48-0 and the end of a remarkable boxing generation
Boxing’s biggest ever attraction fight, it was what it was, what it was expected to be. Not necessarily what it should have been, but that’s far from the point.
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One of the greatest boxers; yes boxers, ever, showcased his counter effective boxing style against a man who is notoriously famous for his fast combinations and knockout power.
In and out, with a higher percentage of shots landed; 34% to 19% to be precise, and that is how this generation’s premier fight was won.
‘At Last’, as it was promoted, a statement which signifies the convergence of two entities, long illusive, and now it’s over. Yes, just like that, done.
The fight which fans have desired for the past five years has happened, and although the result may not leave many with the taste of sweet satisfaction, it indicates the end of the latest generation of boxing.
Floyd still has one fight left on his contract, one which will more than likely help him end his career at 49-0, but with Money claiming he will relinquish his WBA, WBC and WBO welterweight titles, it means that once again, someone else must step up as boxing’s premier name.
It’s not just Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao as well runs low on options for marquee names. Amir Khan is the one that constantly emerges above the others, but after that, who else?
The Klitschko brothers, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Jr., Floyd and Manny. The were the last of the old guard, the cream of this generation’s production, and with three out of six effectively retired, the clock ticks down to closure on such a remarkable group of boxing superstars.
It’s not just that but it’s hard to look at where boxing’s next king will come from. Adrien Broner was for so long thought as the future, but that boat has well and truly sailed with the loss to Marcos Maidana.
In the United Kingdom, Kell Brook looks promising, but with Khan seemingly not interested in a fight, it’s questionable where the Sheffield boxers first monumental win will come from.
Tyson Fury as well, but his career will unfortunately be defined on whether or not he will face; and can beat the younger Klitschko sibling; irony intended.
Julio César Chávez, Jr. is extremely inconsistent, Gennady Golovkin has promise but lacks tribulations. Keith Thurman, another hopeful, but still has so much further to go in the sport; Canelo Alvarez too.
If we look back in nostalgic exuberance, our generation has really witnessed something special. We may never have had a heavyweight division like that of the past 60 years, but the lower weight classes; welter specifically, have shone through.
The Oscar De La Hoyas, the Ricky Hattons, they will never be replaced, and the Mayweathers and Pacquios; the true parenthetic pairing of boxing will likely be unrivalled for years to come.
Will we ever see a corresponding but equally dissimilar rise of two names in boxing again? Probably, but to what scale and size is the question.
Whether you paid $100 on pay-per-view, watched it at a bar, read the tweets, pretended to care, simulated disinterest, you spoke about it, you spread the word – you were a part of it.
The end of a remarkable generation of boxing. Bitter-sweet, yet fulfilling in so many different ways.
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