To Boxing fans worldwide: get ready for the “fight of the century”

ESPN Sport has just reported that  the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight might happen as early as March 13 next year.

Regardless whether you favor the technical defensive style of Floyd Mayweather Jr or the blindingly fast and frenzied attacks of Manny Pacquiao, this fight is something not to be missed.  It is  poised to become the biggest event for boxing in recent times.

Both boxers are excellent professionals and crowd drawers. They are both coming from recent victories:  Pacquiao completely dominated Miguel Cotto to win the IBO welterweight title while Mayweather came out of retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez. These were popular fights which generated 1.25 million ppv buys and 1.05 ppv buys respectively.   A collision of the two boxing superstars would draw incredible interest. To quote ESPN:

[It is] a fight many believe will break the all-time record for pay-per-view buys, which is the 2.44 million units sold for Mayweather’s 2007 split decision victory against Oscar De La Hoya.

Several cities are already scrambling to host the fight, with Las Vegas, Dallas and New Orleans in the running.  New York is out since Bob Arum, Top Rank’s honcho and Pacquiao’s promoter, said that New York taxes are too high.  Most likely it would be in Las Vegas, unless the other states manage some miracle.

Such a popular and lucrative fight would raise boxing to its former status as a premier sports. Overall, it would be very good for boxing and its future.