#360debate: Can Manny Pacquiao beat Floyd Mayweather?

Sport360 staff 12:18 23/02/2015
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  • Good form: Floyd Mayweather has been installed as the early favourite for the Las Vegas superfight on May 2.

    It’s finally here: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. 

    Many fans will claim that the meeting is about five years too late but with these two sporting giants, age was never really a factor. Long hyped as the fight to save boxing this is one of the sport’s most anticipated events. 

    – #Quiz360: WIN dinner for 2 at Jumeira Rotana, Dubai
    – Filipino expats delighted Pacquiao-Mayweather will finally happen

    – VIDEO: Mayweather and Pacquiao agree to biggest fight in a decade

    In light of this, today’s debate is: Can Manny Pacquiao beat Floyd Mayweather​?

    James Piercy, Deputy Editor, says YES

    We already know the story. Manny Pacquiao will come out swinging, maybe even land a few shots but gradually, as the fight develops, he will tire, and Mayweather’s tactical nous will come into play for him to grind out a points victory.

    However, as marginally ridiculous as it might sound for a 47-fight veteran, there is an element of surprise Pacquiao will hold over his opponent. Mayweather is 8-0 against southpaws but has had his troubles in the past against Zab Judah, DeMarcus Corley and Victor Ortiz (albeit incredibly briefly).

    The key to those wins was how quickly he was able to adapt after a couple of less-than-convincing opening rounds. Pacquiao is by far a better fighter than that trio and more of an all-rounder.

    He hits hard and fast with both hands, from all angles. Any fullproof ‘southpaw plan’ Mayweather may have devised in the past won’t be relevant.

    Speed is the overwhelming response whenever anyone asks what Mayweather’s Achilles heel potentially is.

    But the key part of the that debate is that, at this stage of his career, we’re yet to properly find out if it’s true or not. At 38 (by the time of the fight) Mayweather’s reflexes simply cannot be what they were when he came up against Oscarde la Hoya or, going even further back, Jose Luis Castillo.

    Since beating Shane Moseley his list of victims have bee big, straightforward punchers. None as fast as Pacquiao.

    Since beating Shane Mosley in 2010, his list of victims: Ortiz, Miguel Cotto, Robert Guerrero, Saul Alvarez and Marcos Maidana have been big, straightforward punchers.

    None as fast or multi-dimensional as Pacquiao. The Filipino too has slowed but having watched him beat Timothy Bradley and Chris Algieri so convincingly, the hand speed and quickness of feet remain.

    Pacquiao’s loss to Juan Manuel Marquez has also rightfully been brought up, given the Filipino was defeated by a counter-punch straight out of Floyd’s locker. But then that could be the best thing that’s ever happened to Manny.

    He won’t make the same mistake twice. Everyone knows how Mayweather will fight. He has 47 wins behind him, why change. But for all his boxing IQ, this is a slight leap into the unknown for him.

    Andy Lewis, News Editor, says NO

    The first thing you see when you walk through the main entrance of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is a giant display cabinet celebrating the career and achievements of Floyd Mayweather.

    It’s where he conducts the business of winning fights, and on May 2 he will once again have his hand raised in victory in those all too familiar surroundings.

    It will be a huge disappointment to the vast and overwhelming majority of a global audience who will be desperately hoping Manny Pacquiao can be the man to taint the American’s so far unblemished record.

    The major problem Pacquiao faces is that his strengths are negated and trumped by those of his opponent. And as the old adage goes: styles make fights.

    Mayweather is a supreme counterpuncher, one of the very best to ever lace a pair of gloves, and Pacquiao’s highenergy, come forward approach will play right into his hands. He will make him miss and make him pay with clinical accuracy.

    He will take Pacquiao’s aggression and use it against him. The Filipino’s speed and pressure can cause Mayweather some problems, particularly early in the fight, but he will get caught less and less as it goes on, making the necessary adjustments and establishing a rhythm.

    Pacquiao will throw a high volume of punches, but he is trying to tag arguably the greatest defensive boxer in history. And as the Filipino gets more and more desperate in an effort to force the action, he will inevitably be caught with even more regularity.

    He will make him miss and make him pay with clinical accuracy. He will take Pacquiao’s aggression and use it against him.

    After he has scored, expect Mayweather to clinch and hold as he has done so effectively to stifle lively opponents in the past – and as the bigger and stronger man he will have no problem doing this.

    A lot has been said about Pacquiao being a southpaw and Mayweather’s supposed discomfort with facing them, but probably his best punch is his lead right and that should prove incredibly effective against a game left hander.

    It should be a shot he can land at will to catch Pacquiao on the way in. Mayweather simply possesses too many advantages and will take his now customary unanimous decision.
     

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