SPORTS BYTE: 5 THINGS LEARNT FROM THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

The most expensive fight in history has been won and lost. Mayweather won

Here are five things learnt from the fight of the century.

1 Mayweather fights like a businessman.

A brilliantly economical fighter, Mayweather did not need

to throw more punches than Pacquiao by virtue of his supreme accuracy and impeccable right hand. The
combinations that had worked for the Filipino against almost every one of his other 64 professional opponents
tended to find clean air against the fleet-footed American. In rounds four and six, Pacquiao pinned Mayweather to the ropes with exhilarating bursts of
shots, but his adversary reeled away, shaking his head. Sometimes a boxer can be bluffing by his insistence that
he has not been hurt, but not on this occasion. This wasa calculated masterclass.

2 Pacquiao is on the decline.

A brilliantly economical fighter, Mayweather did not need
to throw more punches than Pacquiao by virtue of his supreme accuracy and impeccable right hand. The
combinations that had worked for the Filipino against almost every one of his other 64 professional opponents
tended to find clean air against the fleet-footed American. In rounds four and six, Pacquiao pinned Mayweather to the ropes with exhilarating bursts of shots, but his adversary reeled away, shaking his head.
Sometimes a boxer can be bluffing by his insistence that he has not been hurt, but not on this occasion. This was a calculated masterclass.

3 Mayweather heading for retirement, Pacquiao for politics.

Mayweather has consistently declared that his next fight – the concluding part of a six-bout contract with broadcasters Showtime – would be his last, and it is time
to start believing him. While he confirmed here that he would be back in the ring in September, the 38-year-old
is demonstrating little desire to eclipse Rocky Marciano’s record by going one further, and chasing a 50th win
without defeat. In his 19-year career, he has spent 18 of them as world champion, and he appears desperate to
protect those immaculate credentials. Mayweather is mindful of the fact that he is slowing, that his powers are
waning, and grasps when it is time to stop. For Pacquiao, the most sensible course of action after this, his ultimate pay-day, would be to pursue a second term
as congressman in the Philippines. His fighting career, sadly, has passed its zenith.

4 Jamie Foxx should never sing Star Spangled Banner again.

There were many bizarre rituals ahead of the opening bell. What possible reason, for example, was there for the Mexican national anthem to be played, besides the
fact that the fight was sponsored by Tecate, a Mexican beer? This was far from the most egregious musical choice, however. That belonged to whoever decided to
allow Jamie Foxx to sing *The Star Spangled Banner* ina discordant, barely listenable warble. Beyoncé, watching from ringside, must have found it excruciating.
Foxx might have delivered an admirable star turn in the biopic of Ray Charles, but this was a case of celebrity
tokenism gone mad.

5 Mayweather can be admired, but he will never be loved

Mayweather looked angry, hurt even, as he stared out at the crowd post-fight and was met largely by a chorus of
boos. Even if he prevailed by unanimous decision, Pacquiao, smiling and endlessly effervescent, had been
the overwhelming people’s choice – the favourite of 70 per cent of boxing fans to win, if you were believe some
of the snap polls here in the MGM Grand.
Mayweather
will never command the love that he feels is his due – not with the domestic violence record that has proved so
alienating, and nor with his obsession that money that prompted him to dedicate part of his victory speech to his watchmakers Hublot. A wonderful exponent of defensive ringcraft he may be, but he remains the sport’s most deeply divisive personality.
-Telegraph