By Yannis Mihanos: Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) has arguably been caught in far too many difficult fights than his counterpart Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs). At times these fights proved right for Manny and at other times proved wrong.
As I described in a previous article surprisingly it’s the wrong fight that reveals the real face of the fighter. There it appears his talent on its truest form and full scale. It’s the occasion that shows from what he’s made of. And that happens only against fighters who are close, equal or even above his class. These are fights that the fighter is tested mentally and physically.
I see often new champs coming out with good boxing records: 15-0, 20-0, 25-0 and so on. But these records prove absolutely nothing because they are made out of cheap carbon paper. They have all been fighting on right, suitable occasions for them to win.
In the past, Floyd Mayweather has been often criticized for his selection of opponents, as he is the one who always decides the when and where the fight will take place.
For many years now Mayweather has been the master and commander. The one calling the shots in each of his fight negotiations. So he has never really been in unexpected to him occasions. Everything usually has gone as predicted and as planned.
In his resume, Mayweather has beaten many title holders. To my memory only 3 times has he won by a close decision against Jose Luis Castillo, Miguel Cotto and Marcos Maidana. So mostly he has been in suitable for him occasions to win. All this until now. Because now he has to fight someone not suitable for his style and character, someone that contains attributes and qualities to make jump out of his comfort zone.
Pacquiao has strength along with unmatchable foot-speed and hand-speed.
It’s a combination of things that Mayweather has never met before. Also never before has Mayweather met a fighter so popular in and out of the ring. Pacquiao shines everywhere he goes. He has overwhelming support by the public and this is something that Mayweather can do very little about it.
In fact Mayweather does exactly that: He is unusually quiet for his flamboyant character. Mayweather knows that he is under the microscopic lens and anything he may try to do to show off will be used against him.
I sincerely believe that this is the wrong fight for Mayweather, not because I believe he is doomed, but because he has to perform in a way that he has never done before in his career. And so I’m curious to see what he will show on May the 2nd against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If Mayweather is truly a great fighter, if he is truly a legend, then on May the 2nd he should beat Pacquiao or at least get a draw out of the fight. If not, you can expect the media to come down hard on Mayweather similar to the type of news they had about Adrien Broner after his loss to Maidana.
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