Before I begin this awesome dish of hyperbole, I must say, “I do not know!” The sheer suspense of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao May 2 at the MGM Grand has created or made all of us boxing soothsayers. For the sport of boxing, this is exactly the attention the sweet science needs. For your friends, it is awful as you have probably become the “Jimmy Paul Know It All” on all pugilistic matters, and for the next few months that is okay. Follow me and we will be all things Mayweather Pacquiao. Alright, I digress. The big question know is will Mayweather vs. Pacquiao be more like the Fight of the Century or more like the movie the Great White Hype?
The Fight of the Century
Ali-Frazier I was and still is the greatest Hyped and most fulfilling fight in the history of the sport. On March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Muhammad Ali 31-0 (25 KO’s) challenged Heavyweight champion Joe Frazier 26-0 (23 KO’s). The undefeated Ali won the title from Sonny Liston, but was stripped of his title for refusing induction into the U.S. military in 1967. Ali would famously say, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” and “No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.” In his absence, Joe Frazier busted up the Heavyweight division, won two belts via devastating knockouts, and earned the right to be considered equal to or greater than the former, but still undefeated Ali. The anticipation of what would happen inside the ring grew to epic proportions (Sound familiar?). Ali represented flash, glitz, and glamor while Frazier was the conservative, powerful counterpart. It represented the discord in the U.S. Conservatism and Frazier would win an all too crowd pleasing back and forth battle. Frazier cemented his win by planting the brash Ali on his backside in round 15. Ali got up and showed miraculous heart, but Frazier was the best man on this night. The fight truly out did the hype.
Great White Hype (1996 Movie)
Arguably the funniest boxing movie ever made; yet, sadly enough, the most art imitates boxing life movie ever made. After undefeated Heavyweight Champion James “The Grim Reaper” Roper defends his title, his promoter the Don Kingish Rev. Fred Sultan tells everyone in Roper’s camp the fight was a flop. Sultan needs a way to generate buzz and make the Champs next fight a huge success. His rationale is the fight game needs a White man to challenge the Black champion. The Sultan finds a fighter Roper lost to in his amateur days named Terry Conklin. Conklin, who hails from Cleveland and is the lead in a heavy metal band, is convinced to fight Roper. Somehow, a fictitious World Boxing organization elevates Conklin to the top 10, and the Sultan sells the race card fight to millions on Pay Per View. The Hype is a mega success, but inside the ring the fight is a flop as Conklin lands one punch the entire fight, pisses off the out of shape Roper, whips him into an angry frenzy, and Roper scores a predictable first round knockout of Conklin. The media and die hard boxing fans saw the end result from a mile away, but casual fans bought the bullshit hook line and sinker.
So what will Mayweather vs. Pacquiao be? Will it be boxing’s biggest stars matching the Hype and displaying their superior skills as they find ways to better the greatest opponent they will ever face? Or, will it be two fading stars trying to find flashes of what they use to be and disappointing millions of fans worldwide?
Either way, I am watching!! This is Boxing’s biggest moment!
By Chris Williams www.cboxinginfo.com
Follow me on Twitter @cboxinginfo
