By Michael Montero: We’re about two weeks away from the biggest event boxing has seen in decades. The fighter camps have gone according to plan thus far, with both superstars promising to show up in tiptop shape May 2nd.

Meanwhile diehard fight fans, social media junkies and boxing chatroom regulars continue to chatter away on all topics ranging from sparring sessions, rumors of performance enhancing drugs and what strategies the fighters will employ. What will the pound for pound king need to do in order to maintain his perfect record? How can the Filipino icon pull off the upset? Let’s take a look at the keys to victory for Mayweather-Pacquiao.

The Challenger:
At his best, Pacquiao is a boxer-puncher-swarmer who outworks larger opponents with his volume. Manny brings hand speed, good footwork and balance, stamina, as well as power in both hands, all from a southpaw stance with unique angles and rhythm. His greatest X-factor in this bout is that he has nothing to lose; as his opponent put it, he’s the ‘B-side’. The overwhelming majority of boxing experts feel that Pacquiao is a few years past his best, only a couple years removed from his massive knockout loss to Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

For Pacman to pull off the upset, he’ll have to refrain from the mistake he made on that fateful night against Marquez in Las Vegas, and fight the urge to lunge in on Mayweather. Pacquiao must get inside, punch in combination, and then get out before the counter-punching master can return fire. But he must work his way inside, whether behind the jab or behind feints. Furthermore, he must expect that Mayweather will measure his angles, time his rhythm, and make adjustments. This is when Manny must switch up the rhythm and angles, all while keeping the work rate up and maintaining defensive responsibility. That’s easier said than done against the pound for pound best in boxing, if not all martial arts, today.

The Champion:
Floyd is by nature a cautious, defensive-minded strategist and an opportunistic counter-puncher. But more than that, he’s a spoiler. Mayweather has an uncanny ability to feel a fighter out for a round or two, make adjustments, and then nullify his opponent’s strongest asset. “Money” brings speed, accuracy, intelligence and a wealth of knowledge from his esteemed amateur pedigree. All of this accounts for his exceptional ring generalship. However Floyd’s greatest X-factor in this fight might be his precious “0”, which no doubt plays on the mind of his opponents in the ring. Time after time we’ve seen determined challengers enter the ring with Floyd unafraid, only to look befuddled, discouraged and defeated by the middle rounds of their boxing lesson. At some point the mystique of the unsolved puzzle that is Floyd Mayweather seeps into the mind of his opponents and drains their focus. Will Pacquiao suffer the same fate?

For the American to keep his perfect record intact, he will have to slow the tempo of this fight. The greatest chance Pacquiao has for victory is to outwork Mayweather, so Floyd must nullify that volume by slowing the pace. One way to do that is by getting the challenger’s respect and getting it early. Not only would this discourage his opponent, but it will also take the crowd (and their potential influence on the judges) out of it. Floyd can’t lie on the ropes like he did against Marcos Maidana and many other recent opponents, as Pacquiao is not the flat-footed, straight forward brawler that they were. The best strategy is for Mayweather to keep it in the center of the ring where he can maintain proper distance with his longer arms and lateral movement.

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