By Babatis Banda: We all understand that this is boxing, an unforgiving combat sport. Anything can happen against the odds and this is what is really at play here. At face value, it seems that Floyd Mayweather junior is favored to take the day, but only just. This is what is making the whole issue interesting.
Floyd Mayweather Junior is believed to have an advantage over Pacquiao on the skill level and he has his record to show for it. On the other hand, Pacquiao is known for his devastating power and speed. At some point, Mayweather was just as fast as Pacquiao, and speed was just his other attribute.
It seems Floyd has slowed down in terms of speed. From my point of view, it is because he is sitting-on his punches more, to produce some decent power. He has traded speed for power. Pacquiao seems to have maintained his speed and lost a bit on his power. This is an assumption based on the fact that he has not taken out any opposition since the TKO over Cotto and that’s five years ago.
It is very clear that Floyd can be vulnerable at times as he is getting hit more and more in his recent fights. While styles are said to make fights, we are all wondering what would happen if Pacquiao cleanly lands his power shots on the P4P fighter. We also know that at his best, Floyd would smoother the impact of most punches and that he would keep his fore at bay with misses all night long because of his defense style and agility, but again how is the south paw stance going to impact his defense mechanisms ?. Floyd has fought a number of un-orthodox fighters and defeated them all, but they were clearly not Pacquiao.
We don’t know if Floyd can be defeated by any of the current crop of fighters, but we know that Pacquiao carries five losses and two draws. This is a point of comfort for Mayweather. There is a blue-print on how to beat Pacquiao and it is simple, box Pacquiao and don’t trade punches. Simply out-smart Pacquiao. We know Pacquiao is very strong with good endurance. This is the reason Pacquiao and team keep insisting that Floyd should prove that he is a man by trading punches with Pacquiao.
I personally don’t see Pacquiao winning purely by out-boxing Floyd. How-ever, Pacquiao can attempt to bully and out-work Floyd to a decision, but the most imagined way to a win by many that support Pacquiao is via a knock-out, a stoppage. I doubt Mayweather can be stopped if he is in tip-top condition. This is exactly what Maidana tried to do, bully and out-work Mayweather.
May 2 is the defining day for both Pacquiao and Mayweather. However, a loss weighs more on Floyd than on Pacquiao. This is so because this fight has a long history and that it would be the first loss for Mayweather. For Pacquiao, it would be just another day, another loss, a sixth loss and people will say, well he did what he could. For Floyd, many will never say he did what he could. He will be tormented by every Jim and jack and nobody knows how he would handle it.
While it would send Floyd into a dark abyss if he loses this fight, I believe the sun will shine for Floyd on the morning after the fight, albeit with some bruises though.
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