Mayweather vs Paul: A televised heist

I woke up today to a friend’s text asking, “Tarek, what do you think Mayweather vs Paul means to boxing?” Well, they’re making history, that’s for sure, but not in the way the public might perse it. This Sunday, the first-ever legal heist will be televised for the world to see.

Perspective is everything: Most likely, boxing purists will roll their eyes while talking about this fight, and how can you not. However, viewing this main event as a (real) fight would be the wrong thing to do. An entertaining spectacle, to put it mildly, would be the fitting label.

Undress the “fight” from all promotions, smoke and mirrors; Mayweather should send Paul home with a boxing lesson, a black eye, and a hefty bag of cash. But what should we actually expect from the 26-year-old Paul?

Traditional wisdom says, being a former wrestler and on the right side of a 40-pound advantage and a 6-inch height difference, Paul’s gameplan shouldn’t include words such as “outboxing” nor “outclassing.” It should be everything but a boxing approach.

With the physicality and strength of a wrestler, a dirty, rough, clinch affair would be the only thing that might buy Paul some extra time in the ring. But of course, “The Maverick” begs to differ…

“I know I can outclass and outbox the classy boxer(Mayweather). I’m gonna prove it. I also know that I can definitely get the knockout. My mom can even knock Floyd out, you know why? because he’s only human.” Paul said when asked about his approach. God loves a trier.

You’d hope that Paul watched that time when Mayweather fought 6’3, hard-hitting elite Tony Pep. And while he(Pep) tried to fight behind his jab and “outbox” Mayweather, how did it go for him? 496 significant strikes were landed by Floyd. So, I guess it didn’t go so well. But nothing some Tylenol and time can’t heal…

In all seriousness, the entertainment market is the target. But should we actually be upset about this mega event? Simply, no.

“Boxing destroyed boxing” is a phrase we’ve heard a lot in the last few years, and it couldn’t be more accurate. While boxing promoters are in love with padding fighters’ records against “taxi drivers” instead of making the actual fights, it was only a matter of time before it backfired.

Muhammed Ali(5 losses), Sugar Ray Robinson(19 losses), Erick Morales(9 losses), Roberto Duran(16 losses), and the list goes on of all-time greats that fought in an era where the best fought nothing but the best. Losses never mattered; if anything, everyone loves a comeback story.

So these days, when you see the #2 fighter in the world fighting #87, what really differentiates it from Mayweather vs Paul? Nothing.

There’s a reason why HBO boxing went out of business, and Showtime nearly filed for bankruptcy in 2019. On the other hand, the UFC continues to break PPV records simply because the product always matches its value.

All the fuss aside, you can’t hate on Paul or Mayweather. Yes, it’s a mismatch, but these days, aren’t most boxing fights that way? The only difference is that at least we know the name of the one who’s getting starched.

Sunday night, the greatest boxer of our era, Floyd Mayweather(50-0), goes against Youtube sensation Logan Paul(0-1), who looks to shock the masses, do the impossible, and rewrite the rules of boxing. The real question is, does he leave on a stretcher? Find out this Sunday, live on Pay-Per-View.

Written by: Tarek Alsabbagh, Lightkeeper Promotions