Like It Is

Superfight gives boxing much-needed boost

When Jermain Taylor stunned the boxing world with his upset victory against Bernard Hopkins in July 2005, boxing was never more popular in Arkansas.

There was a parade for Taylor, and not long after his second victory over Hopkins -- who was 46-2-1 when he first met Taylor -- the Little Rock native was voted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Most sports fans across the nation didn't notice.

Boxing's popularity has been in a steady decline for years, partly because there hasn't been a great American heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield, and neither had the charisma of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier or George Foreman.

Now much of the country seems excited about Saturday night's showdown between "Money" and "Pac-Man."

Floyd "Money" Mayweather, who reportedly will earn a record $180 million for this fight, is undefeated in the ring with a 47-0 record in a career that began in 1996.

Normally he would be the sentimental favorite for the majority of Americans, but his record of domestic violence dates back 13 years and once landed him in jail for 90 days even though he faced a possible 34 years.

If he were in the NFL today, he wouldn't be playing this Saturday. And the old excuse of "what do you expect, he's a boxer," just doesn't seem to fly anymore.

Those types of things have certainly hurt the world of pugilism. There is never a reason for a man to touch a woman in anger.

Mayweather also drew attention when he compared himself to Ali as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Usually making that distinction is left to others.

As one fight fan and friend said: "You may not have agreed with Ali, but he stood up for his religious beliefs and was banned from boxing for five years. Mayweather hasn't stood for anything but depositing checks and abusing women."

Mayweather said Wednesday that regardless of the outcome of this fight, "I will still be the best ever."

Mayweather, who owns more than $15 million worth of luxury cars, is just hard to like.

Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao is the pride of the Philippines, although there have been suspicions that he used steroids because he has won fights in eight different weight divisions, starting at 112 pounds in 1997 and now fighting at 147. It should be noted that he has never failed a drug test.

Mayweather used Pacquiao's weight gains and accusations of steroid use as an excuse to not face the southpaw for six long years, but the lure of the money finally wore down Mayweather.

The fight comes when neither is in his prime. Mayweather is 38 and Pacquiao is 36, but it should be an entertaining fight, although it comes with a $100 pay-per-view price tag. It is supposed to air at 10 p.m. local time, but history says the fight will start a little late.

When tickets went on sale, the fight sold out in one minute, and tickets are being sold on alternate sites for prices that range from $1,441 to more than $350,000.

So for now the world of perspiring arts is a little excited about boxing and the long-awaited matchup.

Mayweather is a defensive fighter who protects his chin and counter punches with lightning quickness but doesn't seem to have knockout power. Pacquiao is a bit reckless but has more power in his punches.

If Mayweather wins, there is no reason to have a rematch. But if Pacquiao finds a way to win, there will be a rematch, and the prize money will be even more ridiculous than it will be for this fight.

Sports on 04/30/2015

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