adminHONG KONG. — Boxing legend Marvin Hagler’s fabled clash with Sugar Ray Leonard was the super-fight of its day – but the massively anticipated showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will eclipse it, he says.
Speaking during a visit to Hong Kong, the 60-year-old said the fight between the world famous welterweights in Las Vegas on May 2 would be the “biggest fight in history”, regardless of who wins.
The fight has echoes of Hagler’s 1987 showdown with Leonard, also staged in Las Vegas, which saw him lose on points in a decision which remains controversial to this day.
Pacquiao and Mayweather are considered to be the best “pound-for-pound” boxers of their generation and their $200 million clash will finally happen after years of failed negotiations.
“Whether Pacquiao loses in the first round, whether he knocks out Mayweather in the first round, it’s still going to be the biggest fight in history,” said Hagler.
Mayweather (38) has previously recalled watching the Hagler-Leonard clash.
“I remember being a kid and saying there would never be another fight bigger than this,” he said in an interview before his 2007 fight against Oscar De la Hoya.
The American, who has a 47-0 record with 26 knock-outs, is homing in on the iconic 49-0 record of 1950s legend Rocky Marciano, who retired as an undefeated heavyweight champion.
Pacquiao, a devout Christian, by contrast holds a record of 57-5 with two draws and 38 knock-outs.
The 36-year-old Philippines boxing hero earlier this month called the face-off with undefeated Mayweather “the real fight of my life”.
Hagler was undisputed world middleweight champion for seven years until his fight with Leonard at Caesar’s Palace, wich was dubbed “The Super Fight”.
Online Reporter