Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
The two best and most popular Welterweight boxers today. The fight that just doesn't seem to be making much progress past various social media platforms.
Well, whether the fight happens or not, we're going to breakdown the fighters from top to bottom and let you predict who could win a potential fight in 2015:
Floyd Mayweather (47-0)
With Mayweather, the record speaks for itself. Since his first professional bout in 1996, Mayweather hasn't lost a single match. Mayweather is the WBA Welterweight Champion of the world, and he hasn't even tied once in his career.
Mayweather's biggest attribute is his speed. It's incredibly hard to land a knockout blow to Mayweather because he ducks and dodges so many jabs throughout the fight. Mayweather won't knock out his opponents very often, but his punching percentage is almost always significantly higher because his challenger misses so many attempts.
Mayweather also has good endurance.
The weaknesses in Mayweather in this match would be age, power and competition. Mayweather may very well be 47-0, but spending 2014 facing Marcos Maidana twice didn't impress anybody. Maidana isn't Pacquiao, and if Mayweather were to face Pacquiao, he has a lot of work to do.
As Keith Thurman and other boxers have said about Mayweather, he lacks power. Mayweather is more of a technical boxer, having just one knockout since 2008. That was the infamous Victor Ortiz handshake match in 2011. Mayweather is also 22 months older that Pacquiao.
Regardless of age or power, Mayweather would be the favorite in this more than $300 million fight because of his record. The only question now is: How bad does Mayweather want Pacquiao?
Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2)
The No. 2 ranked boxer in the Welterweight division has made it loud and clear: He wants Mayweather in 2015.
Manny Pacquiao's victory over previously undefeated Chris Algieri was very impressive. With that win, Pacquiao retained his WBO Welterweight Championship, and got his 57th career professional victory.
With Mayweather being the highest rated boxer in the world and ranked No. 1, he controls most of the demands and financial splits. But, let's not dismiss what Pacquiao has accomplished in the ring. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for his performances from 2000 to 2009 and has three times been named "Fighter of the Year." Mayweather has been named "Fighter of the Year" twice.
While Mayweather holds the edge in speed and athleticism, Pacquiao has an advantage in power and age. Another factor to remember is Pacquiao is a southpaw. Many boxers and trainers fear fighting southpaw stances because it is very rare. (Remember Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa?) Boxing promoter Bob Arum has said time and time again that Mayweather is "scared" of Pacquiao because he doesn't want to fight notable left-handed fighters.
Pacquiao doesn't have an unblemished record, but his loss to Timothy Bradley was certainly a controversial one. There are other great boxers with blemishes, too: Muhammad Ali had five losses, George Foreman had five defeats and Joe Frazier had four. Pacquiao is willing to face Mayweather regardless of size or record, having no fear whatsoever.
Verdict
Both fighters offer a unique skill set, just in different ways. It's unfortunate we couldn't see these two face off their prime, but that's in the past. Mayweather's reach advantage would give Pacquiao some problems, but Pacquiao has great speed himself. In the end, there's a good chance this fight goes the distance, all 12 rounds without a knockout.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
To fight Pacquiao something has to go for Mayweather
Cinco de Mayo, this great Mexican bank holiday has become a synonymous with each year’s appearances of boxing’s number 1 pound for pound Floyd Mayweather Jr (47-0).
Floyd has lately marked this date on his calendar for his performances. This year though things have changed and become a bit more perplexed. Mexico’s Saul Canelo Alvarez threatens to change these plans for good.
The hard hitter Canelo has agreed in all terms to fight another hard hitter in the face of Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in what promises to be a very exciting fight for Cotto’s WBC middleweight title on May 2nd.
So this is a totally new situation for Floyd. In the recent past no other big name had dared to fight on the same night with Floyd unless he already belonged to that pay per view event; otherwise this would had been doomed with failure.
But now the tables are turned and unless Floyd pulls another ace from his deck of cards I see him watching Canelo from the TV on May 2nd.
