Sellout bout fails to win back fans
Source: Agencies |
May 13, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PROFESSIONAL boxing lurched uncertainly into a promotional crossroads after last week's much-hyped fight between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley in Las Vegas turned out to be a damp squib.
The WBO welterweight title bout was a sellout in front of a crowd of 16,412 crammed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena but, with Mosley focusing purely on survival, it failed to produce the expected fireworks. Filipino southpaw Pacquiao, already acknowledged as one of the best offensive fighters of all time, did his best to entertain but there was only so much he could do by attacking a defense-minded opponent.
Although Mosley was knocked down in the third round, the fight went the full 12 rounds and the crowd repeatedly booed the American's negative approach as Pacquiao eased to a unanimous points victory.
The popularity of boxing among the younger generation has been severely dented in recent years and Saturday's bout, which could have helped arrest that decline, will be seen by most as a failed experiment.
Top Rank Promotion's Bob Arum had piled on the hype during the build-up to the Pacquiao-Mosley showdown.
"The reason Shane was selected for this fight is because we know that we are in the entertainment business," Arum said. "And we know that Manny Pacquiao against Shane Mosley will be one hellacious and entertaining fight. Shane is an all-action fighter and when he is in with a guy who is an action fighter as well you are going to see fireworks and a real exciting fight."
After the Filipino outclassed Mosley to record his 14th consecutive win since his loss to Erik Morales in March 2005, Arum defended his decision to put the two fighters into the ring together.
"Nobody can really perform against him (Pacquiao)," Arum said. "Some of these guys are pretty good fighters but nobody in their whole experience has ever faced somebody like 'Pacman.' Everybody is going to look the same way."
Perhaps the biggest problem facing contemporary boxing has been the failure, so far, of promoters to put Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in the ring together.
Fans have long savored the prospect of a mega showdown between defensive genius Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao - if only to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach believes the fighters would each make US$100 million from a fight.
"I wish we could just come to a happy medium and make that fight because it's really hurting boxing," Roach said. "I travel the world and everywhere I go people tell me: 'Make that fight happen'.
"I don't care where it takes place - that fight would be so big.
The WBO welterweight title bout was a sellout in front of a crowd of 16,412 crammed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena but, with Mosley focusing purely on survival, it failed to produce the expected fireworks. Filipino southpaw Pacquiao, already acknowledged as one of the best offensive fighters of all time, did his best to entertain but there was only so much he could do by attacking a defense-minded opponent.
Although Mosley was knocked down in the third round, the fight went the full 12 rounds and the crowd repeatedly booed the American's negative approach as Pacquiao eased to a unanimous points victory.
The popularity of boxing among the younger generation has been severely dented in recent years and Saturday's bout, which could have helped arrest that decline, will be seen by most as a failed experiment.
Top Rank Promotion's Bob Arum had piled on the hype during the build-up to the Pacquiao-Mosley showdown.
"The reason Shane was selected for this fight is because we know that we are in the entertainment business," Arum said. "And we know that Manny Pacquiao against Shane Mosley will be one hellacious and entertaining fight. Shane is an all-action fighter and when he is in with a guy who is an action fighter as well you are going to see fireworks and a real exciting fight."
After the Filipino outclassed Mosley to record his 14th consecutive win since his loss to Erik Morales in March 2005, Arum defended his decision to put the two fighters into the ring together.
"Nobody can really perform against him (Pacquiao)," Arum said. "Some of these guys are pretty good fighters but nobody in their whole experience has ever faced somebody like 'Pacman.' Everybody is going to look the same way."
Perhaps the biggest problem facing contemporary boxing has been the failure, so far, of promoters to put Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in the ring together.
Fans have long savored the prospect of a mega showdown between defensive genius Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao - if only to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach believes the fighters would each make US$100 million from a fight.
"I wish we could just come to a happy medium and make that fight because it's really hurting boxing," Roach said. "I travel the world and everywhere I go people tell me: 'Make that fight happen'.
"I don't care where it takes place - that fight would be so big.
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