: Unanimous Decision 2010

– Pacquiao: Unanimous Decision 2011

* Juan Manuel Marquez

– Mayweather: Unanimous Decision 2009

– Pacquiao: Teken 2004, Split Decision 2008, Majority Decision 2011,

KO’d 6^ste ronde 2012

KEYS oorwinning

Mayweather:

* Get Pacquiao’s respect early, timing his rushes, and hitting him with straight right hands.

* Use clinches to smother Pacquiao and thwart any offensive momentum.

* Do not try to trade punches with Pacquiao.

Pacquiao:

* Use feints to get Mayweather to make the first move.

* Don’t aim strictly at Mayweather’s head. Focus on the body, arms, and torso?

* Do not let Mayweather control the tempo.

VRAE EN ANTWOORDE

* Can the fight live up to the hype? Unless this turns out to be Hagler-Hearns, Gatti-Ward, and Ali-Frazier all rolled up into one, it will be nearly impossible to live up to the hype that has surrounded this match-up for over six years. The hype might be inflated and overbearing, but it can still be entertaining.

* Is the fight happening too late? Both fighters are in their late 30s. While these two phenoms are still elite competitors, they are past their primes. Even so, instances of fighters past their primes matching up perfectly and turning in an epic encounter have occurred on several occasions.

* Wie het die meeste om te verloor? Mayweather without a doubt has the most to lose. Pacquiao is an icon in his home country, so no matter what happens, he will remain a beloved figure. Mayweather is boasting about himself as “The Best Ever” and relishes his undefeated record. He even said recently that he’s better than Muhammad Ali was. A loss obliterates the “0” on Mayweather’s record and will provide more fodder for the argument that he is not even the best of his generation.

* How will their styles match up? It figures to be a classic boxer vs puncher match-up. Mayweather is a consummate strategist. He is a master of figuring out his opponents, frustrating them, and setting up counter punches. Pacquiao will press the action, try to overwhelm, breaking through Mayweather’s defense with a high volume of punches. It will be a clash of Quantity against Quality. Pacquiao will throw more punches, more punches than anybody has ever thrown against Mayweather. Mayweather will throw less but land at a higher connect rate, with sharp counter punches.

* What are the chances of a Knockout? Pacquiao is known as the better puncher, but he has failed to score a stoppage victory since battering Miguel Cotto in 2009. Mayweather has scored only one stoppage victory since 2007 against the weak-chinned Victor Ortiz. The two most likely scenarios for a knockout win would either be Pacquiao becoming reckless and leaving himself open to Mayweather’s straight right hand or Mayweather suddenly becoming an old fighter and wilting under Pacquiao’s relentless pressure. Likely, this fight will go to the scorecards.

* Will the officials factor into the conclusion? Kenny Bayless has been assigned as the referee and is regarded as one of the best in boxing. He has worked as the referee in six previous Pacquiao fights and four previous Mayweather bouts. The only backlash he received from those ten total bouts was the Mayweather-Maidana rematch where he was criticized for breaking up the inside clinches too quickly, seemingly favoring Mayweather against the mauling style of Maidana. With Mayweather naturally bigger than Pacquiao, breaking up clinches quickly (especially if Pacquiao has any momentum) would serve more as a disadvantage to Mayweather. The judges are Burt Clements, Dave Moretti, both veteran officials in Las Vegas, and Glenn Feldman, based out of Connecticut. Moretti has worked nine Mayweather bouts and six Pacquiao bouts. Clements has worked three Mayweather bouts and one Pacquiao bout. Feldman has only worked one Mayweather bout early in his career.

* Wat gebeur volgende? As die geveg vermaaklik blyk te wees, naby, of omstrede, a rematch is possible depending on the outcome.

If Mayweather wins, Hy is 48-0 and can walk away from Pacquiao and seek a different challenge for his final fight. He could even seek a possible move up to grab a title at middleweight and another superfight with the next big sensation Gennady Golovkin.