I believe there are certainly aces on his deck of cards and a possibility to turn all this situation on his favor.
For the most of us this will mean only one thing: To fight Manny Pacquiao. Of course, if this happens for Floyd something has to go.
So a good question will be what will be that something? In my opinion there can be more than one things. Sometimes it can be for the good and sometimes for the bad.
So in no particular order I will present them here one by one.
Fear:
Fear is always something good to go. It will be good for Floyd if he finally agrees to face his arch nemesis Manny Pacquiao, this will silence his critics who give him always hard time for avoiding him until now.
Pride
So far Floyd has managed to stay unbeaten with minor cuts and bruises. So it will be bad if now finally loses and his boxing record gets an asterisk marked on it. This will be a direct blow for his pride, but I guess it happens this even to the very best.
Purse
Actually here something will come in instead to go out. It will be good for Floyd because this will mean much more money into the pocket than ever. He is already the richest athlete alive and this will make him even richer.
Legacy
It will be good for his legacy so that future generations will remember him as someone who fought with the best. It will be bad if he finally will not agree. In my opinion it will leave his legacy incomplete and this will be such a shame.
Canelo:
If Floyd agrees to fight Pacquiao, Canelo and his promoter Oscar Dela Hoya will certainly have to compromise and look elsewhere, very possibly prior to the May 2nd date.
Two big fights on two different channels and venues make no sense in any way. It will be a conflicting and unreasonable action.
So there you have it. Things that can make a difference in Floyd’s life and have to come and go.
In your comments bellow please let me know if you see other minor or major things for Floyd to go. Thanks for reading.
Floyd has lately marked this date on his calendar for his performances. This year though things have changed and become a bit more perplexed. Mexico’s Saul Canelo Alvarez threatens to change these plans for good.
The hard hitter Canelo has agreed in all terms to fight another hard hitter in the face of Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in what promises to be a very exciting fight for Cotto’s WBC middleweight title on May 2nd.
So this is a totally new situation for Floyd. In the recent past no other big name had dared to fight on the same night with Floyd unless he already belonged to that pay per view event; otherwise this would had been doomed with failure.
But now the tables are turned and unless Floyd pulls another ace from his deck of cards I see him watching Canelo from the TV on May 2nd.
I believe there are certainly aces on his deck of cards and a possibility to turn all this situation on his favor.
For the most of us this will mean only one thing: To fight Manny Pacquiao. Of course, if this happens for Floyd something has to go.
So a good question will be what will be that something? In my opinion there can be more than one things. Sometimes it can be for the good and sometimes for the bad.
So in no particular order I will present them here one by one.
Fear:
Fear is always something good to go. It will be good for Floyd if he finally agrees to face his arch nemesis Manny Pacquiao, this will silence his critics who give him always hard time for avoiding him until now.
Pride
So far Floyd has managed to stay unbeaten with minor cuts and bruises. So it will be bad if now finally loses and his boxing record gets an asterisk marked on it. This will be a direct blow for his pride, but I guess it happens this even to the very best.
Purse
Actually here something will come in instead to go out. It will be good for Floyd because this will mean much more money into the pocket than ever. He is already the richest athlete alive and this will make him even richer.
Legacy
It will be good for his legacy so that future generations will remember him as someone who fought with the best. It will be bad if he finally will not agree. In my opinion it will leave his legacy incomplete and this will be such a shame.
Canelo:
If Floyd agrees to fight Pacquiao, Canelo and his promoter Oscar Dela Hoya will certainly have to compromise and look elsewhere, very possibly prior to the May 2nd date.
Two big fights on two different channels and venues make no sense in any way. It will be a conflicting and unreasonable action.
So there you have it. Things that can make a difference in Floyd’s life and have to come and go.
In your comments bellow please let me know if you see other minor or major things for Floyd to go. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Freddie Roach could be the key to May 2 date
May 2 has been mentioned as the date two major fights. Both a clash between WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, as well as the long awaited showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. But, one of those two fights will not be staged on that date by the mere fact that Freddie Roach cannot be in two places at once. Roach is the head trainer of both Pacquiao and Cotto.
