In 2015, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather defeated Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao in a championship match for the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, and World Boxing Organization welterweight titles. This fight is known in boxing history as the “Fight of the Century.”
Manny Pacquiao is a notable boxer known for his speed, jagged left-hooks, and iconic southpaw stance. Throughout his career, he has won significant matches against numerous well-performing boxers. Examples include Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Antonio Margarito.
Similarly, both boxers, Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao are very accurate in their punches. With hall-of-fame trainer, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao received coaching that would articulate his boxing career. A humbled Mayweather acknowledged the fact that Pacquiao was a very skillful boxer, Mayweather told ESPN, “He’s a hell of a fighter. I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao, now I see why he’s one of the guys at the pinnacle.” According to ESPN, throughout the years, Mayweather and Pacquiao have had a history of trash-talk among each other. However, this ended when Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in 2015 when all judges scored in favor of Mayweather.
“Hopefully Manny Pacquiao wins, for sure.” Elaborating on his hopes for Pacquiao winning, he said, “He’s [Floyd Mayweather’s] got really good defense, right? But I feel like Manny Pacquiao can get, you know, good punches in and he’s got the knockout power.” Student-boxer who started in North Carolina, Bryan Coria (‘26) said.
Another student-boxer Cayden Stroh (‘28) said he started boxing at 10 years old because his mom wanted him to have better situational awareness and self-defense skills. He currently goes to a boxing gym in Everett. “I think his [Floyd Mayweather] tactics are better and faster than the other washed dude.” Stroh said. Afterwards, he was also asked who his favorite all-time boxer was, and he said “Jake Paul.” Paul is a boxer who was a social-media influencer and transitioned into a professional boxer. Statistically, Paul is much more similar to Mayweather than Pacquiao, the reason is because of his ability to produce a high viewer-count on fights like Mayweather did, making them both more entertainer-based who can sell their fights and produce a higher revenue.
Fast-forward to 2026, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, the second meeting is announced. Boxing enthusiasts worldwide are intrigued and are anticipating a good fight. However, most forget the fact that both fighters are over 50 years old. Both fighters will have become significantly weaker than their prime but will somewhat have a similar level of fighting as the age they are now.
Watching the 2015 boxing match at a young age at his uncle’s house, Marysville Getchell High School student, Angelo Mendoza (‘27) said that “it might end in a tie because they’re both old.” Will history repeat itself and Mayweather defeats Pacquiao once again, or will it end in a tie?
Former MMA-fighter who currently goes to MGHS, Ezekiel Ebrado (‘27) knows it will be an intense fight with strategic choices to make because Mayweather has “one of the most effective defenses in all of boxing.” On the other hand, “Manny Pacquiao is known for his speed.” He also said that fighting requires “building discipline and the right techniques to help protect yourself and the people you’re fighting.”
Ebrado has a lot of hope in Pacquiao winning this second fight and said, “As a Filipino, I have that Filipino pride. When I see Manny Pacquiao, I feel like he instilled a very intense spirit in all of us Filipinos about boxing, and he revolutionized it.” Moreover, Ebrado is excited for Pacquiao to fight again and he doesn’t “really care who wins. Manny Pacquiao is a legend in his own right.”
