Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao: Who is Under More Pressure to Win Championship Fight?
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have less than a month before they will collide in their May 2 super-fight.
Although it took nearly six years and constant negotiations, the two will face off in a big legacy match.
Both are Welterweight champions, both have named "Fighter of the Year" multiple times, and both Mayweather and Pacquiao are considered past their primes. So, who is under more pressure to win this long-awaited fight?
Why Mayweather is Under More Pressure
Mayweather is 47-0 in his professional boxing career. He's never even been fully knocked down to the canvas before, let alone lose a match. Having said that, the pressure couldn't be higher. His undefeated streak is on the line, and he is the favorite to win this match, according to the odds makers so far.
Pacquiao has lost five times (four if we don't count the Timothy Bradley robbery) in his career. For Mayweather, remaining undefeated is everything. He has been criticized his whole career for avoiding the best opponents, such as Pacquiao. Losing to Pacquiao would be absolutely devastating for Mayweather, because he refused to face him and agreed to terms for so many years.
Mayweather is the No. 1-ranked Welterweight fighter today.
Mayweather has controlled this whole charade from beginning to now. Choosing not to face a younger Pacquiao has left some doubt among boxing fans. The Mayweather camp has organized everything from location, date, fight time, exclusive naming rights, and even drug testing policies.
Why Pacquiao is Under More Pressure
Mayweather may be the undefeated one, but Pacquiao was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the 2000s. Pacquiao also has 10 more victories and 12 more knockouts in his professional career. His last loss was to Juan Manuel Márquez in 2012, which Mayweather has posted videos of and constantly brought up in interviews.
Pacquiao has been the one who has been continuously "calling out" Mayweather in hopes of a fight. Well, he finally got what he wanted. Sure, it took a long time, but now Pacquiao will have to back up everything he's said about beating Mayweather on May 2. A loss would be more harmful for Mayweather's career, but Pacquiao may not be able to get the rematch if he loses.
Pacquiao is also feeling the pressure of leading a nation behind him. While many American boxing fans have mixed emotions over Mayweather, Pacquiao is considered a boxing God in the Philippines. Mayweather has an advantage in speed, but Pacquiao has received a lot of notoriety for his strength and power. May 2 will be the time to prove it.
Conclusion
Mayweather has more on the line because of his unblemished 47-0 career record, and his No. 1 spot in the Welterweight rankings. He has also controlled the negations since day one. Pacquiao faces a lot of pressure because he has been calling out Mayweather for several years now, and he finally got what he wanted. Time for talk is in the past.
Who do you think is under more pressure to win?
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