On Saturday night, fight fans witnessed one of the most anticipated boxing matches of all time. In money terms, the richest fight ever seen. Judging by the early morning reports, it was a let down. A fight held back by the skill and style of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the injured shoulder of Manny Pacquiao.
I chose not to watch the fight. I can’t tell you whether it would have been worth my money or not, so I shouldn’t gloat.
24 hours before the gargantuan clash of our era’s biggest boxing superstars, Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino was calling out for her superfight against Ronda Rousey, again.
Like Mayweather Jr. vs Pacquiao, it’s a fight that holds little interest for me. Unlike Mayweather vs Pacquiao, I will be watching it should it ever happen, and once it’s over, while I am a little embarrassed to admit it, I probably will gloat.
In real terms, in every possible measurable way Rousey vs Cyborg is dwarfed by boxing’s biggest fight. In fact, it’s not even the biggest fight in its own sport, yet understandably Cyborg continues to call for it. Each time she does her cries sound that little bit more desperate. This might not be the biggest fight in our world, but it is the biggest fight in hers.
Ronda Rousey could make almost as much defending her title against fighters in her own weight class. She can continue to headline UFC pay-per-views and do ever increasing numbers whether she ever steps into the cage against Cyborg or not. To Rousey, Cyborg’s not really a thing anymore. To Cyborg, Rousey is everything.
At least, that’s what she will tell you, just like she did on Fox Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight” on Friday.
“I think for now, it’d be great to see me and Ronda fight. I don’t want her belt. I just want to fight her. Let’s go fight. Let’s go meet at 140. Let’s do it.”
Cyborg’s actions tell a different story. If it was just about fighting her, she would adjust her training and diet, drop some muscle mass, and make the 135 pound weight limit. Therein lies part of the problem. Cyborg clings onto that physique, that size and strength advantage because in truth, that’s all she has. If she can’t be notably bigger and stronger than Rousey, she can’t beat her.
What is most frustrating at this point is that the path has been clearly laid out. There have been times where we wondered what it would take to make the fight, but that is no longer the case. Cyborg has the green light from the UFC. Make 135 pounds and move into their bantamweight division, the fight with Rousey will be made.
When you have been told what you need to do as clearly and as publicly as Cyborg has, you cannot insist that you “just want to fight her”, then keep slipping in your own stipulation regarding weight. Ronda Rousey is a star with or without Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino. She holds all the cards, every last one of them.
If Cyborg really wants the fight it’s time to accept the champion’s stipulations, because each and every time she tries to talk her way around the situation the moans and groans get louder. Cyborg’s talking leaves us thinking that we’ve heard it all before, and each time it does the “superfight” becomes that little bit less super.
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