If my teenage years taught me anything, it’s that waiting for something to happen for five years doesn’t mean it’s going to be good. In fact, it’s probably going to be disappointing, a bit shameful and over very quickly.
This week’s episode of Manny and Floyd, the podcast all about the big fight, takes a look at expectation. Are they the surest way to disappointment? Is Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather well past its best? How can we make sure we enjoy it?
Matthew Bazell, the author of The Greatest Fights That Never Were, is of the opinion that both fighters are over the hill.
“When Pacquiao fought Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in 2008 his performances were so terrifying; here we had a guy who could beat Floyd Mayweather, and that was the fight we wanted to see,” he says. “I just don’t think that Manny quite has the same aura that he had back then.”
Luckily, not everyone agrees. Grantland editor Rafe Bartholomew, for example, reckons that Pacquiao vs Mayweather is still one of the best fights in the sport.
“Floyd has never dropped down from being the best fighter in the world and Manny has built himself back into that after being knocked out in 2012,” he says. “These guys are close enough to the top of their games for this to be a great fight.”
We’ve also got sports psychologist Abra Garfield on the show, talking about how you can maximize your enjoyment (and beer drinking) on fight night.
Is it still good?
Click here to get Manny and Floyd on your phone and find out.
