Pacquiao vs. Mayweather will define an era -- Examiner

By Lorne Scoggins, Examiner.com

It's a rare occurrence in boxing. The two best pound-for-pound fighters are currently fighting in the same weight class, and it's arguable as to who is truly the best.

Yahoo says it's Mayweather. The Ring Magazine says it's Pacquiao.

Floyd fans say Manny's no match for Floyd's quick, slick, defensive genius, and that the former's aggressiveness will play right into Floyd's technically skilled hands.

Manny fans say that Floyd's defense will prove to be penetrable for the 'Pacific Hurricane's' work-rate and by sheer volume of punches, the undefeated pugilist will eventually kiss the canvas for the 10-count.

Let's face it. Both fighters are brilliant in their own right. If they get in the ring together, there will be a sense of the unknown, an anticipation, and a certain tension and excitement the likes of which that only these two particular men can bring to the ring.

There's only one way to solve the riddle; one way to hush the critics, fanatics, and idolizers of both fighters who light up the boxing forums and comments sections of articles with heated debate of why their guy is the best.

Joe Frazier was a great fighter, but unfortunately for him, he was a contemporary of Muhammad Ali. Ali didn't take away from Frazier's greatness, but he overshadowed it by two very hard-earned victories. The fact that Frazier won the first fight of their trilogy, is overshadowed by the fact that Ali won the last two. The greatness of both fighters lies in the blood, sweat, and tears they invested in each match. To the delight of boxing fans, both men left everything they had in the ring.

In a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, somebody must win and somebody must lose. Somebody will prove to be the best, and the other will have to settle for second.

So many people have invested so much of themselves in the match that multitudes of fans of one pugilist or the other will be heartbroken, while fans of the winner will surely gloat and mock.

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr didn't get where they are by being slackers. There is no lack of heart, no lack of desire, and no lack of discipline to be noted. Like Ali and Frazier, Pacquiao and Mayweather will give 101% of themselves.

Dale Pippin of Seligman said, "No matter who wins, there's no shame in either of these fighters losing to the other. They're the best boxers in the sport."

This is what it's all about.

This is boxing at its best.

Send questions and comments to lscoggins@8countnews.com

Source: examiner.com