Pacquiao vs Mayweather Jr promises to be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, and Carlo Garganese explains how the clashes of style, status and character make their bout comparable to the huge Barcelona vs Inter clash in the Champions League on Tuesday night…
In the maroon and blue corner we have Barcelona – reigning European champions, reigning Spanish champions, reigning Spanish cup champions, reigning European Super Cup champions, soon-to-be world champions, and the No.1 pound-for-pound club team in the world.
In the black and blue corner we have Internazionale – four times reigning Italian champions, current Italian championship leaders, and No.1 pound-for-pound club team in Italy.
Also in the maroon and blue corner we have Manny Pacquiao – reigning WBO Welterweight World champion, IBO and Ring Magazine light welterweight champion, a winner of world titles in seven different weight divisions, and the current No.1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Also in the black and blue corner we have Floyd Mayweather Jr – former WBC Welterweight champion, a winner of world titles in five different weight classes, undefeated 40-and-0, and former No.1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
For those of you who love your boxing, 2010 promises to be a special year as welterweights Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr appear almost certain to get into the ring for the most eagerly awaited fight of a generation. Even though nothing is yet set in stone, and any bout will probably not take place for at least five or six months, the build-up and anticipation has already begun with boxers, pundits, experts, and fans all debating who will win.
Clash Of Styles
What makes the prospect of this super-fight so fascinating is that it represents an emphatic clash of styles and personalities. The attacking, well-liked, humble, and entertaining Pacquiao against the defensive, unpopular, brash and efficient Mayweather. In many ways Pacquiao-Mayweather shares some uncanny similarities with the big Champions League tie between Barcelona and Inter on Tuesday night at Camp Nou.
Barcelona champion attacking, jaw-dropping football in which style is usually more important than substance. Their tiki-taka, pass-and-move game, with one-twos, one-touches, is beautiful on the eye. The Blaugrana have fun, they play with a smile on their faces, and take the game to the opposition while showing no fear. Pacquiao’s boxing philosophy is very similar. The Filipino attacks his prey, makes all the offensive running, and employs an easy-on-the-eye approach with dazzling 8-10 combos showing frightening hand and foot speed as he dances around the ring like Lionel Messi jives around the football pitch.
Inter, on the other hand, are best known for their tentative approach, studying their opponents weaknesses before focusing on their own strengths. It is up to their foe to make the spectacle, and you will often see the Nerazzurri launch counter-attacks. It is rare for Inter to string a succession of fluent passes together as they promote a results-first mentality. This has often seen the Beneamata labelled as ‘boring’.
Which is a similar tag that has been pinned on Mayweather. The American may be a showman outside the ring, but inside it he is only worried about the result. The Pretty Boy’s main strength is his sometimes impenetrable defence, as exemplified by his shoulder roll tactics. He invites his adversary forward before hitting back with infrequent but scarily accurate counter-punches. Such is Mayweather’s patience and defensive nature that many of his fights often tend to be dull and ugly affairs, and you will not see him open up too often with combinations. But what you do get with Mayweather is efficiency.
Size
The physical difference between the two parties is also noticeable. Barcelona contain a large number of pint-sized players such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, Pedro and Messi, while their game is based on skill and technique. Inter have less guile about them, and prefer to push their weight around, a trait that many people believe is a reason they have often struggled in Europe. In terms of size, Mayweather has a big advantage, standing at 5ft 8in to Pacquiao’s 5ft 6½ in, with a reach advantage of 72in to 67in. With Pacman naturally much smaller, some experts say this could prove decisive. Yet it didn’t hinder the Filipino in recent fights as he moved up the weights to crush bigger men like Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Similarly, the Barcelona trio of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi are tipped by many to finish in the Top 3 of this year’s Ballon d’Or, despite all being under 5ft 7in.
Support
In terms of support and fanbase, there are again many similarities. Barcelona play for Catalonia but they have the support of most neutrals due to the beautiful football they play. Pacquiao fights for the Philippines, but his exciting style means he also boasts the support of boxing fans all around the world.
With regards to Inter, some would joke that they don’t play for Italy because they only have three Italians in their first team squad, while they only really have the support of their own fans and are not at all popular in wider circles. Mayweather is often accused of fighting for himself, and he is disliked even in the United States.
Personality & Popularity
Character and personality is also interesting. Pacquiao is a very humble person, who refuses to indulge in pre-and-post fight trash talking. It would be fair to say that Barcelona don’t have too many enemies within the game, and their current coach Pep Guardiola was universally praised for his conduct following the Champions League final win over Manchester United.
Inter are not so P.R friendly. Super confident/arrogant Jose Mourinho has made himself an enemy to almost every Calcio figure since arriving in Italy last year, while the regular snipes of president Massimo Moratti towards Juventus and Milan, and regarding Calciopoli, has won him few friends over the last few seasons too. Mayweather has become infamous for his arrogance, earning himself the nickname Money Mayweather due to his boastfully lavish, materialistic lifestyle where he shows off his riches by counting his money and throwing it into the camera.
Reputation
Finally, we move onto status and reputation. This is where things get spicy. Barcelona are renowned as the best team in the world following their treble-winning antics of last season. Pacquiao is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. These successes are purely down to their own achievements. The Mexicutioner has never dodged an opponent – as proven by the list of illustrious fighters he has faced such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and, of course, Miguel Cotto who he destroyed in such devastating fashion 10 days ago.
As for Inter, many people argue that their recent Italian dominance which has seen them win four Scudetti in succession has been more down to a power shift after the Calciopoli scandal that removed and weakened much of the opposition. In the case of Mayweather, the American’s perfect unbeaten record also clouds over reality.
The 32-year-old has been incredibly selective throughout his career, only choosing opponents who were either small (Juan Marquez), old (Oscar De La Hoya, Marquez) or over-rated and over-sold (Ricky Hatton, Arturo Gatti). This has led him to being referred by some as ‘Fraud’ Mayweather. Despite being a Welterweight for so long, Floyd has continuously dodged top-quality fighters such as Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Cotto.
When Barcelona welcome Inter to the Camp Nou, the whole world will be watching and everything will be at stake. Should the Spaniards fail to win, they will run the real risk of failing to qualify for the knockout round. Meanwhile, should the Italians lose they will have to win a tricky final game at home to Rubin Kazan to guarantee progression.
Pacquiao is the best boxer in the world, while Barcelona are the best football team in the world. But a defeat for Pacquiao will see him lose that status to Mayweather, while a defeat for Barcelona will see them lose their tag and sit on the verge of CL elimination.
In the words of the legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer: “Let’s get ready to rumble.”
What are your views on this topic? Is Barcelona-Inter like Pacquiao-Mayweather? Who do you think will win both these clashes? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
Source: goal.com
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