MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO QUOTES (PART 3)
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Apr 2015
Sugar Ray Leonard likened the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight to his classic encounter with Marvelous Marvin Hagler as quoted by The Wall Street Journal:
?There are similarities to the Hagler fight and this one. It?s the significance of the fight. If I hadn?t fought Hagler, I would have been asked and he would have been asked, ?How come y?all didn?t fight?'...It?s more than the money, and there?s a lot money. Now we?re talking legacy, authenticity. Being the best one.?
Marvelous Marvin Hagler, former undisputed world middleweight champion, like Leonard, was non-commital when he was quoted by CBS Sports:
?Whether Pacquiao loses in the first round, whether he knocks out Mayweather in the first round, it's still going to be the biggest fight in history. Mayweather, he's using his head, he's using his skills and strategy and let's hope Pacquiao don't fall into his tricks.?
Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield picked Pacquiao to win as told to Sports on Earth:
"Mayweather won't win, because from what I've seen, boxing doesn't want nobody to get out [of the sport] undefeated They want to keep the money in the sport by doing things to make it happen this way: Somebody beats the man, and then somebody beats the man who beat the man, and then somebody beats the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the man. So I'll tell you what's going to happen, because it's going to be a close fight. Yeah, it'll be close, and Pacquiao is going to get the decision."
The greatest Mexican fighter of all-time, El Gran Campeon Mexicano, Julio Cesar Chavez, over ESPN Latino predicted a Pacquiao win.
"My heart says Pacquiao but if I had to bet, I would bet on Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao is so hungry, so eager to beat Mayweather. I see this as a tough fight for Floyd?if Manny comes out with the aggression, with the killer instinct that we're all used to seeing him with, then he has a shot."
His son Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. told Fighthype:
"I think it's a tough fight, you know...a little favorite Mayweather, but it's a tough opponent. [Manny Pacquiao is] the only guy that can beat Mayweather...[but] I pick Mayweather by decision."
ESPN's Brian Campbell noted that at 38 Mayweather is not the same fighter:
When was the last time you saw Mayweather face anyone with Pacquiao's speed or his combination of movement and power? And while Floyd is the master at shutting down traditional offense, Pacquiao still disguises his punches well by throwing from awkward angles. In a fight that I believe is destined to be close on the scorecards, look for the judges to favor Pacquiao's aggressiveness late."
Anbritt Stengele, founder of the Sports Traveler ticket agency, told CNN:
"This is turning into one of the most bizarre sporting events in history. I can't name another event in my career that has been more hyped than this, and yet there are no official tickets for sale three weeks before the event."
Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson chose Pacquiao as told to Daily Mail's Jeff Powell:
"I thought from the start that Pacquiao is going to win. This guy is perpetual motion. He comes from every angle. He?s all energy. Always throwing punches. Never stops. Floyd tucks in and picks his shots and he is more accurate. But he doesn?t throw anything like Manny?s hundred punches a round. It?s unlikely he can knock Manny out so if he wants to win he?s got to change. Unless he throws more punches he can?t win the rounds."
Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, told Fox Sports Live:
?My head goes for Mayweather, my heart goes for Pacquiao. May the best guy win.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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