By Jordan Buscarini
For years now a global debate and extreme anticipation has swarmed not only the boxing community, but the sports world concerning the dream match up of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Regardless if your an avid boxing fan, or an occasional watcher, you have developed an opinion. Both fighters have a cult like following, and why not? On one hand you have the highly likable Pac-Man, who continues to say and do the right thing outside the ring, a congressmen, and without question one of the most extraordinary boxers this generation has seen, who brings the action with his rapid fire style. On the other hand you have the cocky, smooth talking, always entertaining, undefeated Floyd Mayweather, who’s style and grace in the rings spells “Sweet Science.” If you mix the ingredients, this is a fight that would save boxing correct?
Lets stroll down memory lane, and visit the last time experts and media all over agreed that an individual fight would save boxing. The time: May 5th, 2007. The Fight: Floyd Mayweather Jr. VS Oscar De La Hoya. In some sense, the Golden Boy possessed much of the fan base Pacquiao has, with his lovable personality outside the ring, and his undeniable accomplishments inside the ring. The fight catapulted boxing into the national sports headlines for the months leading up to it. Weeks after the glamor of the Pay Per View and Box Office smash evaporated, boxing was once again in a similar state… ousted from the main stream spotlight, with the less than hardcore fans wanting a re-match between the two greats.
It seems that more and more hype and build ups continue to bring a fight that could possibly “save” boxing, and bring it back to where it was a mere two decades ago. The fact of the matter is, no one fight can save the great sport of boxing. However, the time frame from now until November 14th, could place the sport back in the national sports mainstream, for several years to come. No, we don’t have Mayweather VS Pacquiao, but we do have some sort of that equation, along with some other stellar attractions coming soon.
Finally, the Heavyweight Division has a fight with intrigue, that is rapidly approaching. All opinions aside concerning the skills of David Haye, he has the media talking. His upcoming bout with Wladimir Klitschko on July 2nd could lead to an epic segment of fights, which has the possibility of giving us unification in a division that has been dominated by two fighters for quite sometime.
July 23rd We will get to see a Junior Welterweight clash between two more high profiled boxers in Amir Khan and Zab Judah. A very appealing fight, which once again provides us with a unification opportunity.
September 17th we get the highly anticipated return of Floyd Mayweather, as he will enter the ring as the heavy favorite over the young and upcoming Victor Ortiz. Regardless what the critics say about Andre Berto, the April match up between he and Ortiz was a fight that put fans on the edge of their seat. The combination is intriguing at the very least.
November 12th we will get what looks to be the final installment of Pacquiao-Marquez. If this fight is a shell of the first two meetings between the two warriors, no one will be disappointed. Marquez deserved a third crack at Manny in May, when Mosley cashed in on a huge pay day.
These four fights do not stand alone, with the victors of each will bring talks of upcoming match ups that are sure to please even the less than casual fan. One individual fight cannot save boxing, a solid six months of fights can. Finally there is an extensive time period in which major fights, with major personalities will take place. Floyd Mayweather Jr. VS Manny Pacquiao is the fight boxing deserves, but it is not the fight boxing needs.
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Jordan Buscarini graduated from Southern Utah University in 2010 with a degree in broadcasting with a minor in journalism. Is currently the Sports Director at Castle Country Radio in Price, Utah as well as the host of the Daily Sports Show “Drive Time Sports”