PRIME Floyd Mayweather vs PRIME Manny Pacquiao, Who would win and how?

[mikeeod]

Prime vs prime I pick Floyd by decision, but could see a case where Floyd stops Manny due to accumulation of punishment and exhaustion on Manny’s part. This isn’t to say that it wouldn’t have been a MUCH better fight, or that it wouldn’t have pushed Floyd more than any other fight he ever had. It also doesn’t mean that I don’t give Manny any chance to win, because at that point Manny was a monster and if he landed a solid shot on anyone he was doing damage.

For me, two things work against Manny here. First, as most have pointed out, Manny struggled with JMM’s counterpunching and defense, and Floyd was better at both. Second, Floyd was/is the naturally bigger man while also being comparable in speed. Floyd’s skills and natural gifts were difficult to overcome for guys his own size and larger, smaller fighters had Virtually no chance of imposing their will on him, as proven/highlighted in his fights vs JMM, Hatton, and Manny.

Why I see Manny giving Floyd fits and being a solid/live underdog is that prime Manny was very active, fast, awkward, aggressive, and possessed a very hard punch. If Manny caught anyone with the right shot he either turned out their lights (Hatton), knocked them down (JMM, Cotto), made them gun shy (Oscar, Clottey, Shane), or broke bones (Margo). Floyd was a masterful fighter, but the right shot by Manny could change history.

Manny’s relentless volume punching could spell trouble for a defensive minded Floyd (I think this would most likely present opportunities for Floyd, who preferred to counter punch and pick foes apart). Maidana, Castillo, and even Jesus Chavez gave Floyd problems with their relentless pressure and high punch output. The distinction/difference between them and Manny (especially Maidana and Castillo) is that they were much larger than Floyd and fought in a physical style that allowed them to bully and manhandle Floyd, where Manny used his legs to create angles.

I think we tend to be a little hard on Floyd because we may buy into his created persona too much, but the guy was an ATG in his prime, as was Manny. This ultimately comes down to style match up and size favoring Floyd, and I see that winning out in the end. One last thing to note: during his prime, when he fought good fighters his own size, Floyd pushed for and usually got the stoppage, as evidenced in his fights vs Hatton, Hernandez, and Corrales. I think this fight is similar to Floyd’s fight vs Judah, but harder for more rounds than Judah was and ending in a late knockout of Manny.

[Master]

I think we agree that when they did eventually fight they were way past their best. The fight was boring and Manny did hurt Floyd with that left you mentioned.

[Primo Carnera]

I think we agree that when they did eventually fight they were way past their best. The fight was boring and Manny did hurt Floyd with that left you mentioned.

You're in your element now . Talking about your favourite subject, good old FMJ!!

[Master]

I think we agree that when they did eventually fight they were way past their best. The fight was boring and Manny did hurt Floyd with that left you mentioned.

You're in your element now . Talking about your favourite subject, good old FMJ!!

Can't wait for his next exhibition, hope he does not injure himself.

[powerpuncher]

Prime vs prime I pick Floyd by decision, but could see a case where Floyd stops Manny due to accumulation of punishment and exhaustion on Manny’s part. This isn’t to say that it wouldn’t have been a MUCH better fight, or that it wouldn’t have pushed Floyd more than any other fight he ever had. It also doesn’t mean that I don’t give Manny any chance to win, because at that point Manny was a monster and if he landed a solid shot on anyone he was doing damage.

For me, two things work against Manny here. First, as most have pointed out, Manny struggled with JMM’s counterpunching and defense, and Floyd was better at both. Second, Floyd was/is the naturally bigger man while also being comparable in speed. Floyd’s skills and natural gifts were difficult to overcome for guys his own size and larger, smaller fighters had Virtually no chance of imposing their will on him, as proven/highlighted in his fights vs JMM, Hatton, and Manny.

Why I see Manny giving Floyd fits and being a solid/live underdog is that prime Manny was very active, fast, awkward, aggressive, and possessed a very hard punch. If Manny caught anyone with the right shot he either turned out their lights (Hatton), knocked them down (JMM, Cotto), made them gun shy (Oscar, Clottey, Shane), or broke bones (Margo). Floyd was a masterful fighter, but the right shot by Manny could change history.

Manny’s relentless volume punching could spell trouble for a defensive minded Floyd (I think this would most likely present opportunities for Floyd, who preferred to counter punch and pick foes apart). Maidana, Castillo, and even Jesus Chavez gave Floyd problems with their relentless pressure and high punch output. The distinction/difference between them and Manny (especially Maidana and Castillo) is that they were much larger than Floyd and fought in a physical style that allowed them to bully and manhandle Floyd, where Manny used his legs to create angles.

I think we tend to be a little hard on Floyd because we may buy into his created persona too much, but the guy was an ATG in his prime, as was Manny. This ultimately comes down to style match up and size favoring Floyd, and I see that winning out in the end. One last thing to note: during his prime, when he fought good fighters his own size, Floyd pushed for and usually got the stoppage, as evidenced in his fights vs Hatton, Hernandez, and Corrales. I think this fight is similar to Floyd’s fight vs Judah, but harder for more rounds than Judah was and ending in a late knockout of Manny.

As you said, Pacquiao wasn’t an aggressive fighter like Maidana or Castillo. He doesn’t put his head in your chest and throw. He bounces around and creates angles with a high punch output. Floyd doesn’t have problems with that style. He makes people punch much less because of his counter punching.

Obviously Pacquiao is good enough to pull off a win, but I would heavily favor Floyd in a prime vs prime fight.

[Gandalf]

All it takes is a few to land clean and Floyd going down and he would be in a position he is unused to. In that panic he might well end up like Mosley or even sparked out trying to fight fire with fire caught in the moment.

Mayweather was just bigger than Marquez and fought differently too. Styles make fights. Marquez was never a real WW.

[Primo Carnera]

Can’t believe this thread.

[Gandalf]

Also consider how easy Zab found it for 4 rounds. Manny does not fade like that. Look at how easy Maidana found it to land, Cotto too. Prime Manny would no doubt land a lot and would cause damage. They did not fight earlier because Floyd is smart.

[Ron Swanson]

Also consider how easy Zab found it for 4 rounds. Manny does not fade like that. Look at how easy Maidana found it to land, Cotto too. Prime Manny would no doubt land a lot and would cause damage. They did not fight earlier because Floyd is smart.

Yet it was Manny that pulled out. It was agreed to exactly when it should have happened and Manny pulled out, not Floyd.

[Alpha]

Are we talking Floyd under USADA or VADA

Floyd always had hand problems, so if they fought around 2010, they were there.

In saying that Floyd wins a UD, in a tougher fight.