When Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya's PPV numbers rang in, it shattered all previous records; even more than Lennox Lewis' destruction of Mike Tyson just five years earlier.
Mayweather joined in with De La Hoya's drawing power to create a blockbuster.
Not in the ring.
But in their wallets.
The two split one of the biggest purses in boxing history. The newly arrived HBO's 24/7 helped out big time. It gave the fans an inside view of the two boxing camps before the fight.
We learned so much about the fighters and we got to see first hand their lifestyles, as well as their work ethics.
Floyd took this opportunity to display himself as a money hungry villain, in an attempt to sell tickets.
And it worked.
Fans either loved him or hated him, and majority of them wanted to see the day he lost for the first time.
Mayweather threw his undefeated record around, stating that it makes him one of the greatest boxers ever.
Avid fans of boxers of the past, wanted to see him lose.
Mayweather threw his money around. Gloating about how much he could make in a thirty minute fight. Fans hated that and simply wanted to see this arrogant boxing champion dethroned.
Either the fans wanted to see him lose or win, no matter what it was, they wanted to see him.
And the more he was seen, the more he was paid.
And his popularity rose.
Hatton was next.
Finally another undefeated champion set to dethrone the No. 1 fighter in the world. The fans who had built up so much rage for Floyd finally felt that this was the time to see their most hated boxer lose.
Floyd couldn't throw his undefeated record around in this fight, because Ricky Hatton was in fact, also never beaten, and in his previous fight, he had destroyed the only fighter that has given Floyd trouble; Jose Luis Castillo.
The PPV was appropriately named "Undefeated."
Hatton's huge following in the UK was bait for Mayweather.
And he fed on that.
Mayweather disrespected the UK fans and, in turn, they all wanted to see their beloved Ricky Hatton be the first to dethrone Mayweather.
The fans eyes were so blinded to the fact that Ricky Hatton lacked defense, speed, agility and ring smarts. They wanted Mayweather to go down.
Forgetting the fact that Hatton's only real test at Welterweight came against Luis Collazo. A fight many believed he lost.
Fans were so blinded and didn't realize that Collazo was no Mayweather, and that Mayweather was clearly better than Hatton.
They just wanted to see him lose.
Mayweather took the opportunity to fight a winnable fight, though it was a fight that seemed so close to odds makers, and more importantly the fans.
Mayweather outboxed Hatton and rode his way to a TKO victory in the 10th round.
The fans got so blinded that many gave Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez a solid chance to dethrone Mayweather.
Mayweather had everyone wondering if he was rusty from the layoff, and chose a highly regarded but beatable opponent.
An opponent that has given Pacquiao hell in the ring.
Those fans that Mayweather suckered into his wallet in previous fights, followed suit once again.
The PPV did over one million buys in a one sided, tune-up match against the only person in recent fights to ever confuse Pacquiao.
Mayweather knew it was going to happen all along.
Just like he know's that Manny Pacquiao isn't doing any type of illegal substances.
And he knew it would be one of the biggest stories in sports; a fight that he has helped build up in fans' head for years, that may or may not occur.
And the fans are beginning to question if Manny is taking performance enhancers or not. And if the fight they have been waiting for will actually happen. And they are forced to choose sides.
Mayweather doesn't care which side the fans choose to be on.
Because either side puts money in his pocket.
Bryant Maxwell can be reached at maxwritings@gmail.com
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