Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Latest Twitter Reaction Before Championship Fight
The social media storm in the build-up to the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is like nothing we've ever witnessed before for a boxing event.
While the opinions of the boxing cognoscenti have been most sought in the preparations for the Las Vegas showdown, everyone has their own view on which of these iconic fighters will have their hand raised at the end of the bout at the MGM Grand.
HBO Boxing released this engrossing video, highlighting the magnitude of the occasion:
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With the most lucrative bout in boxing history just a day away, here's a look at the latest social media buzz from Sin City and from the rest of the boxing stratosphere.
Boxing World Braces for Mayweather-Pacquiao
After years of negotiations and months of preparation for this once-in-a-lifetime sporting occasion, there are still obligations aplenty to fulfill before the ring is cleared for Mayweather and Pacquiao to square off.
Indeed, the weigh-in isn't too far away, and as we can see courtesy of Sky Sports, the stage is set for what is always an engrossing affair:
With the bout edging ever closer and tensions running high, the fighters getting on the scales can often turn into a volatile segment—especially when the two men, set to give it all, stare down on each other for the final time before the big fight.
But Pacquiao has been noticeably relaxed in front of the cameras this week, perhaps knowing that he has a lot less to lose from this one when compared to his undefeated opponent.
As we can see here, the Filipino has been spending some time with his canine companion ahead of the spectacle:
By comparison, Mayweather has been a lot more intense in his preparations.
The barbs and jibes that usually puncture the days leading up to a Vegas superfight have been scarce from the American this time around, with just the one solitary quip about the earnings each will receive on the back of this gargantuan occasion.
The man known as Money has let ESPN's Stephen Smith have an interesting insight into what it's like to be Floyd Mayweather, though, something the undefeated fighter posted on his own Twitter feed:
Throughout his career, Mayweather has never quite been to everybody's taste. His cockiness rubs some the wrong way and his fighting style—while there are few who will deny he is a defensive maestro in the ring—would certainly fall into the bracket of efficient rather than entertaining.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson had some particularly harsh words to say about the 38-year-old superstar, though:
"Mike Tyson is clearly not a fan of Mayweather...‘He’s a little, scared man. He’s a very small, scared man’ pic.twitter.com/zrJr7XPqTT
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) May 1, 2015"
One of Tyson's former opponents, Lennox Lewis, knows what's required to fight and win in Las Vegas. The former heavyweight has been in Pacquiao's camp this week, as we can see courtesy of his Twitter feed, but still expects Mayweather to come out on top on the night:
Vegas is like a home venue for the American. For boxers, these kinds of stages can enrich or debilitate, but whenever he has stepped into the ring at the MGM—or any other ring in the world, as a matter of fact—Mayweather has looked as though he owned it.
However, as Top Rank Boxing reminded us, Pacquiao is another fighter who has showcased a penchant for flourishing under the bright lights of the Strip:
The preparations and the subsequent hyperbole have felt like an event in itself in many respects, but the time is edging ever closer for both of these legendary sportsmen to settle a longstanding score in the ring.
While the glitz, glamour and lucrativeness of the entire experience has stirred expectations and will provide a fascinating backdrop, these are the two best boxers of this generation. Now, one of them has the chance to etch his name into the rich annals of sporting immortals with a win on Saturday evening.
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