Look, I love Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. I really do. These are two of the greatest fighters in boxing history. I've called their fights, watched their careers, respected their legacies.
But this rematch? This is a cash grab.
Mayweather and Pacquiao have agreed to a September rematch at The Sphere in Las Vegas, eleven years after their disappointing first fight. Mayweather is 49 years old. Pacquiao is 47. Both are well past their primes. Way past.
The first fight - the one we waited years for - was a letdown. Mayweather won on points in a tactical snoozer that had fans booing by the final rounds. It made a billion dollars and satisfied nobody except the accountants.
Now they want to run it back? At The Sphere, no less, turning it into a full-blown spectacle? Come on.
Here's the thing, though - people will watch. You know it. I know it. They know it. The Sphere makes it an event. The curiosity factor is real. And both fighters know how to promote.
But let's call it what it is: entertainment, not competition. This isn't about determining who's better. We know who won the first time. This isn't about championships. This isn't about legacy. This is about two aging legends cashing in one more time.
And you know what? Maybe that's okay. Maybe we accept it for what it is - a show, a spectacle, a nostalgia trip. The Sphere venue actually makes sense for that. Make it an experience. Lean into it.
Just don't try to sell this as legitimate sport. Don't pretend this is about competition. Mayweather is 49. Pacquiao is 47. They're not in their prime. They're not at their peak. They're getting one last massive payday, and good for them.
I'll probably watch. I'm a sucker for boxing, even when it's more show than sport. But I'm going in with my eyes open. This isn't Mayweather-Pacquiao I. This is a Vegas show at The Sphere featuring two guys who used to be the best fighters on the planet.
Expect a spectacle. Don't expect a classic. That's what sports is all about, folks. Well, sometimes it's about the entertainment business too.