If Pacquiao wins, a rematch is almost a given, especially with so much money on the table.

A draw would also most likely force a rematch for the final fight of Mayweather’s career sometime in September.

PENECALE VOORSPELLING

The anticipation as the fighters make their way to the ring will be electric. The growing crescendo of excitement will continue through the introductions with Mayweather sporting a confident smirk and Pacquaio fixated with an icy glare.

The waiting will be over when the bell rings and both fighters come out to the center of the ring. Mayweather will be moving to his left, rolling his hands and probing with a soft jab. Pacquiao will be like a coiled spring, bouncing back and forth and feinting with his jab. Pacquiao will throw a few wild left hands that Mayweather backs away from, his back hitting the ropes as he slides away to his right. The round will end without anything conclusive landing for either fighter, making it difficult to score.

Pacquiao will look to increase the pace in the second round and outwork Mayweather. While Mayweather is the center of the ring, he will dictate the pace and the action, keeping Pacquiao limited to throwing one punch at a time. When Pacquiao is able to cut the ring off and back Mayweather to the ropes, he will unleash combinations. The flurries for the most part won’t land, but the work rate will stir the crowd into a frenzy.

Pacquaio will continue the high volume of punches through the 3^rd en 4^ste rounds until Mayweather lands a right hand while their feet are tangled, causing Pacquiao to sprawl to the canvas. He will protest while Bayless administers the count, but he will not be hurt. Mayweather will smile and move in, throwing a few right hands, truly seeing if Pacquiao is stunned. Pacquiao will respond with his own vicious left hand, bringing the crowd to their feet as the bell rings.

Mayweather will again box cautiously starting the 5^ste ronde, staying on the outside and pivoting away when Pacquiao gets close. The fight will resemble a cat and mouse affair with Pacquiao trying to corner Mayweather and Mayweather trying to bait him into making a mistake. Pacquiao will be the aggressor, throwing far more punches. Mayweather will be timing him with single counter punches throughout the 6^ste en 7^ste rondes.

A sharp left hand by Pacquiao in the 8^ste round will startle Mayweather and cause blood to leak from his nose. Pacquiao will try to press the advantage and unleash another torrent of punches. Mayweather will pull away against the ropes, and Pacquiao will focus his attention to the body with a combination of punches to the chest and shoulder, forcing Mayweather to clinch and break the momentum.

Mayweather will get up on his toes in the 9^ste ronde, using lateral movement to keep Pacquiao from setting his feet and unleashing more than one punch at a time. Pacquiao will step in with a few lefts that are blocked, but Mayweather’s movement will keep him from throwing any follow-up punches. As Mayweather slips out, he will land his own counter punches, making it another difficult round to score.

Deur die 10^ste en 11^ste rondes, Mayweather will execute a plan to counter Pacquiao with single punches and avoid most of his counter flurries. Pacquiao will step in with a hard left to the body, forcing a Mayweather clinch. When the action resumes, Pacquiao will look to attack the body again, only to be met with a straight right hand over the top.

The final round in a very close bout will see Mayweather neutralizing Pacquiao’s rushes, landing single counter punches and pivoting away from danger, sharpshooting from the outside. Pacquiao will desperately try to corner Mayweather but he won’t allow it, moving on the outside and clinching in close, bringing an anticlimactic ending as the final bell rings.

It will take several minutes for the scorecards to be tabulated, with the consensus believing Mayweather won 7 rondes, including a knockdown. Pacquaio will pray in his corner while Mayweather smiles and laughs with his entourage.

The decision will be as follows. Glen Feldman will score the bout 114-113 for Pacquaio. Burt Clements will score 115-112 for Mayweather. Dave Moretti will score the bout a very curious 115-112 for the winner of the biggest superfight of the century…. MANNY “PACMAN” PACQUIAO!!!!

With the decision announced, a disgusted Mayweather will demand a rematch before storming out of the ring, setting up another lucrative event in September and a possible trilogy.