UPDATE: VI boxing fans react to Mayweather vs Pacquiao bout
The unification bout between arguably two of the best fighters ever, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao went the full 12 rounds with no knockdowns and no major talking points at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015.
The judges awarded a unanimous decision win to the defensive minded fighter, Mayweather, who was able to skillfully evade the usually aggressive Pacquiao.
Many in the MGM Grand Garden Arena booed when the decision was announced in favour of Mayweather as they did not seem to appreciate his defensive style but maybe wanted to see Mayweather duke it out with Pacquiao.
VI boxing fans react
Fight fans came away with mixed feelings after the much touted ‘fight of the century’ at the Le Petite Sports Bar in Baughers Bay and even though for some it lived up to the hype, for others it was a “snorefest”.
Giving his assessment after the fight, Steve E. Parillon said he thought it was a good fight. “It was neutral for me…I came to see a good fight. I watch Mayweather fight all the time. He fights the same all the time…he fights with defence and you know defence is always boring,” he said.
“Pacquiao was very aggressive, he was attacking. But like I said it is hard to beat defence in any sport. Mayweather is probably one of the greatest defensive boxers. But it was a great fight,” said Parillon. He noted too that despite who he fights, Mayweather does not ever go out of his comfort zone and he always fights his fight.
“If it is against another defensive fighter he is going to land his punches early to [score points] and then he is going to be defensive for the rest of the fight and put the pressure on the opponent to try to be aggressive,” he said.
Asked whether he would like to see a rematch, Parillon said he would, provided they actually go out and fight each other. “But it is all about wins and money and everybody have to fight their style,” he said.
“Mayweather’s style is stiff defence and he is undefeated doing it so I can’t blame him. And guess what? They are the ones with all the money…millions of dollars.
Taking in the fight also at Le Petite Sports Bar was Elvis ‘Juggy’ Harrigan who said
“Mayweather had a longer reach and it looked like he was the stronger and bigger fellow. In boxing a lot of times if you have the reach you would normally have the advantage no matter how powerful the other fighter is when he is short. Because when you’re short you have to get in under and try to punch but if the man has the reach he has the advantage,” he said.
“Mayweather fought a good fight because Pacquiao is a guy who likes to get you on the ropes and punch you but Mayweather was careful to stay off the ropes and I think he did an excellent job going on the ropes but escaping from the ropes,” he said.
He believed Mayweather came into the fight not expecting a knockout but expecting to basically outbox Pacquiao on points and he said that plan worked flawlessly. “But it was a good fight overall and I thought it lived up to the hype and I see a rematch,” he said.
Mr Harrigan believes that even though a rematch clause might not have been in the contract, one could be negotiated based on the revenue success of the fight. “If you can raise $300 to $400 million in a few days, you could get a rematch and double that,” said Harrigan. “Remember they didn’t have a knockout so they are still basically even,” he said.
Another young fight fan said, “It was clearly what it was. Mayweather took control of the fight early. He felt it out for the first three rounds and after that Mayweather had him. It was clear to see who was in charge of the fight. Mayweather was hitting more and Pacquiao was firing but he was missing,” he said. Asked whom he was backing, he said he was backing Mayweather.
A young man in the crowd was clearly not jubilant at the end of the fight and just as this news site suspected, he was a Pacquiao backer. “I had Pacquiao but to me he didn’t fight how he usually fights. He was too laid back and he played right into Floyd’s hands,” he said. “Manny won a couple of early rounds but then Mayweather started to dominate,” he said.
The reaction at Captain Mulligan's
Over at Captain Mulligan’s in Nanny Cay, hundreds of boxing fans gathered to witness the fight on the three big projector screens placed on the lawns.
Of the many persons there, large amounts were Filipinos who quickly left the venue after the decision was announced.
“Pacquiao needed to do more. Floyd is a champion fighting in his country and Pacquiao was never going to get a fight scored in his favour once it’s a close one. He needed to throw more punches,” said Hermie who thinks that Pacquiao may now retire to concentrate on politics in the Philippines. “I think he should retire now.”
One disappointed Filipino said she felt Pacquiao won the fight as she made her way out of the venue.
I am disappointed in the display of Pacquiao,” said Ryan. “Maybe we will have a rematch.”
Another Filipino commented that it was a good fight and he was pleased that Pacquiao tried. “Mayweather is bigger and stronger,” Pacquiao did his best he said.
Gavin, who was supporting Pacquiao, said the fight lacked the intensity he was expecting. He, however, felt the fight was much closer than the judges had it.
Francis, who was backing Mayweather to win, said Mayweather was too skillful. “He never gets involved in brawls. He is a smart fighter and it did it for him again.”
See story published May 3, 2015
UPDATE: Floyd Mayweather wins 'Fight of the Century'
- defeats Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision to remain undefeated
In what was billed as the most anticipated fight of the decade and the richest boxing match of all time, American Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr defeated Filipino Manny Pacquiao in a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015 to preserve his unbeaten record and unify the WBO, WBC and WBA welterweight titles.
Pacquiao was very aggressive early in the fight but Mayweather soon began to pick his punches and was particulary effective with the straight right.
There were some flurries by Pacquiao which excited many of his fans but they never seem telling enough against the bigger Mayweather, who was also enjoying a 5-inch reach advantage.
