Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao: The wait is over

The wait is finally over. Within the four corners of Las Vegas’ MGM Grand ring on May 2, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will come face-to-face to make boxing history in ‘the fight of the century’.

A global audience will cast their eyes towards Sin City as both 10-time world champions end years of anticipation and months of build-up in what is set to be the highest grossing fight in history, as half a billion pounds worth of revenue is expected to be generated.

Fighting on home soil, on his terms, ‘Money’ Mayweather is the heavy odds-on 5/6 favourite to sail through another 12 rounds and secure a points decision, potentially earning an unwavered 48-0 fighting record in the process.

Since claiming a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the undefeated American has yet to be toppled in his professional career, a record spanning 47 fights, and such an unorthodox defensive guard is the key component in that uncompromising winning streak.

Although, his ferocious Filipino opponent will undoubtedly provide the sternest test to that astute defence, with 36-year-old ‘Pacman’ having rampantly rallied to an impressive 38 career stoppages in 64 bouts, compared to Mayweather’s more mellow 26 knock-out victories.

It has been clear in recent ring outings that Pacquiao had lost some of that undisputed firepower which saw him become the first and only eight-division world champion, having been downed in the sixth round by Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in the pair’s fourth meeting in 2012.

Though, it was even more evident that the vicious southpaw was not completely focused in the ring during that career blip, having been out-gunned by Timothy Bradley as well when boxing was playing second fiddle to his homeland political contributions, but this time out ‘Pacman’ has been passionately concentrated.