Mayweather has fought on Cinco de Mayo weekend for three straight years (and four of the last five), while Canelo now wants to be active on that traditional Mexican holiday. However, these plans could be altered and it can’t be ruled out that Cotto could wind up as the opponent for Mayweather, despite the fact that allegedly negotiations with Alvarez are somewhat advanced, which would leave Pacquiao out of the picture. It’s possible that Roach, Pacquiao and Cotto will have a meeting to discuss this matter since Alvarez and Mayweather Jr. have both proposed the same date.
Mayweather has fought on Cinco de Mayo weekend for three straight years (and four of the last five), while Canelo now wants to be active on that traditional Mexican holiday. However, these plans could be altered and it can’t be ruled out that Cotto could wind up as the opponent for Mayweather, despite the fact that allegedly negotiations with Alvarez are somewhat advanced, which would leave Pacquiao out of the picture. It’s possible that Roach, Pacquiao and Cotto will have a meeting to discuss this matter since Alvarez and Mayweather Jr. have both proposed the same date.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Pacquiao: Fans have waited too long
As the rhetoric between the two boxers grows, Manny Pacquiao hasn't minced words when it comes to a potential fight with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.
On Tuesday, Pacquiao went to the undefeated Mayweather on Twitter to let him know he's ready.
Mayweather-Pacquiao is a fight boxing fans have craved since 2009 but one that never has been agreed to due to various unsuccessful negotiations.
But a potential showdown seemingly took a step toward fruition Friday night when Mayweather said during a Showtime interview that he wants to fight Pacquiao next and wants it to be May 2, the Cinco de Mayo weekend that Mayweather has regularly fought on.
"We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it," Mayweather said.
The interview included Mayweather's first extended remarks on the prospect of the fight in quite some time, and it was the first time he directly said he wanted to fight Pacquiao next and mentioned a specific date.
Pacquiao responded earlier this week that he is willing and able.
"He [Mayweather] has reached a dead end," the Filipino great told skysports.com. "He has nowhere to run but to fight me.
"I will try my best to make this a thrilling and entertaining fight, but I doubt if he's gonna engage me in a slugfest.
"You all know his fighting style. Most of his previous fights, if not all, induced us to sleep."
Pacquiao, who turns 36 on Wednesday, is coming off a dominant near-shutout decision Nov. 22 against Chris Algieri to retain his welterweight title and move to 57-5-2 (38 KOs).
Mayweather, 37 and the sport's biggest draw, is 47-0 with 26 KOs.
On Tuesday, Pacquiao went to the undefeated Mayweather on Twitter to let him know he's ready.
Mayweather-Pacquiao is a fight boxing fans have craved since 2009 but one that never has been agreed to due to various unsuccessful negotiations.
But a potential showdown seemingly took a step toward fruition Friday night when Mayweather said during a Showtime interview that he wants to fight Pacquiao next and wants it to be May 2, the Cinco de Mayo weekend that Mayweather has regularly fought on.
"We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it," Mayweather said.
The interview included Mayweather's first extended remarks on the prospect of the fight in quite some time, and it was the first time he directly said he wanted to fight Pacquiao next and mentioned a specific date.
Pacquiao responded earlier this week that he is willing and able.
"He [Mayweather] has reached a dead end," the Filipino great told skysports.com. "He has nowhere to run but to fight me.
"I will try my best to make this a thrilling and entertaining fight, but I doubt if he's gonna engage me in a slugfest.
"You all know his fighting style. Most of his previous fights, if not all, induced us to sleep."
Pacquiao, who turns 36 on Wednesday, is coming off a dominant near-shutout decision Nov. 22 against Chris Algieri to retain his welterweight title and move to 57-5-2 (38 KOs).