Judges turned in scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112.
Mayweather paid much respect to Pacquiao afer the fight saying the Filipino is a great fighter and even though his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr, wanted him to do more in the ring he had to take his time against an opponent like Pacquiao.
"I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao. I see now why he is at the pinnacle of boxing," Mayweather said. "I knew he was going to push me, win some rounds. I wasn't being hit with a lot of shots until I sit in a pocket and he landed a lot of shots."
Pacquiao said he thought he did enough to win the fight, which caught many of the commentators by surprise. Asked why he didn't throw more punches, Pacquiao said Mayweather kept moving which made it difficult to hit him.
"I thought I won the fight. He didn't do nothing except move outside," Pacquiao said. "I got him many times, I saw the punches."
After the fight, it was disclosed that Pacquiao injured his right shoulder in training and that Nevada boxing commissioners denied a request for him to take an anti-inflammatory shot in his dressing room before the fight.
Meanwhile, Mayweather, 38, said he was going to fight again in September while Pacquiao, 36, said he was going to take a vacation and then hear what his promotor Bob Arum has to say.
The fight was viewed at various sports bars via pay-per-view across the Virgin Islands.
Hundreds, including many Filipinos, turned up at Captain Mulligan's Sports Bar in Nanny Cay to view the action on the big projector screens.
It was also crowded at Le Petite Sports Bar where many boxing fans turned up to view the 'fight of the century'.
The consensus among local boxing fans was that the decision was the right one, although some said the fight should have been scored much closer than the judges had it.
More details in a later publication.
See previous story published May 2, 2015
Local sports bars gearing up for ‘fight of the century’ tonight
It’s finally here! The long awaited clash between arguably two of the best fighters ever, Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr and Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao, happens tonight May 2, 2015 and sports bars in the Virgin Islands have been busy preparing to host a large number of boxing fans expected to turn up to view on pay-per-view.
The undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr (47-0, 26 knockouts) and Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) will duke it out in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in what's been dubbed the "Fight of the Century."
The long-awaited welterweight title unification bout has tripled boxing's live-gate record and should become the most lucrative pay-per-view event in history.
Captain Mulligan’s preparing to welcome large crowd
Of all the many sports bars that may be showing the fight for their customers, Captain Mulligan’s Sports Bar is expected to draw a significant amount of fans as is usually the case for major sports events and so the proprietors have been making special arrangements since about a week ago to accommodate customers and to ensure they don’t miss a punch tonight.
According to Randy George, one of the proprietors of Captain Mulligan’s Sports Bar, there will be three projector screens positioned strategically to ensure fans are always in clear view of the action. This is in addition to five large television screens located at the main bar area as well as at two special bars that have been set up on the lawns to serve customers.
“Wherever you are you will be able to see the fight,” George told Virgin Islands News Online.
The commentary will also be played on loud speakers to ensure fans are always in tune with the fight that has been the buzz for weeks.
Captain Mulligan’s will also be doing Heineken specials (6 for $15) and Cruzan rum specials. “We are also doing some ribs and barbeque as well as servings of wings.”
Heineken girls will also be coming around attending to customers who may wish to equip themselves with buckets of beers. “And even if you want to come to the bars yourself, you wouldn’t miss anything because we have television screens there too.”
George said most of his customers want Mayweather to win but he thinks it will be a very interesting fight. “The favourite among customers is Mayweather and I think it’s because of the last time Pacquiao was knocked out, now everyone is anticipating that Mayweather may be able to take him out too…They didn’t even sign up for a rematch so whoever wins may retire after so both of them will really fight for that title.”
Special parking arrangements will come into effect from around 7pm and George is encouraging persons to come early to ensure proper and orderly parking.
Le Petite Sports Bar ready for fight night
Meanwhile, Le Petite Sports Bar in Baughers Bay is also a usual spot for sports fans and tonight is expected to be no different.
Proprietor of the sports bar, Clive Baronville said there will be specials on Coors Light beers and he is expecting a lot of boxing fans to flood the sports bar tonight.
He said many of his customers seem to be against Mayweather to lose but doesn’t seem their reasons are valid enough. What he is betting on, however, is that fans can expect an entertaining fight and would be able to view comfortably on the seven television screens at Le Petite Sports Bar.
Mayweather a 2-1 favourite
At MGM Resorts' sports books, Mayweather, 38, is less than a 2-1 favorite to win. But the odds are nearly 3-1 that the bout will go the 12-round distance because Pacquiao, 36, hasn't scored a knockout in his past nine fights, and Mayweather, 38, most recently decked a foe in 2011, a surprise punch against Victor Ortiz.
Mayweather flashed larger biceps than usual as he weighed in. He said he'll earn more than $200 million for the fight; Pacquiao could get paid $100 million.
Pacquiao is relying on conditioning and a fight plan scripted by famed trainer Freddie Roach. He shrugged off the fact Mayweather has five more inches of reach and a two-inch height advantage.
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19 Responses to “UPDATE: VI boxing fans react to Mayweather vs Pacquiao bout”
It's a business, the businesses places won like May did last night, Monday is work & school & hope you all had it figured out before.
American life still really have we/you all gone.
The winner got 190 million an the loser got 120 million... What u guy's get... Smh... Jus a long boring @$$ fight... I miss Tyson an man like foreman Fight's....