NO, I am not referring to the circus acts where some deformed or odd looking human is paraded. Thank God though that such malpractices have stopped.
What I am referring to here are boxing matches that to me, still look odd. One good example is Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul, which should have never taken place unless you are a sadist who wanted to see Paul beaten to a pulp. I am one of them.
Then there’s Mike Tyson versus Floyd Mayweather Jr., on a date that I didn’t care to check as this so-called exhibition fight look more like a freak show. I even heard Mayweather is instead eyeing a match with a retired kickboxer.
But what about Manny Pacquiao versus Mayweather the second edition set this September 19? More on that later.
So, gone are the days where “purist” boxing matches were always the headliners or real money makers. And how much did Joshua and Paul pocketed from their fight? Around $100 million each. I wonder how many suitcases you need to transport that amount of money (with pun intended).
Meanwhile, the marquee fights between still undefeated Terrence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez had both fighters split $200 million, with the Mexican taking home a whopping $150 million. Well, at least Crawford-Alvarez was a much-awaited showdown and a legitimate championship fight.
But aside from Crawford-Alvarez, I have yet to see another fight that reached the magnitude of Joshua-Paul and Tyson-Paul, which generated a huge 108-million viewership in November 2024. Crap?
Sorry, but that is the reality we have today — boxing “freak shows” will compete with legitimate boxing headliners in the next years to come. And the “supply” of such freak shows can be endless. Some suggestions are: Tyson-Joshua; Mayweather-Paul; and Mayweather-Tank Davis. Please keep Pacquiao out of this circus.
So, where does Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 stand?
My answer — this ain’t no freakshow.
Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 can settle once and for all as who is the greatest boxer of their era.
Their first match in May 2015 was a disappointment, as both fighters were no longer in their prime and seemed to have been worn down by numerous ring wars, especially Pacquiao.
And while I agree that Mayweather won, the hype was not worth it.
But closely watching the Pacquiao-Mario Barrios fight in July 2024, I believe Pacquiao still has that oomph to be competitive in the ring.
As for Mayweather, his recent exhibition bout looked more like sleepers. Well, what can you expect?
Yet, we cannot discount how much Mayweather will put into his training to get into real fighting shape. The same goes for Pacquiao.
This early though, I would give Pacquiao an edge because his fight with Barrios still speaks volume compare to the ho-hum exhibition fights of Mayweather.
I also like it now that Pacquiao is no longer involved in politics, which I believe divided his attention in the past.
While both are no longer in their primes, Pacquiao and Mayweather can demonstrate that father time does not mean a man should slow down and be contended watching Netflix on a couch for most of his nonworking hours. “Getting soft” is the worst thing a man can do to himself as he ages.
I am not saying Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 can generate fireworks anew. Rather, it will show that at the elite level of sports, reaching father age does not mean the end to being competitive.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are also the best of their generation, and determining as to who is the No. 1 and runner up is still being debated up to this day.
And that alone, makes Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 not a freak show.