By Milo Matray
After analyzing Manny Pacquiao’s fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto and Sugar Shane Mosley, I noticed that he has difficulty figuring out how to apply effective pressure on these boxers when they move back or side step away from him.
Manny Pacquiao is an explosive fighter who fights in bursts and is actually more of a counter puncher, he counters in exchanges. If you really watch Manny’s fights you will realize he looks his best when guys are pressuring him and trying to trade blows with him. Manny will always get the better of the exchanges when guys do that, but when he has someone that knows how to back away and keep distance he has difficulty adjusting or closing the distance — causing him to make the mistake of lunging in with his punches and getting countered.
If you watch the first Juan Manuel Marquez fight, Manny blitzed Marquez in the first round dropping him 3 times. Shortly after that Juan Manuel Marquez was able to figure out Pacquiao’s rhythm and made the proper adjustments to keep Manny away from him. The same thing happened in the rematch, it was more technical and Marquez was able to time and counter Manny when he would come reaching in with a combination, all Marquez did was step back and once Manny missed he would comeback with a quick combination or with a sharp right hand.
In the Miguel Cotto fight, Manny was frustrated every time Miguel would get on his bicycle, instead of cutting the ring off, Manny would just follow Cotto around. The same thing happened in Pacquiao’s fight with Shane Mosley, Mosley was able to quickly step back anytime Manny would feint or move forward. Manny didn’t know how to cut off Mosley or trap him, he went back to his old habit of lunging in with his punches. Mosley never capitalized on these mistakes, but Marquez did and I believe he will catch Manny again with combinations when they fight for a third time.
I think the Marquez vs. Pacquiao fight will be competitive but if the fight goes to the scorecards the judges might give Manny the gift decision. If Manny is somehow able to make the proper adjustments this time around he could actually stop Marquez for the first time, but I don’t see Manny being able to adjust and the fight will end up close and controversial. Manny just cannot handle counter punchers, but give him a come forward brawler with no defense and he will shine.
Got an Opinion? Submit Your Articles and Press Releases to be posted on NowBoxing.com
*Please refrain from leaving any Racist, Profane or Derogatory comments*
