Can't resist with this one.
Having rewatched JMM-Diaz again, I just got off the phone with my old man, who pointed out that there's been no time that he could remember since Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran I that the top two -- in the sport, not even their respective divisions! -- have fought each other.
He also said that as these Marquez & Pacquiao have fought each other twice in razor-thin contests & fans are still arguing over who the better guy is, that the game overall might just be in better health than it's been for years -- just in terms of fighters who are willing to fight rather than fighting no-names whilst proclaiming greatness from the rooftops of their own home.
At first I just thought he was overly flushed with the excitement of seeing a great fight, but that got me thinking: when I were a lad back in the day, the p4p number one & two didn't fight each other. We went on & on about mythical bullshit & there was no way we ever got to find out who THE MAN was; the best hardly ever fought each other & it took about six years to unify a title. I also applaud the move away from big casinos where the ubermoneyed select few view fights to local sports arenas where normal people can see the fights (last night in Texas, Cotto's continued success at MSG & Mosely/Margarito drawing over 20,000 from the barrio & the ghetto).
I loved the Benn/Eubank/Watson/Collins fights, but even at the time I thought it was all a bit provincial; Nige apart, we all knew they'd never have the nuts to go over & face the top-top boys, 'cos they could fight COrnelius fecking Carr or Juan Carlos Giminez & make a shedload of cash.
It is a great time to be a fight fan.
Sorry for going off on one, but I'm in such a good mood today. It's all gravy.