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by
Ann Wanjiru
When you mention the great boxers of all time, it is hard to talk about it without Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao.
So, who between the American boxer and the Filipino boxing icon impresses more on the world boxing stage?
In such a debate, everyone has their two cents, supporting whoever thrills them in the ring.
However, greatness is relative and dependent on many factors for each boxer. But, this article takes you through the nitty-gritty of what could compound greatness for each of the boxers.
Mayweather Unbeaten Record
Mayweather Jr is a legendary boxer. He is a global boxing champion living like a king after retiring from professional boxing.
The 44-year-old has a sparkling record of going undefeated for more than a decade when he reigned supreme in the ring.
However, Mayweather has his low moments in the sport as an amateur boxer between 1995 and 2000 when he lost two high-stake matches. But this was the first and last duo matches that he ever lost in his career.
The five-division world champion geared up and ruled the world of boxing with 49 wins and zero losses.
Amateur Losses
During the 1996 Olympic trials, Mayweather lost 12-11 to his closest buddy Augie Sanchez. The two trained together and fought many battles together and won each of them.
Mayweather fought Sanchez after bulking up but lost in the trial but he never gave up. He still had a long way to go but not before his last and most controversial loss.
After losing to Sanchez in the trials, he made the cut following US’ best-of-three selection method in 1996.
He was to face Bulgarian boxer Serafim Todorov which marked Mayweather’s end to amateur boxing.
Todorov was at the peak of the boxing league and successfully fought many other boxers of his time.
And he never forgot about his fight with Mayweather. It was the most controversial in the Summer Olympic Games history when a corrupt judge was accused of favoring Todorov.
The referee officiating the match raised Mayweather’s hand but quickly announced Todorov the winner.
Today, Todorov cannot understand just how Mayweather became the boxing star that he is.
Manny Pacquiao Wins And Defeat
This man is a living legend in the world of boxing although his allure in the sport seems to be fading away.
Nonetheless, Pacquiao’s boxing star can never be dimmed based on the matches he has lost because he has his highlights too.
His double fight with Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales is phenomenal and unforgettable. The two fights are part of his career highlight. Here, he showed who ‘PacMan’ is with witty, forceful, and calculated punches.
What is astounding about Pacquiao is his meteoric rise from nowhere into a star whose name is known across the continent.
In his lowest of moments, Pacquaio’s name still ranks high. A few weeks back, he lost Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas.
It was his first match after a two-year hiatus. The two boxing champions faced off at the T-Mobile Arena and the Cuban boxer thrilled with his witty punches.
Ugas was fast, calculating, and cleaner, tactics which he employed to defend his WBA welterweight belt.
The Cuban boxer, 35, left the 42-year-old Pacquiao dealing with a false start as he makes a comeback to boxing.
Ugas won all three rounds and impressing the judge by posting 115-113 and two others 116-112 scores.
A disappointed Pacquiao described this turn of events as normal in boxing.
He added that he had a difficult time trying to make adjustments despite giving his best.
“I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best,” Capital Sports quotes him.
Pacquiao’s WBA welterweight belt was taken back this year due to his long period of inactivity in the ring.
Mayweather Vs Pacquiao Fight
This was Mayweather’s last and high stake fight that drew the world’s attention in 2015. It was finally time to face off with the Filipino boxer. The fight was touted as the “fight of the century”.
Here’s the thing. This fight dates back to 2009 when predictions poured in that this would be the most bruising fight in boxing history.
Both teams from the two boxing champions hurdled the fight until 2015 when Pacquaio and Mayweather met in the ring. The debacle went down at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Mayweather won in a heartbeat through a unanimous decision by two judges posting 116–112 and the other 118–110. Sadly, fans termed it a big flop adding it was nothing close to what they anticipated.
While the audience expected a fiery boxing debacle, both Mayweather and Pacquiao fell short of the expectations. Mayweather was all defensive in the ring while Pacquiao struggled to throw punches thanks to a shoulder injury.
Reports after the fight indicate Pacquiao was healing his right shoulder injury before the fight but it came back to bite him in the fourth round. It also emerged that Mayweather was injected with IV fluids with clearance by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
But, the Nevada State Athletic Commission had not authorized this. Despite it all, he carried the day this being his last high stake fight in the ring earning $250 million from this fight alone.
A journalism professional with hands-on experience in radio and digital content editing and publishing. A team player who achieves work goals through teamwork and collaboration. Willing to learn and take calculated risks to get work done.
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