MAYWEATHER PACQUIAO

There is far more riding on the outcome of the Floyd Mayweather Jr head-to-head with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas than a large pile of dollars and bragging rights.

The promoters – or more central to the $400 million the fighters will split on a 60-40 basis – payper-view network Showtime, have locked the 300kg gorilla firmly out of the hype-heavy room.

The glib tag “Fight of the Century” has been freely bandied about, a catch-all phrase that encompasses all the exaggerated expectations, and one might even add grasping greed, of a tech-savvy modern world.

The Mayweather-Pacquiao match is certainly not the classic 1974 heavyweight “Rumble in the Jungle” where Ali used the “rope a dope” to turn George Foreman’s brutal physicality inward on him.

The glowering world champion – a world away from the avuncular seller of autographed grillers – punched himself out against Ali, who suddenly sensed an opening late in the eighth round when Foreman missed with a wild swing, teetered off balance and was felled by a right cross which terminated a flurry of punches as the challenger literally exploded off the ropes.

Neither is it the epic “Thrilla in Manila” when Ali, the title back in his flashing hands, beat Joe Frazier when a battered Smokin’ Joe failed to come out for the 15th round in Quezon City during the third meeting between the pair.

Frazier wanted to come out. Across the ring, Ali had asked his corner to cut his gloves off. They refused and the outcome took the shape of pugilistic legend.

These are in reality little fellahs – sublimely talented as they certainly are; the gamecocks of boxing, welterweights who come in at less than 67kg.

A far closer analogy is between the fabled exploits of Sugar Ray Leonard, who saw off Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns.

The Mayweather-Pacquiao match will have to be a real classic to come close to the uncompromising measure of ring history.

But, more importantly, it is about the very soul of a sport that has been sold off to the highest bidders. Any less than that – or even the immediate assurance of a rematch in a close contest – will render the resonance the bout promises a cracked and callow clarion call.