"A decade and a half ago during their prime, they should have fought two or three times, producing a series or trilogy for the history books; two of the greatest to ever step into the ring meeting to crown the best fighter of their generation. The offensive relentlessness of Pacquiao against the defensive genius of Mayweather. It could have been Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier-type stuff."
"They finally met in 2015, with Mayweather defeating Pacquiao by unanimous decision in a mostly listless affair. It set box-office records because of the pent-up demand, even though Pacquiao had already begun to fade considerably. Now we get a sequel to a bad movie."
"The first fight grossed an estimated $400 million, at least, yet despite that payout, and all the others in their careers, both fighters apparently need money this badly. This isn't even a classic rematch—it's a cash grab built on nostalgia of what never was during their prime years."
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao announced a rematch scheduled for September 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, broadcast on Netflix. This fight arrives as a disappointing sequel to their 2015 encounter, which should have occurred during their prime years between 2010 and 2012 when both fighters were at peak performance. Politics, caution, and various obstacles prevented their meeting during that critical period. Their 2015 fight, won by Mayweather via unanimous decision, generated massive revenue despite being largely uneventful and occurring after Pacquiao had already declined significantly. The upcoming rematch appears motivated primarily by financial necessity rather than sporting merit, reflecting boxing's troubled state and suggesting both fighters require additional income despite their previous wealth.
Read at ESPN.com
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