Thread: Was Pacquiao's performance really unimpressive?

When you take into account the style matchup, and that Shane was moving away, was Manny's showing unimpressive? Do people forget his second fight wtih Barrera or when he fought Jorge Solis. It's difficult for Manny to dominate guys who move with fluidity. His hoping style causes for him to not because to adjust the same way once he commits to charging forward. Unless he's driving a guy back with a barrage of punches and they are trying to cover it, it's rare to see Pacquiao land effective combinations against a backpedaling opponent. I'm impressed with this fight because Mosley wasn't able to land that much on Pacquiao, he didn't find Pacquiao off balance the way he was expecting, the openings weren't there the way they had been against CLottey and Margarito. Manny did a much better job getting his hands back. Also the back that he hurt a much bigger iron chined Shane Mosley, who is also faster than either Barrera or Solis. I honestly don't see how people aren't impressive by his end of the fight, and don't expect him to be an expert of running down opponents until he learns to walk in behind the jab a little better. Without a little more adaptable footwork Manny won't be able to keep a guy on the ropes, or corner them.

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

No matter how you spin it or slice it, Manny was unimpressive. But to be fair to Manny, he was behind the 8-ball from the beginning because Mosley had no business being in there in the first place (not to disrespect Mosley, but he was coming off a decisive loss to Floyd and a performance so bad against Mora that even his hardened fans were calling for him to retire).

The only way for Manny to really impress would be to do what no one else had and finish Mosley. A boring decision against a guy who everyone agrees is washed up does NOTHING for his legacy IMO.

It was clearly a step backwards to the pre-Diaz days. Manny moved in straight lines, his right hand was wild and his balance erratic as hell.

Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

It was clearly a step backwards to the pre-Diaz days. Manny moved in straight lines, his right hand was wild and his balance erratic as hell.

agreed. And quite a bit of lunging.

Pac's weakness is taking the lead as JMM knows only too well. Manny looks vulnerable and amateurish when he tries to lead and exposed. Shane tried that tactic but if Manny upped the pace he would have stopped Shane. When Manny got mad he basically beat up Shane but he did not do it enough and coasted fighting within himself. So yes he was unimpressive.

I'd say manny was unimpressive for sure. Mosley was more shot than bin laden.

It's not that he looked dreadful it's that what was in front of him he should have put him away especially after the knockdown. At his best he would have been all over him like flies on sh*t.

his balance did not look great, his co-ordination did not look great there was no urgency, no killer instinct. Where were the blistering combinations. If he could make DLH quit a couple years ago how could he not stop this Mosley.

Mayweather did beat a more ambitious Mosley.

I am giving Pac the benefit of the doubt though, Mosley was so friendly and respectful in the build up perhaps Pac didnt go in with the feeling that he needed to bang him out.

Also Pac does seem to have a lot more going on outside the ring nowadays and whatever you think he cant give 100% of his focus to every aspect of his life it's just not possible not enough hours in the day.

Pac needs an opponent to instill that fear/sense of urgency/motivation in him so we see Pac back to his blistering best.

And we know there is only a couple fighters out there who can do that, if those matches cant or wont be made we could very well see him call it a day at the top of his game legacy intact, reputation near flawless.

Originally Posted by CFH

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

I agree, the only thing he didn't do was knock Mosley out, no he didn't look as great as he has in other fights, but like you said CFH, Pac won every round, how can this not be impressive?

People seem to forget, Pacquiao ain't fucking superman, he has fights where he might not be at his best, and limitations, just like all fighters do.

Originally Posted by Mars_ax

Originally Posted by CFH

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

I agree with the only thing he didn't do was knock Mosley out, no he didn't look as great as he has in other fights, but like you said CFH, Pac won every round, how can this not be impressive?

People seem to forget, Pacquiao ain't fucking superman, he has fights where he might not be at his best, and limitations, just like all fighters do.

All true. The key question WHY in this case was Manny sub-Manny? Do I hear the soft, distant footsteps of Father Time?

Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

Originally Posted by Mars_ax

Originally Posted by CFH

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

I agree with the only thing he didn't do was knock Mosley out, no he didn't look as great as he has in other fights, but like you said CFH, Pac won every round, how can this not be impressive?

People seem to forget, Pacquiao ain't fucking superman, he has fights where he might not be at his best, and limitations, just like all fighters do.

All true. The key question WHY in this case was Manny sub-Manny? Do I hear the soft, distant footsteps of Father Time?

Pac is only 32 turning 33 this year, he should be fine at least till he reaches 35 i hope

Originally Posted by Pavlik

Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

Originally Posted by Mars_ax

Originally Posted by CFH

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

I agree with the only thing he didn't do was knock Mosley out, no he didn't look as great as he has in other fights, but like you said CFH, Pac won every round, how can this not be impressive?

People seem to forget, Pacquiao ain't fucking superman, he has fights where he might not be at his best, and limitations, just like all fighters do.

All true. The key question WHY in this case was Manny sub-Manny? Do I hear the soft, distant footsteps of Father Time?

Pac is only 32 turning 33 this year, he should be fine at least till he reaches 35 i hope

But you know fighters don't age chronologically. Think of it this way. He has been a pro for what, 16 years now? That's a LOOOOOONG time.

Now I hope you are right and I'm wrong!

Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

Originally Posted by Mars_ax

Originally Posted by CFH

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

I agree with the only thing he didn't do was knock Mosley out, no he didn't look as great as he has in other fights, but like you said CFH, Pac won every round, how can this not be impressive?

People seem to forget, Pacquiao ain't fucking superman, he has fights where he might not be at his best, and limitations, just like all fighters do.

All true. The key question WHY in this case was Manny sub-Manny? Do I hear the soft, distant footsteps of Father Time?

I realize i'm running the risk of sounding like a "Pactard" here, but even if Manny is aging a bit, he should still be better then his competition for the next few years. If Pac stays at 147 or below, who has a genuine shot at beating him? Mayweather perhaps, but I even like Manny's chances of winning that one.

I wasn't impress. He didn't do the Ali shuffle or the Mongolian Chop (clap).

Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

Originally Posted by Mars_ax

Originally Posted by CFH

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

I agree with the only thing he didn't do was knock Mosley out, no he didn't look as great as he has in other fights, but like you said CFH, Pac won every round, how can this not be impressive?

People seem to forget, Pacquiao ain't fucking superman, he has fights where he might not be at his best, and limitations, just like all fighters do.

All true. The key question WHY in this case was Manny sub-Manny? Do I hear the soft, distant footsteps of Father Time?

I honestly think it's more indifference than the ageing process taking hold. Manny is more statesmen than boxer these days, just a cursory glance at the last 24/7 (or w/e the hell they called it) showed the difference between Mosley, who went, as usual, to Big Bear, and spent most of his time training in isolation, and Manny, who spent most of his time on TV shows and at tea parties with Obama. IMO Manny knows there are no real challenges left for him and has quietly given up on the sport, just getting a few more easy pay days and perhaps still holding out for the possibility that Mayweather might come out to play. It's not just the fact that Manny seems to prioritise the politics over the boxing, either, but even when he is training now there seems to be an air of frustration, of boredom - I think he's ready to move on, I think he's changed too much as a person and boxing no longer really appeals like it used to. Now it's interesting to think of the implications this would have if Mayweather did suddenly move heaven and earth to make the fight happen. My bet is we would see a return to form from Manny, though I think if that does happen he might regret not having his head entirely in the game over the last few fights, because regardless of physical inactivity, Mayweather's mind is never off boxing.

He was decent, nothing wrong with his perfomance really. Interesting that when a fighter does a little bit more than stand in front of him that his legs went again though. Manny can be outboxed like before and I think he might well be slowing down. Roach wanted Manny to up the tempo and get Mosley out and Pac couldn't do it.