By Marty Oswald
We all know the Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao fight will get made, way too much money involved for either party to let it slip away.
All of the Steroids, Olympic blood testing bickering between Golden Boy and Bob Arum is just a bunch of posturing, the boxing match will get made in 2010.
If the Mayweather versus Pacquiao fight doesn’t get made boxing just shot itself in the foot big time, but I am still confident it will get done…well hopefully (knock on wood).
Both of these men are at the top of the boxing class, Mayweather Jr. is the former pound for pound king and an undefeated fighter who has been on the pound for pound list for several years. Pacquiao is the current pound for pound king, he got the title by default when Mayweather Jr. retired in 2007.
Manny Pacquiao aka The Pacman brings the excitement to the sport of boxing every time he fights he goes for the kill. He will take punishment just to dish out punishment. He fights to knock you out or hurt you even leaving himself open at times. But most importantly he fights for the fans and his country.
Personally, I never ever miss a Manny Pacquiao fight. I watch UFC and MMA more than I watch boxing but if I had to choose between a stacked UFC card and a Manny Pacquiao fight, I will go with the Pacman all the way because he never disappoints.
I know when I watch Pacquiao fight I am watching something special a once in a lifetime boxer, a man who still remains hungry even though he is practically a God in his country of the Philippines.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.aka Pretty Boy aka Money is the total opposite in style. He is one of the most intelligent and scientific defensive fighters in boxing history.
Even if you don’t find his style particularly exciting you have to respect the mans skills. He rarely ever gets hit and has dominated almost every opponent put in front of him. He may not get the win in exciting fashion but he gets the win in an almost effortless fashion.
I know when the fight happens I will be rooting my butt off for Manny Pacquiao.
But from an unbiased analytic stand point I think Floyd Mayweather Jr. will stink up the joint and win on points. I have never seen Manny face a runner before, I know Floyd likes to stay in the pocket at times and do his fancy shoulder moves but the moment he feels Pacquiao’s power he will use more movement this fight and avoid staying in the pocket.
I am basing my judgement on both of the fighters last fights.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Juan Manuel Marquez- Floyd came out of retirement and looked refreshed and better than he looked in his last two fights with Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. Marquez who gave Pacquiao two tough fights couldn’t even land a successive combination on Mayweather, when Marquez fought Pacquiao he was able to counter him at will and pick him apart with his reach advtange and fast counters.
Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto- In the first round I was a bit worried for Manny, Miguel Cotto came off sharp and fast he popped the jab at will and landed on Manny’s head and took that first round easily. Pacquiao only started to take the fight when he disregarded being cautious and traded fire with fire and pressed Cotto while walking into heavy artillery. Pacquiao didn’t look as flawless as he did with David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton but he still got the win as he was able to intimidate Cotto and push him back. Pacquiao got a 12th round TKO and dropped the bigger Cotto 2 times in the fight.
The reason why I am predicting Mayweather to win is because of the last few rounds of the Miguel Cotto fight with Pacquiao.
Miguel Cotto was getting on his bicycle and backing up and Manny has never faced a guy who would run away like that. Manny at times would stop in the middle of the ring and wonder why this guy was running. Manny doesn’t know how to cut off the ring he was stalking and following Cotto when Cotto got on his bicycle, to beat a runner you have to know how to cut the ring off.
Jose Luis Castillo who gave Mayweather Jr. his toughest fight to date was able to cut the ring off when he faced Mayweather. When they fought the first time Castillo who is slower than Pacquiao and Mayweather was able to cut the ring off and land combos on Mayweather Jr.
From watching the majority of Manny Pacquiao’s fights he has never faced a runner before, or a slick boxer like Mayweather, so he is unfamiliar with this type of style.
The majority of Pacman’s opponents underestimate him and try to bully him thinking Pacquiao is a little weak guy and pay the price by getting either knocked out or beat down badly as they come forward.
Mayweather Jr. can do what Cotto did in those last few rounds but even better. Mayweather throws a lead right hand counter and he will push Manny off so Manny cannot counter him. I see the fight being pretty tactical and Mayweather winning on points.
The only way I see Manny Pacquiao winning is if Mayweather decides to trade with Pacquiao or stay on the ropes or in the pocket and Manny can slip some heavy punches between those gloves and shake up Floyd breaking his guard and landing something significant.
I feel the key to Pacquiao’s success will come at the hands of his trainer Freddie Roach. If Roach can some how get Pacquiao some slick, fast, defensive boxers to adapt to in sparring and teach Manny to cut off the ring in a few weeks time then Pacquiao has a big shot at winning this fight, but that is way to much to put on Pacquiao’s plate in just a few short months.
If Manny Pacquiao can pull the win off I will be amazed.
I am still hoping and rooting for Manny in this fight, but whoever wins I take my hat off to them they will be crowned the best of the decade.
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