The ‘fight of the century’ involving ‘boxing’s heavyweights’, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao goes down tomorrow.
Boxing’s biggest names match gloves at the world famous MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
You must have heard about it.
‘Money’ is boxing’s biggest drawing card and boasts a larger than life personality and a 47-0 record. Manny is a Filipino Congressman who has won world titles in seven of 10 weight classes from flyweight (112 pounds) to super welterweight (154 pounds).
Before things heat up in Vegas, Stabroek Sport’s Emmerson Campbell asked some knowledgeable boxing buffs yesterday to predict the outcome of the mega fight.
Here are their takes:
Peter Abdool (President of the Caribbean Boxing Federation and the GBBC) Peter’s pick-Mayweather- In trying to assess what is likely to happen I looked at three fights involving Mayweather, him versus Zab Judah, DeMarcus Corley and Sharmba Mitchell. If you look at those fights, Mayweather becomes remarkably aggressive against southpaws and that’s because I think it brings the left side of their face to his accurate right hand.
Speed is another determinant, Mayweather is faster and he is also physically bigger.
How does the fight end? It can go the distance but if Manny commits to the landing the left he can be knocked out by Floyd’s counterpunching right
hand.
Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis (Guyana’s first world champion). Six’s pick-Mayweather-I always say that Pacquiao cannot beat Mayweather. I think the fight is gonna be tough but I think Mayweather gonna take him out in the later rounds.
Mayweather doesn’t take chances and he can take a punch and Mayweather gonna take it home. He’s 47 and 0 and he is the best of this era.
Sebert Blake (Head coach of the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym) Sebert’s pick-Mayweather-I think he has the style to beat Pacquiao. When you watch the fights against Bradley and the Marquez fights, I see that if Mayweather fight him out of range he will win. Pacquiao is a volume fighter and Mayweather is a counter punching fighter who is always moving. Pacquiao is a southpaw and Mayweather is perfect at using his right hand.
How does the fight end? I think the fight goes the distance but I won’t be surprised if Mayweather takes him out in the latter rounds and gives the world what they want.
Steve Ninvalle (President of the Guyana Boxing Association) Ninvalle picks ‘Money’-Mayweather is going to win and I’m confident that he is going to win easily. The reason
why I am saying this is that he is able to adapt better, he can change his whole modus operandi during the course of a fight. I have never seen Pacquiao doing such, to me he is a one dimensional fighter, he just comes all the time. On the other hand Mayweather can fight going back and forward, he also has the speed and his defensive ability. Undoubtedly Manny Pacquiao has never and will never face a fighter as Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Keith Bazilio- (Boxing manager and promoter) Keith’s pick-Mayweather-I think the experience of Floyd in the big fights will be on his side. Pacquiao has been in big fights but he has never faced a Mayweather. Pacquiao like most southpaws does not have a good defence for the straight right. I think Mayweather is going to win easily. He is a much smarter fighter than Pacman. Pacquiao fights with a lot of heart and will and little brains.
Pacquiao is going to look good in the earlier rounds and the straight right is going to be Mayweather’s main weapon.
How does ‘Money’ win? I think he is going to win by knockout somewhere in the fourth to the seventh round.
Terrence Poole- (Technical Director of the Guyana Boxing Association) Poole’s pick-Mayweather- He will frustrate Pacquiao and after round five if Pacquiao is not landing he will get frustrated. Mayweather has proven on many occasions to adapt in the ring. I don’t see Pacquiao as a threat to Mayweather, his boxing skills, brain, everything. He’s just
a superior fighter.
In what fashion Floyd wins? It could go the distance or it can be a short fight for Mayweather. This whole month is his (chuckles).
Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce-(Legendary boxing trainer) Bizzy’s pick-Mayweather- He is the craftier boxer. This is like a gift to Mayweather, the style of Pacquiao is suited for Mayweather’s right hand. That is going to be a major force in the fight because Pacman is a southpaw.
Pacquiao will try to box but that is not his style. Mayweather going to feed him his shoulder and he will get frustrated after about five rounds and after that it’s going to go downhill for him.
How does Pacquiao lose? Either he gets knocked out or the referee stops the fight because of cuts. If the referee doesn’t stop it, his corner will.
Odinga Lumumba (Boxing promoter) Lumumba is betting on the ‘Money’-For Pacquiao to win he has to knock out Mayweather early and I don’t think he has the power to do that. The speed and the skills of Mayweather will dominate Pacquaio.
Pacman is fighting against history, Mayweather has the way and will.
Decision? Mayweather will stop him between the 8th and 10th and the referee is going to stop the fight.
Keith Campbell (Pro boxing commentator/analyst) Campbell’s pick-Pacquiao- There are five main reasons for picking Pacquiao. He is a southpaw, his hand speed is underrated, his power is underrated, he has been in more wars than Mayweather and the excuse factor was the last but not least. As a former athlete I know when you are ducking someone there is the possibility that there is a hidden fear.
Decision? I think it will go the distance but Pacquiao by a close unanimous decision. It will be a bruising affair like the first Duran-Leonard match.