Mayweather, 37 and the sport's biggest draw, is 47-0 with 26 KOs.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Mayweather calls out Pacquiao
Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. has had precious little to say about the fight the public has demanded for years, a bout with Manny Pacquiao -- until Friday night.
Mayweather said during a Showtime interview that he wants to fight Pacquiao next and wants the fight to be May 2, the Cinco de Mayo weekend that Mayweather has regularly fought on.
"We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it," Mayweather said in the interview in San Antonio, where his promotional company was putting on a boxing card.
“
We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it.
”
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In the days before Pacquiao dropped Chris Algieri six times in a near-shutout decision to retain his welterweight title Nov. 22, he and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum launched a verbal offensive in an effort to kick-start the pressure on Mayweather.
Pacquiao even starred in a Foot Locker commercial mocking Mayweather's supposed reluctance to face him in what would be by far the richest fight in boxing history.
Friday night's interview included Mayweather's first extended remarks on the prospect of the fight in quite some time, and it was the first time he directly said he wanted to fight Pacquiao next and mentioned a specific date.
The fight has been demanded by the public since 2009, and the sides have had various unsuccessful negotiations, most notably in late 2009 and early 2010, when they made a deal on all aspects of the fight except for a drug-testing protocol. The deal fell apart.
"I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. We tried to make the fight happen years ago; we had problems with random blood and urine testing," Mayweather said. "I just want to be on an even playing field. Now he's in a very, very tight situation. He's lost to [Juan Manuel] Marquez [in 2012], he's lost to [Timothy] Bradley [by controversial decision in 2012 but avenged it in April]. Pay-per-view numbers are extremely low. He's desperate. I wanted that fight a long time ago. I'm just waiting on them."
Mayweather failed to mention that Pacquiao long ago agreed to be randomly tested. He also failed to mention that while Pacquiao's pay-per-view figures have indeed been soft in recent fights, Mayweather's have also plummeted. Three of the four fights that he has had so far under his six-fight contract with CBS/Showtime failed to reach even 900,000 buys.
“
He's desperate. I wanted that fight a long time ago. I'm just waiting on them.
”
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao and Arum have been pressing for the fight in recent weeks, and Arum has held talks with CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves in an effort to work out a deal under which Showtime and HBO, which has Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) under contract, would produce a joint pay-per-view. The companies did that once before for the 2002 heavyweight championship fight between Lennox Lewis, who was signed to HBO, and Mike Tyson, who was with Showtime.
Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), however, perhaps had not heard about the Arum-Moonves talks because he told Showtime, "Of course, we have to make the fight happen on Showtime pay-per-view, because 'Showtime Championship Boxing' is No. 1 and will remain No. 1. I'm the man. I'm here to stay.
"Floyd Mayweather is not ducking or dodging any opponent. Bob Arum is stopping the fight. We have been trying to make this fight happen behind the scenes for years now, but the fans and the people have been fooled because they have been listening to people just on one side. Now it's time for us to talk. We want the fight."
Asked about his chief motivation for wanting the fight, Mayweather said, "I know that he's not on my level. The fans would love to see the fight. And, of course, I want to go out with a bang."
Then Mayweather, in a rant that sounded like he was cutting a WWE promo, spoke directly to Pacquiao and Arum.
"So let's make this fight happen. Manny Pacquiao, Bob Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years," Mayweather said. "We're tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics. You guys didn't want to take random blood and urine testing, so that's why it didn't happen. Then I offered you $40 million, then you didn't want to make the fight happen. You lost twice, now you coming back begging for the same money. That's not gonna happen. Let's make the fight happen for the people and the fans. Mayweather versus Pacquiao, May 2nd, Cinco de Mayweather."
The Wynn sports book in Las Vegas has posted odds on the potential fight, opening Mayweather as a -260 favorite over Pacquiao.
May 2 is already the target date for an HBO pay-per-view fight in negations between middleweight champion Miguel Cotto and former junior middleweight titleholder Canelo Alvarez for what would be the first fight of the deal Alvarez recently signed with HBO after leaving Showtime.
