By Bill Gabay: Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is currently training for his mega-bout with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr on May 2nd. A lot of boxing fans and even more critics are giving the Pacman an outside shot at winning against the elusive defensive master Mayweather.

It is expected that the latter will refuse to engage in a fistfight with the hard-hitting Pacquiao but instead, to stick with his winning formula of picking his shots and smartly outpoint his opponent. Floyd is after all, the most skillful boxer on the planet.

This situation reminds me of the first time I heard of Manny Pacquiao and saw him fight.

It was an evening in December 1998. Pacquiao and his then-team were in Thailand to fight the Thai champ Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC Flyweight title. Sasakul was the smaller fighter but far more experienced. Pacquiao was an up-and-coming Filipino teenage boxer.

Through seven rounds the Thailander made it clear Pacquiao did not belong in the same ring with him, making the Filipino look like an amateur though occasionally Pacquiao would land a good punch in, usually with his power-packed lefty. Come the eighth round the young Pacquiao, despite being overmatched, continued to show aggressiveness and good stamina. A right hook-left uppercut combo followed by his trademark straight left down the middle and it was all over. Manny Pacquiao knocked Chatchai Sasakul out in front of his own people in Thailand and won the WBC title. Sasakul finished his boxing career with 65 wins, 4 losses and 40 knockouts. In the Philippines and the rest of the boxing world, a star was born.

Pacquiao may only have an outside chance of beating Mayweather. He may have to chase Floyd for the win across all 12 rounds. He will need to capitalize on every small opportunity to hit and hurt Mayweather. But that slim chance may be all that he needs.