One of the most anticipated bouts in boxing is a little more than 2 weeks away as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will finally fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both men faced off for the first time during a press conference held in Los Angeles back in March. A lot of people were surprised at how much bigger Mayweather looked than Pacquiao.
During media day at his gym this week, FightHype.com asked Mayweather if he was surprised at how much bigger he appeared to be than his Filipino counterpart. "He wears the lifts in his shoes. I know all the little secrets that he do. He wears little lifts in his shoes so he can be a little taller," said Mayweather with a smile. "I don't think he expected me to be so tall and big, even though I walk around at 147, but I'm still a big welterweight."
While Mayweather will hold a size advantage, Pacquiao assured that's not a concern for him heading into this fight. During his own media day at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA, Pacquiao seemed unfazed when speaking about being the smaller guy. "I'm not thinking about [him] being bigger or taller. I've fought a taller guy like [Antonio] Margarito. He's 5'11. You know, De La Hoya and Algieri too. I'm used to it," Pacquiao would tell FightHype.
What makes this fight so important and huge is that you have the two best fighters of this era, two all-time greats, facing off to finally prove who the better man is. As big as this fight is, however, Pacquiao doesn't feel this fight alone will define his legacy in the sport. As far as he's concerned, he's already secured that. "Well, [the fight will be] part of my legacy, but the legacy that I achieved in boxing is already there. I don't want to boast myself talking about over and over the eight-time different weight divisions, but that accomplishment is, I think, you know, if you're an athlete, it's amazing. Beyond your expectations, beyond your imagination that when I start, I never imagined that I can get eight different weight divisions," said Pacquiao, who is hailed for securing eight titles in eight different weight classes.
Participating in what's sure to be the biggest lucrative fight financially in boxing history is a great accomplishment for both fighters, but even Pacquiao himself doesn't believe the fight is the biggest the sport has seen. Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, has expressed the same sentiment and Manny echoed it. "We know this fight is big fight; one of the biggest fights in boxing. I'm not saying this is the biggest because it's kind of insulting to the other fights that have been done already, but it's one of the biggest fights also," Pacquiao reiterated.
Regardless of where we end up placing this fight amongst the other classics and historic fights in the sport, this is arguably the most important fight in both fighters' careers and the biggest fight this generation will see. May 2nd can't come soon enough.
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