Mayweather said during a Showtime interview that he wants to fight Pacquiao next and wants the fight to be May 2, the Cinco de Mayo weekend that Mayweather has regularly fought on.
"We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it," Mayweather said in the interview in San Antonio, where his promotional company was putting on a boxing card.
“
We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it.
”
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In the days before Pacquiao dropped Chris Algieri six times in a near-shutout decision to retain his welterweight title Nov. 22, he and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum launched a verbal offensive in an effort to kick-start the pressure on Mayweather.
Pacquiao even starred in a Foot Locker commercial mocking Mayweather's supposed reluctance to face him in what would be by far the richest fight in boxing history.
Friday night's interview included Mayweather's first extended remarks on the prospect of the fight in quite some time, and it was the first time he directly said he wanted to fight Pacquiao next and mentioned a specific date.
The fight has been demanded by the public since 2009, and the sides have had various unsuccessful negotiations, most notably in late 2009 and early 2010, when they made a deal on all aspects of the fight except for a drug-testing protocol. The deal fell apart.
"I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. We tried to make the fight happen years ago; we had problems with random blood and urine testing," Mayweather said. "I just want to be on an even playing field. Now he's in a very, very tight situation. He's lost to [Juan Manuel] Marquez [in 2012], he's lost to [Timothy] Bradley [by controversial decision in 2012 but avenged it in April]. Pay-per-view numbers are extremely low. He's desperate. I wanted that fight a long time ago. I'm just waiting on them."
Mayweather failed to mention that Pacquiao long ago agreed to be randomly tested. He also failed to mention that while Pacquiao's pay-per-view figures have indeed been soft in recent fights, Mayweather's have also plummeted. Three of the four fights that he has had so far under his six-fight contract with CBS/Showtime failed to reach even 900,000 buys.
“
He's desperate. I wanted that fight a long time ago. I'm just waiting on them.
”
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao and Arum have been pressing for the fight in recent weeks, and Arum has held talks with CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves in an effort to work out a deal under which Showtime and HBO, which has Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) under contract, would produce a joint pay-per-view. The companies did that once before for the 2002 heavyweight championship fight between Lennox Lewis, who was signed to HBO, and Mike Tyson, who was with Showtime.
Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), however, perhaps had not heard about the Arum-Moonves talks because he told Showtime, "Of course, we have to make the fight happen on Showtime pay-per-view, because 'Showtime Championship Boxing' is No. 1 and will remain No. 1. I'm the man. I'm here to stay.
"Floyd Mayweather is not ducking or dodging any opponent. Bob Arum is stopping the fight. We have been trying to make this fight happen behind the scenes for years now, but the fans and the people have been fooled because they have been listening to people just on one side. Now it's time for us to talk. We want the fight."
Asked about his chief motivation for wanting the fight, Mayweather said, "I know that he's not on my level. The fans would love to see the fight. And, of course, I want to go out with a bang."
Then Mayweather, in a rant that sounded like he was cutting a WWE promo, spoke directly to Pacquiao and Arum.
"So let's make this fight happen. Manny Pacquiao, Bob Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years," Mayweather said. "We're tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics. You guys didn't want to take random blood and urine testing, so that's why it didn't happen. Then I offered you $40 million, then you didn't want to make the fight happen. You lost twice, now you coming back begging for the same money. That's not gonna happen. Let's make the fight happen for the people and the fans. Mayweather versus Pacquiao, May 2nd, Cinco de Mayweather."
The Wynn sports book in Las Vegas has posted odds on the potential fight, opening Mayweather as a -260 favorite over Pacquiao.
May 2 is already the target date for an HBO pay-per-view fight in negations between middleweight champion Miguel Cotto and former junior middleweight titleholder Canelo Alvarez for what would be the first fight of the deal Alvarez recently signed with HBO after leaving Showtime.
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