A fight for the ages

By the time the curtains fell on the mystical, at times whirlwind, evening of March 8, 1971 in New York City, the strife between black, liberal America and its conservative, pro-war face had reached a boiling point. Thousands in the crowd that evening left Madison Square Garden despondent. Muhammad Ali - a symbol of the country's anti-establishment movement - had just been handed his first professional boxing loss by Joe Frazier - the adopted face of white America - after 15 brutal rounds of battle.

During the fight, seated in the front row at ringside, Woody Allen cupped his cheeks and went "whoa!" several times watching the two great men punch. A chicly-dressed Miles Davis and Hugh Hefner, both seated next to him, watched in equal wonderment. Behind them, a Madison Square Garden teeming with delirious fans oscillated between Frazier and Ali all night. But it was Frazier who had the final say, landing a crushing left hook in the opening exchanges of the 15th round that left Ali wiggling on the canvas and gasping for air. An endearing clash of style and culture, this Ali-Frazier bout went down in boxing annals as the "Fight of the Century".
 
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. weren't even born at the time. And yet, in a fight that has spawned the same kind of expectations as 44 years ago, Pacquiao and Mayweather will square off tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Unlike in 1971, there are no subplots that would need settling. Just two phenomenal athletes going at each other for the title of the greatest pound-for-pound boxer that has ever lived. A win for Pacquiao will not only confirm his status as the most versatile fighter of his generation, but will also snap Mayweather's 47-0 undefeated streak. For Mayweather, a victory and we will be convinced that the self-assuming title of "The Best Ever" that he has bestowed upon himself is true after all.

The fight that many feel should have taken place five years ago is finally happening. Mayweather is 38 now, Pacquiao, 37. Negotiations for the fight first started in 2009, but an amicable solution could not be reached as both camps kept sparring over the purse that would be made available to the two boxers. There was also a perception that Mayweather wanted to avoid the fight in a bid to eclipse Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0. He feared that Pacquiao would be the man to put an end to his unblemished professional record.

At Thursday's press conference - the final one before the fight - the buffoonery that marks such tempestuous occasions was surprisingly missing. Both men looked at each other in the eye, but there was little that was said. Pacquiao was in his usual element, exhibiting the affable and grounded nature that took him from the streets of Manila to becoming one of the most recognisable faces on the planet. The Mayweather that we saw was not the one we're used to seeing - derisive and in-your-face. He spoke in a somewhat subdued manner, playing down the occasion and stating that he was hoping for a good fight. A sense of mutual respect was there for all to see.

In the ring, you can expect Mayweather to look for an early knockout. He will face a formidable challenge in tacking the Filipino's southpaw stance as in the past, he has struggled against southpaws, namely Zab Judah and DeMarcus Corley. Pacquiao's fast punches, thrown in from all directions, will pose a problem for Mayweather, but the American's greater reach is likely to balance that equation.

Five years ago, when Pacquiao was in his prime, he would have easily got the better of Mayweather. But his performances have dipped remarkably since he knocked out Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton six years ago. Against Juan Manuel Marquez three years ago, Pacquiao was uncharacteristically erratic, throwing wild punches and ultimately getting battered in the sixth round by the Mexican.

Mayweather will take time to adjust to Pacquiao's speed and guile, but once he sorts him out, he is likely to dominate. Pacquiao, on the other hand, must not be afraid of making this a drab affair. Mayweather defends extremely well and Pacquiao would do well to force the American to go on the offensive. One shouldn't be surprised if this one goes to the judges' scorecards.

In a lot of ways, this duel is likely to spark a boxing revival. Not since Lennox Lewis sent a hapless Mike Tyson packing to the floor in Memphis in 2002, has the world seen a fight of such gargantuan significance. Indian fans will miss out on watching the fight as it is not available for pay-per-viewing in the country.

The early shots have been fired, an entrancing battle is upon us. The crown of the finest boxer of this generation awaits Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or Manny Pacquiao.