Boxing has had a somewhat difficult struggle in terms of mainpopularity over some years now, these difficult times were compounded by its own internal flaws as well as outside competition which overtook it massively in the shape of MMA.
Going into the biggest fight of the decade everyone is debating the likely outcomes; what it will mean for either man, rematches before the first bout has even started and even the fascinating topic of gum-shields. It has only been touched on ever so slightly though, that this could be a fight to thrust Boxing back into the mainstream.
With all the money, hype, sponsorship, talking and waiting, we finally will be greeted with the bout between two of the best pound for pound fighters of their generation, arguably, ever. With many divisions in the sport looking competitive and exciting for once at each respective domestic level, could this one Welterweight bout tip it over the edge and grasp the worlds attention again to a sport just waiting to make its comeback?
You have two fighters renowned respectively for; the best defense in the sport coupled with supreme counter punching, the second, pure speed coupled with power. We have one man fighting orthodox, another southpaw. Everything about these two fighters differing styles and personas leads to make this a thoroughly exciting fight.
The money and figures involved in this single bout back up and contradict the state of boxing at the same time. The PPV figures will smash previous records, the tickets - although few were on general sale - sold out in under a minute. It has been the main sporting talk for the whole week world wide. Not every person you speak to knows each boxer and their past, some people don't know anything of either boxer. Yet, the interest is at boiling point for this bout. You only had to watch the environment at the live weigh-in. That, in itself was electric. Possibly because it solidifies that the bout will indeed happen. That metaphorical pinch if you will.
With a fight of this magnitude economically, surely the Boxing authorities have to try and have this level of fight happening more often? With so many young talented boxers coming through in differing divisions, and a lot of more experience boxers around, surely the sport should be able to capitalise on an already talented pool of sportspeople instead of mismatching fighters for the sake of the easy wins. For the sport to be taken seriously and grow, boxers have to start facing the best opponents out there for them.
Although this fight almost never happened for the very reasons hindering the sport (i.e. ducking fights) now that it has come to fruition, it should act as a springboard of realization for the governing bodies. If that does happen, it could well be the catalyst to bring boxing back to the forefront of global sports. Back where it belongs.