Mayweather vs. Pacquiao – Unanswered Questions?

By Elton Jackson - 03/03/2015 - Comments

floyd72By Elton Jackson: Since the announcement of the fight scheduled for May 2 between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, many have stated their opinions on the fight based on who they favor with no real reasoning.  Sure, it’s fun to trash talk, and it’s a part of the fight game.  However, boxing has much to do with rhythm, timing, and smarts inside the ring. 

Manny Pacquiao has displayed his ability to be a ferocious fighter and deliver exciting moments during a fight when he charges in swinging with all his might in an attempt to end the fight by knockout.  This as we know it is how Juan Marquez was able to knockout Pacquiao in their past fight.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the other hand is a crafty fighter that likes to pick his shot through careful calculation based on his opponents movements and the probable actions of boxing based on his experience and ring knowledge.  In a recent fight with Canelo Alvarez we watched Mayweather Jr. beat Alvarez to the punch the entire fight due to Mayweather Jr.’s ability to observe the body positioning of Canelo before he would punch.  This along with Canelo’s inability to respond to Floyd’s jab made this a long night for Alvarez.

Manny Pacquiao’s last fight vs. Chris Algieri showed Manny’s inability to cut off the ring and Manny’s habitual lowering of his hands as he attempted to walk Algieri down.  Another thing noticed in this fight was Manny’s unprotected head when leaning in to throw the left, and his jab which remained extended after it was thrown, which leaves him open for a counter.

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Mayweather’s last fight two fights with Maidana showed that Floyd was hittable with unconventional boxing punches when Floyd is on the ropes.  The overhand chopping punches thrown by Maidana seemed to get through Floyd’s defense, yet this was the only effective punch Maidana could bring to the fight.

So the question is what does Pacquiao have to do to get a win in this match up?  Boxing announcers claim that Manny punches from strange angles; will those punches create enough contact to beat Mayweather with points?  We watch Algieri get knocked down 6 or more times in that fight, (so much I lost count) but Algieri kept getting back up.  We have watched Juan Marquez, one of boxing’s greatest counter punchers, time Pacquiao’s attack and delivered a devastating knockout blow.  That same right hand Marquez threw is the same right hand Mayweather is known to love throwing himself.  Many will insist that Mayweather’s punch has no power, but I urge those who believe this to consider the following. If Floyd has no punching power and plans to win on points, why doesn’t everyone just walk through Floyd’s attack and deliver a knockout punch of their own?

Marquez took this exact approach in the last fight he had with Pacquiao and it worked for him.  Though with Manny he was taking a big chance.  Manny is a small guy who packs a big punch!  Will Manny attempt this strategy with Floyd?  Lets talk boxing, give your thoughts on how the fight will go with reasoning based on habits seen in past fights.



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