Big fight at the oche!
Wednesday 29 April 2015 16:44, UK
Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao is not the only big fight this week - two of darts' greatest are also preparing for battle as Michael van Gerwen faces Phil 'The Power' Taylor in the Premier League.
While Birmingham might not be the same as Las Vegas, the world No 1 Van Gerwen and the greatest player in darts history, Taylor, are the two biggest tungsten warriors of their time.
We won’t see Justin Bieber or 50 Cent at the darts (Birmingham isn’t their scene, apparently), but Floyd Mayweather’s regular walk-out partners might be on hand in Las Vegas this weekend! But don’t worry, the walk-on girls will accompany Van Gerwen and Taylor as usual.
But while Mayweather’s hip-hop and Pacquiao’s Filipino tunes remain to be seen, we know what we’re getting at the oche. Van Gerwen’s ‘Seven Nation Army’ anthem will get the crowd bouncing more than anything the boxers could conjure up, and Taylor’s ‘I’ve Got The Power’ entrance is sporting folklore.
The decisive hammer blow that can brutally end any boxing bout or tungsten tussle is the real reason we’ll all be tuning into Mayweather vs Pacquiao and Premier League Darts this week! But who is likelier to deliver the KO blow, Van Gerwen or Taylor?
Premier League table topper Van Gerwen has a 46.37 checkout percentage this season but, with his play-off spot guaranteed, will he still pack a punch on Thursday? He’ll need it against wily veteran Taylor who has endured a career of rivalries through Eric Bristow and Raymond van Barneveld, much in the same way that legends such as Oscar De La Hoya have been disposed of by boxing’s great duo.
Taylor’s checkout percentage of just 37.77 percent trails five Premier League throwers and suggests his ability to end a contest in a flash is dwindling. But we’ve thought that before and Taylor has come out fighting…
While Van Gerwen has a clear advantage with check outs KOing Taylor, the stats suggest Thursday’s contest is much closer if the match goes the distance. Taylor’s 12-round, sorry, 13-leg stamina might swing the outcome.
The Dutchman’s average score is 104.17 while Taylor, three places lower in the league, has a 102.23 average. So brace yourselves, we might be in for an long battle of endurance when Van Gerwen and Taylor meet at the oche…
Unfortunately darts doesn’t hand out the flashy, gold belts that Mayweather and Pacquiao are covered in, but our arrows heroes are also adorned with trophies and prizes.
Van Gerwen’s only Premier League win was two years ago, while he also has last year’s World Championship and a pair of Grand Prixs. But the Dutchman is eclipsed by Taylor, who has so many awards that he’ll be glad not to carry a gold belt for each of them.
Six Premier Leagues, 14 World Championships, 15 World Matchplays, 11 Grand Prixs and six Grand Slams would make even Mayweather blush.
Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday at 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD.
Book Mayweather v Pacquiao, Sky Sports Box Office, May 2, via your Sky remote, phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote. skysports.com/maypac
