May-Pac Aftermath: Rampant feelings of bitterness and disappointment

I suppose it should only be expected that millions of Filipinos and others worldwide would take Manny Pacquiao's loss to Floyd Mayweather rather harshly. So many people (not just Filipinos) wanted Manny to win sooo badly. There are those who are understandably disappointed with the outcome, and there are yet others who are just plain bitter about it. I, for one, am completely aware and empathize with the Filipinos who are disappointed with the loss because Pacquiao is a national hero - it's perfectly understandable. But whether or not you were actually picking Manny to win, or if you just wanted him to win, I think the hardest pill to swallow was the fact that Mayweather just straight outclassed Pacquiao with his technical prowess. There's really no other way around that fact. Manny had a tremendously difficult time just getting past Floyd's jab and it was clear that he couldn't adapt enough to keep up with Floyd.

For those who contended that no one ever has an easy fight with Pacquiao - Floyd just had a pretty easy fight against Pacquiao. For those who were certain that Pacquiao's speedy footwork and angles would befuddle Mayweather - Floyd's own footwork completely matched and neutralized any of that. It was The Art of War. Floyd dictated the pace and landscape of the fight, and proved that he always possesses the ability to force opponents to engage him on a terrain of his own choosing. I've called Mayweather the most skilled and complete fighter of this generation even before this fight was signed, and after Saturday's showing, this point should be rather unequivocal -- Floyd has been in a league of his own for years. Love the man or hate the man, give him credit where it's due.

Of course this isn't going to sit well with all fans. Some are calling for Pac's retirement, some others are demanding a rematch, while others are just in a state of disbelief. Yahoo! Sports quotes a 48-year-old Filipino security officer who just lost a half-months salary betting on Pacquiao.

''I can't accept that he lost. I now regret it,'' he said, referring to his bet. ''He cannot retire yet. Let's have a rematch.''

I'm not so sure about a rematch, but one thing I am certain of - Saturday's fight took off a lot of sheen (and money) out any potential rematch between Floyd and Manny. Between the wide decision victory and so many fans complaining that the fight didn't live up to expectations, there simply won't be anywhere near the same kinds of money on the table for another go 'round.

I was also rather surprised by all criticisms of how the fight played out. It seems almost everyone, everywhere, ridiculed the fight in some way for it not living up to expectations. I think a lot of that stems from either bitterness amongst fans who didn't get to see what they wanted to (Floyd getting his face punched-in), or simply having unrealistic expectations. I was even a little disappointed in watching sports reporters, such as Bernado Osuna of ESPN, be so critical of Floyd and downplaying him after such a dominant performance.

For those (casual and hardcore fans alike) who said the fight sucked, all I can really about that say is this - if you were somehow expecting the second-coming of Hagler-Hearns, well, I doubt you've seen ever seen a Floyd Mayweather fight before. Floyd fights to win the best way he knows how, intently expresses that very fact to every media outlet, and goes out and basically does exactly what he said he would do. I don't think Floyd fights to please the fans, but when he stands in the pocket and trades (Cotto/Maidana I), he's criticized for having "lost his legs." When he says that in a rematch (Maidana II) he could easily use his legs to out-box and out-point the man, and then goes out and does it, people criticize him for being a "runner." On Saturday, Floyd just straight out-boxed and out-thought Pacquiao. Sometimes it truly is a no-win situation for the man, but one thing is for certain, Floyd Mayweather sits atop of the boxing game alone.