By Sotoman: With only days left till the most anticipated boxing fight in the last 20 years, let us soak in the performances of two of the greatest boxers in our generation. On May 2, Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao will challenge the undefeated Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. with a lot more on the line then just belts: boxing immortality.
While many fans have their favorite fighter of the two, let me suggest to all that they should be a fan of both on this night. While Floyd fans or Manny fans may have bragging rights after the fight, the real winners will be those who hope for an explosive fight and get it.
Both fighters have been on a collision course the last six years. There have been many obstacles on both ends that have diminished this fight in the past but has also created the buzz and unavoidable result of it happening next week. We must remove the fighters records from the picture and look at this fight as a once in a lifetime opportunity for both boxers. While Mayweather is undefeated at 47-0 and Pacquiao has 5 losses to his record at 56-5, both have had spectacular and hall of fame careers win or lose.
Manny, the aggressor, will look to impose his will early with combinations from very awkward directions and angles. His volume of punches are an issue for anyone and just may very well be the most difficult aspect of his game that Floyd will have to adjust to. We should not resort to Manny’s ko loss to Marquez or assume that is what Floyd will do to him on fight night. (It would be a shocker to even Manny fans if he did) We should hope that Manny comes out like the Manny of old, the Manny that put away Cotto, Margarito, Hatton, and so forth. This is the Manny we all hope to see, even Floyd fans.
Floyd is a tactician, a ring general, a defensive genius and no one not even Pacquiao fans can deny that. In spite of the fact that Floyd has recently faced a flatfooted, slow fighter in Marcos Maidana, we must accept that in those fights he was able to easily avoid those awkward angled punches. Many fans like to compare and use his performance against Marquez as a picture of what he will do to Manny come fight night, but you should not be steered the wrong way. While Marquez and Manny are of similar heights, they are stylistically different fighters. Floyd and Marquez are experts in the counter-punching category and the night they both fought, Floyd easily beat Marquez to the punch do to his size and speed advantage.
So who will win? Pacquiao must be busy the entire fight. He must hope that Floyd will engage and get into more of a fist fight with many. I don’t see Manny ever beating Floyd to the punch unless Floyd gets careless and caught with a punch. Manny must be ready for volume punching from round one to round 12. Working in and out intelligently is critical. Truthfully, he may need to take huge risks of being counter-punched in this fight in order to really hurt Floyd. Floyd on the other hand, should look to be Floyd with the exception that he must be a little busier than in previous fights. While two of the judges maybe from Las Vegas, many believe that he will not be able to sit back and be defensive the entire fight. Winning a couple of the early rounds may prove critical next Saturday. In Mayweather’s last two fights against Maidana he wasn’t very busy. First Fight: 426 punches thrown, Landed at 54%. 2nd Fight: 326 punches thrown, Landed at 51%. Against Manny, this will only work a decision if he throws upwards of 600 and lands at the same rate which would be a historic performance. Floyd must fight.
My predictions:
-If Floyd fails to engage, I don’t see how he will win a decision. Manny Split Decision
-If Floyd, engages and effectively lands counter punches, Floyd by Unanimous Decision.
-A KO’ is very unlikely on both sides as both have shown to have very strong chins, despite Pacquiao’s KO loss to Marquez.
With that said, let’s stop the insults, let’s stop the name calling and let’s hope that on May 2nd 2015 we see what may very well be one of the greatest fights of all time. As fans we have waited long enough and we deserve a Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran, Hagler vs. Hearn, type of fight. May the boxer who wants it most win! Then you can brag!
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