Mayweather win over Pacquiao decisive, leaves no room for rematch
Floyd Mayweather stifled nearly every Manny Pacquiao advance in a unanimous decision victory, leaving no room for a rematch.
By
Jason Keidel
•
2 min read
Call it mundane, mastery, or microcosm.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s win was rather ordinary, but the opponent was extraordinary.
Mayweather won a careful, quiet unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, using his typically pensive and precise style of pinpoint punching.
The Mayweather template -- jab, lead right, counterpunching, and a bewildering defense -- was still a potent blueprint against the tornadic, Filipino champion, who many thought could whack his way through the endless tentacles of Mayweather's legendary defense.
Many people will wonder, frankly, what happened to Manny Pacquiao. For all his boxing flaws, his offense, energy, and power were never in question, even when he lost.
But it seemed as if Mayweather had Pacquiao spellbound from the jump, thwarting Pacquiao with jabs and rights with typical potency and frequency. But since he never really hurt Pacquiao, many will ask why Pacquiao didn't at least plow his way through Mayweather's slick but relatively safe combinations.
Mayweather, to be sure, is a defensive savant, scientist, technician, clinician, and tactician. Almost every high-end boxing bromide applies to Mayweather, who has a soporific style but unquestionable results.
No matter whom you wanted to win, you probably left this night, this fight, with a chasm in your boxing soul. Neither man lived up to his pyrotechnic reputation, even if one man -- Mayweather -- was clearly better over 12 rounds.
No doubt Mayweather back-peddled, held, grabbed the back of Pacquiao's head, and was nary the aggressor. But those were never insurmountable hurdles for Pacquiao for a decade.
For lack of a better characterization, Pacquiao seemed almost disinterested. Surely some of that was Mayweather's boxing alacrity, frustrating and stunting every Pacquiao assault.
For those who ponder a rematch, there's but one question.
Why?
What did anyone see tonight that made them drool for a redux?
Both men have the skill and will to fight in September, but not against each other. There won't be nearly the cash or cachet to command it. And it leaves to wonder what's left for each.
For Mayweather, there's the glowing, historical number of 49-0, Rocky Marciano's singular, seminal record, which the 48-0 Mayweather is now one win from matching.
For Pacquiao, he has an almost equal resume, but a dearth of decent or even dominant opponents left to fight. He's alive, lucid, and effective. But the idea of fighting for the paycheck is what has put many an icon into an early, metaphysical grave.
Mayweather can fight as long as he wins, no matter how plodding or boring. Like Pernell Whitaker before him, Mayweather leaves the masses wanting more blood, less boxing. His optics are less than savage, but still quite salient.
In the end, Mayweather answered the one question that haunted him for five years: can he beat Manny Pacquiao?
The answer was affirmative, even if not affirming.
