Mayweather v Pacquiao: boxing's richest cakewalk

[walrus]

Manny has been faking slippage, it's the only way he could lure Floyd into a fight. Manny by KO

[imp]

Manny has been faking slippage, it's the only way he could lure Floyd into a fight. Manny by KO

Love it.

I loved the way he was faking sleep against marquez.

(Only joking guys!)

[Fenster]

Seems like Pac gets downgraded when he doesn't score the KO, which is a bit odd when comparing him with Floyd.

(personally I wouldn't regard them as "low level" fighters, only "elite" fighters will wipe the floor with that level of opposition)

He gets downgraded because KOing guys is what he did well. Pac was billed as an ultra aggressive, 2 handed knockout machine. When a guy is no longer able to do what brought him to greatness, people are naturally going to assume he's slipping.

What else are people left to think when the supposed most dangerous man in boxing hasn't stopped a guy in 6 years? When a guy who iced the likes of Miguel Cotto, Hatton, De La Hoya, Barrera, ect is going the distance with Rios and Algeiri?

Well people should have a rethink then. The only guy he "iced" here was Hatton.

He bashed Oscar into submission, Cotto was stopped on his feet in the 12th after being floored early, Clottey and Margarito both went the distance, Mosley went the distance after being decked, he never once stopped Marquez after decking him several times in four bouts, Rios has never been stopped, Bradley has never been stopped, Algieri has never been stopped. Barrera was stopped on his feet in the first fight then took him the distance in the rematch.

Pacquiao is a vicious puncher.

Is he past his best? Naturally. Is he a complete and utter shadow of his former self? The evidence doesn't point to that. Is he still regarded as one of the P4P best? Yes. Will he be the best fighter Floyd has ever faced? Probably. Fact.

[Beanflicker]

I don't think he's a shadow of his former self by any stretch, he's obviously still a magnificent fighter. It's just hard to get by the fact that he hasn't stopped a guy in 6 years, and really hasn't shown that same kind of killer instinct since being knocked unconscious by JMM.

I don't think he's a cakewalk for Mayweather (although I wouldn't be surprised if Mayweather dominated), but it's tough to give him a realistic chance. He doesn't have the skills or the boxing IQ to outfox Mayweather and if he can't knock out Algieri or Rios, it's hard to imagine he can KO Mayweather.

[mikeeod]

Floyd is going to be tough to beat and should be the (significant) favorite to beat Manny. Floyd is the bigger man, always in great condition, a great counterpuncher, more versatile and more skilled in the ring. That being said, Pac has a MUCH better chance than say... Buster Douglas did vs Tyson.

One punch can change history, and from what I see Manny can still punch hard. Rios and Algieri were in survival mode from the start, so I think it is misleading to say Manny has lost his power. While I don't think he one punch knocks out Floyd, I can see Manny landing a HARD shot and causing facial damage that either leads to a stoppage, or forces Floyd to fight in a different manner.

Manny's biggest chance, in my opinion, is his rhythm/speed/unorthodox style combination. He can simply be awkward enough to throw more punches than Floyd from weird angles while constantly moving, and win an ugly/close decision without hurting Floyd seriously. Again, I'm betting on Floyd, but I think Manny has a solid chance to score the upset.

[Greig]

I just can see Floyd being beaten here.

It's hard to see how Manny and Freddie come up with a fight plan to beat probably the finest defensive boxer ever.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but at this stage of the game, I don't think Manny has the speed to do what he needs to.

[Greig]

Just been confirmed: it's on.

[oakleyno1]

Officially announced ... Better go ahead if I book my flights!!

[Andre]

Good about time. I dont think an over commited fighter can beat Floyd but i live in hope.

[DynoMight]

Manny doesn't have to knock Floyd out or even hit him cleanly.

He just has to be Manny. Awkward, fast, and busy. Even if the connect % favors Floyd, Manny can very easily win this one from the judges table.

I wouldn't touch this fight with a bet with a 10 foot pole. To say Manny is past it and cruising for a domination is ridiculous.

[imp]

If I was a fighter that wanted an easier version of the common opponents that floyd and manny faced I would choose mannys opponents everytime.

Imagine if floyd fought hatton and Moseley the time pac fought them he would get the most abuse!

[Master]

Do you think Sky have the fight? Will it be PPV? They are almost advertising it now!

[mikeeod]

If I was a fighter that wanted an easier version of the common opponents that floyd and manny faced I would choose mannys opponents everytime.

Imagine if floyd fought hatton and Moseley the time pac fought them he would get the most abuse!

What about Cotto? Do u feel he was better when he fought Floyd?!?!

[Fenster]

I don't think he's a shadow of his former self by any stretch, he's obviously still a magnificent fighter. It's just hard to get by the fact that he hasn't stopped a guy in 6 years, and really hasn't shown that same kind of killer instinct since being knocked unconscious by JMM.

I don't think he's a cakewalk for Mayweather (although I wouldn't be surprised if Mayweather dominated), but it's tough to give him a realistic chance. He doesn't have the skills or the boxing IQ to outfox Mayweather and if he can't knock out Algieri or Rios, it's hard to imagine he can KO Mayweather.

I don't think Manny's only chance is by KO. I can see his fan/judge friendly raids winning rounds. Many a lesser fighter than him have taken rounds off Floyd

[IamInuit]

A year or two ago and in fact right up until about the halfway point of last year, I would have said and did say that Floyd would not need three or 4 fights to drop that straight right hand that Marquez got in.
I would have and no doubt did say that Floyd would have gotten the sweet shots in with the right in the first fight. Its not as if a right hand being the best weapon against a leftie is some celebrity trainers secret.

That was then and this is now. Everyone keeps talking about how Manny has been on the slide and flat out ignores how half a man Floyd has looked. Everything seemed off with the guy from his demeanor to his reaction time and movement in the ring. Many super Floyd fans seem to think that this is the same Floyd that fought in 06 and 07. Its not. Its not even the same Floyd that dominated Guerrero or out classed Alvarez. The guy that fought Maidana looked like a completely different fighter and looked a bit to validate that old saying about "growing old overnight". Now perhaps he was bothered by things out side of boxing in his personal but he looked detached both mentally and physically in both Maidana fights. He's turning 38 in a few days and even though this fight may not be near as meaningful as it could have been, imo its a much more competitive one.

Floyd has made comments like

"I knew eventually it would happen, but everything takes time,"

Everything in life is about timing

I have a good team and I waited until the time was right.

Well his timing could be as off here as it looked in the Maidana fights. It could actually be Manny's timing that will look prophetic after all is said and done.