Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Tale of Tape, Fight Records and More for Both Boxers

Years of wondering and fantasizing about a day that would seemingly never come makes way for Saturday's colossal fight between boxing titans Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

No major sport can separate its two biggest stars in different universes for over a decade. The NFL makes a point to schedule Peyton Manning against Tom Brady. In order for Stephen Curry or James Harden to file a claim as basketball's best, they'll eventually have to go through LeBron James first.

Yet boxing's two premier pound-for-pound fighters operated far away from the other, with their paths only colliding amid speculation and teasing of a match that felt less probable than the Avengers actually showing up in Times Square.

On Saturday night, Mayweather will put his undefeated record on the line against Pacquiao, who has yearned to get a stab at his distant rival. Here's how the two icons stack up heading into the Las Vegas spectacle.

Tale of the Tape 

Floyd Mayweather	vs.	Manny Pacquiao
47-0 (26 KO)	W-L	57-5-2 (38 KO)
5'8"	HT	5'6"
147	WT	147
38	Age	36
72"	Reach	67"
Orthodox	Stance	Southpaw
363	RDs Fought	407

Preview

In terms of meeting the outlandish hype, Mayweather and Pacquiao find themselves in an impossible situation.

Fans expecting fast-paced carnage will be disappointed. Once he steps into the ring, Mayweather is the polar opposite of his lavish, showy persona. He's careful and calculated, never letting emotion egg him into becoming overzealous.

Since knocking out Victor Ortiz in 2011, "Money" has won his last five bouts via decision. None were thrillers, instead tactical bouts as he slowly picks apart an overmatched adversary through 12 rounds.

Even against Pacquiao, he won't drastically deviate from a winning strategy. As highlighted by the Washington Post's Josh Planos, defense remains Mayweather's calling card:

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The clear advantage in the fight is found on the defensive end, and Mayweather has it handedly. Mayweather, who has boxed 363 professional rounds, has officially been knocked down once in his career. He is the closest analogy boxing has to fighting an apparition. His athleticism and agility allow him the ability to evade any situation, get off of the ropes and instantaneously spin the momentum of the fight. When that proficiency is coupled with a tough chin and the quickest counter-punch in the sport, it’s borderline unfair to expect anyone to keep up with him in the ring.

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Getting the fight he has desired for years, the aggressive Pacquiao is more likely to chase a memorable knockout. Per BBC Sports' Ben Dirs, he knows the fans are shelling out a lot of cash to be entertained. 

"It's all business for him," said Pacquiao. "For me, it's about giving the fans who are paying all this money a great fight. They deserve that."

The 36-year-old, however, is also smart enough not to fall into Mayweather's trap. His usually brash opponent has remained reserved during the build-up, playing mind games while hiding from his past. If Pacquiao goes for blood, Mayweather will capitalize.

Since dropping consecutive fights in 2012, Pacquiao has shown a more conservative side in three victories by unanimous decision. While remaining a far more high-volume puncher than Mayweather, he reined in his energy to avoid repeating his sixth-round knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez.

Al Bello/Getty Images

After routinely rattling knockouts early in his career, "Pac-Man" has yet to earn a victory via KO since 2009. Mayweather hasn't been knocked down in 14 years, when Carlos Hernandez sent him to the mat during the sixth round.

Both veterans have matured in the ring, combating age with savvy. People paying plenty of cash to watch two men hit each other won't be pleased to see them pick their spots in a tepid battle.

But then again, isn't it better to get their full money's worth with 12 rounds? When something is labeled the anything of the century, grand expectations follow. Anything short of boxing's most thrilling bout ever will leave viewers feeling short-changed, so temper expectations before the opening bell.