CAN PACQUIAO STILL FIGHT A PERFECT FIGHT?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Feb 2015
The consensus is that both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have shown signs of slipping and that this fight should have happened five years ago. But judging from the reaction on social media as well as ticket sales and travel reservations, fans expect nothing less than an epic.
It didn?t matter anymore that we had to go through years of mind-numbing statements, press releases and tirades while writers try to psychoanalyze the protagonists, especially Mayweather?s real motives.
The majority of Filipinos made up their minds a long time ago that Pacquiao wants the fight while Mayweather tries to run away from the issue at all cost. Mayweather?s racist and homophobic rant in 2010 also did not endear him to a lot of people.
When you go around beating your chest proclaiming that you are ?the best ever?, you will be subjected to scrutiny and labeled a cherry picker until you face an opponent that presents a real danger.
But it comes as no surprise that Mayweather is the early betting favorite. He is still undefeated and the best defensive boxer since Pernell Whitaker.
You only need to revisit Pacquiao?s fights against Juan Manuel Marquez to see that accurate counterpunching is Pacman?s kryptonite. Mayweather is faster and more elusive than Marquez.
Pundits expect Mayweather to run and he will. He loves his undefeated record too much. But he will make Pacquiao overreach and miss and make him pay. Mayweather can win a round that way even if he connects less than five punches in three minutes.
Pacquiao?s diehard fans expect a knockout. We haven?t seen that since 2009. While waiting for Mayweather and pondering his demands, Pacquiao had back to back losses; the second was a knockout at the hands of Marquez.
He has since bounced back, but Brandon Rios and Chris Algieri are light years from Mayweather?s level. Pacquiao gave an impressive boxing performance in his rematch against Timothy Bradley, but he will need to go several notches higher against Mayweather.
Money has shown signs of vulnerability. He was tagged by Shane Mosley in 2010, two years later a slower Miguel Cotto managed to connect, and a swarming Marcos Maidana more than had his moments last year.
But Mayweather has managed to win most of the rounds in those fights through his uncanny ability to adapt and adjust.
Pacman plays chess but engaging Mayweather in a chess match may not be the way to go. But he may be left with no other choice.
This fight will be decided by round by round adjustments. Aside from Money?s recent fights, the video of Mayweather?s 2006 fight with southpaw Zab Judah may prove valuable for Team Pacquiao?s preparations.
Pacquiao will have to work on cutting off the ring, slipping through Mayweather?s defense and may need more than one knockdown to take this fight. Pacman?s left is still a potent threat.
But he should minimize his mistakes, because Mayweather?s reflexes will surely capitalize.
Pacquiao will also need to turn back the hands of time a bit. Many feel this fight would have been better five years ago, so Pacquiao should fight like he is five years younger.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Barring any training injury or some cataclysmic event like a global Ebola pandemic or a nuclear holocaust, Mayweather (47-0, 26KO?s) and Pacquiao (57-5-2,38KO?s) will have their super fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.
But a welterweight war similar to Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns or Roberto Duran?s first fight against Leonard may be too much to ask. Pacquiao is 36 and Mayweather turns 38. Boxing scribes will always cite the Thrilla in Manila as an example but I can only hope that this will not turn out to be another Oscar de la Hoya vs Felix Trinidad.
In the coming weeks, news and analyses of this mega-bout will dominate the sports news especially here in the Philippines. Fight fans - especially those who have followed this five-year telenovela with masochistic passion - deserve a great battle.
(Mayweather photo by Dr.Ed de la Vega, Pacquiao photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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