Perspective and Prediction

Manny Pacquiao’s spectacular victory over the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, has the boxing public salivating at the prospects of former multiple-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. challenging Pacquiao for pound-for-pound supremacy. Pretty Boy Floyd retired from professional boxing on June 6, 2008, but many pundits don’t take his retirement seriously.

Many boxing analysts deem Mayweather’s retirement as only temporary and it’s only a matter of time before something (or someone) whets his appetite for prizefighting. Pacquiao’s scintillating defeat of six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya is just the perfect motivation to coax the Pretty Boy from his self-imposed hibernation.

The “triangle theory” of boxing may not be applicable to everyone involved in the art of pugilism and has become the downfall of many a boxer. However, seeing Pacquiao utterly demolish De La Hoya makes one wonder if Mayweather’s close victory over the Golden Boy is any indication of the Pacman’s supremacy over the Pretty Boy, at least in the pound-for-pound sense.

Mayweather has indicated that he is willing to come out of retirement and face Pacquiao, and for good reason. Manny Pacquiao is the biggest threat to Mayweather’s legacy as the best fighter of this generation.

In fact, some boxing analysts and fans think that Pacquiao has the tools to put a blemish on Mayweather’s perfect record. The Pretty Boy would love nothing else but to prove that he is still the best fighter of the last 10-20 years by defeating his closest rival for that honor.

Should the fight happen (and most likely it will), what are possible scenarios and who will emerge as the victor? To do that, an in-depth analysis of both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses is in order.

Let’s take a look first at Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (39-0, 25 KOs), is considered as the best defensive genius in boxing since Pernell Whitaker. Mayweather’s specialty is firing combinations from long range and using his exceptional footwork and speed to avoid his opponent’s firepower.

Although Mayweather is an expert at defense, it’s a mistake to underestimate his offensive arsenals. The Pretty Boy is a master at slipping punches with laser-like accuracy. Add to that his awesome technical abilities, versatility, speed, stamina and defense, and you have the perfect fighter who can pose serious problems to sluggers like Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) is an offensive fighting machine who overwhelms opponents through blistering hand speed and firepower. His defense is somewhat suspect since he is a “hit me and I’ll hit you harder” kind of fighter, but his last fights against bigger opponents have shown that he can deflect or absorb heavy punishment.

To defeat Pacquiao, Mayweather has to implement all the techniques in his book, especially defense. The only way to control Pacquiao’s aggression is through perfect timing and counterpunching. When and if Pacquiao manages to launch those deadly combinations, it’s not farfetched for Mayweather to resort to grappling, holding and other “dirty” tactics to frustrate the Pacman.

To defeat Mayweather, Pacquiao has to pressure him from start to finish, allowing Pretty Boy little space to launch his long-range bombs. Pacquiao has to force Mayweather to the ropes and at the same time, move away quickly to avoid deadly counters.

It’s an interesting scenario of speed versus speed, offense versus defense, but in the end offense will prevail. Manny Pacquiao will force Floyd Mayweather, Jr. into a slugfest the entire fight, and prevail in a close but convincing unanimous decision.

The Fight that has to Happen

By Adam McGarry: Think about that for a second, really think about it. Sounds good , yeah? Current pound for pound Number one Manny Pacquiao against pound for pound king (Number 0?) Floyd Mayweather Jnr. The shouts of ‘That won’t happen’ can be heard already, but it’s not impossible. I believe, along with many, that Floyd Mayweather isn’t done with the sport, he’s just not interested in fighting anyone recently who he doesn’t see as any sort of threat to his throne.

All credible fighters in their own right but Floyd seems to believe he’s above any of them and hasn’t wasted any sleep over them. Oscar De La Hoya wasn’t too much of a threat in terms of athleticism and ability, definitely not post-prime, yet Mayweather took that fight over any other of the fighters around him.

It was the sheer lure of a blockbuster fight where he believed he couldn’t lose, and make millions at the same time. He wanted to beat the most popular fighter and Oscar gave it his all and on the night, he was gearing up for a rematch but Mayweather just wasn’t interested. Manny Pacquiao is different, Mayweather can’t even dream of the popularity Manny has, not many people do but when it comes down Manny being hailed as the best fighter on the planet has got to eat away at an ego like Floyd’s.

Manny did what Floyd couldn’t and stopped De La Hoya with relative ease, yes De La Hoya is slightly older but that won’t exactly have that much effect. De La Hoya was shot already. Manny drew a mere five million less for the De La Hoya fight than Mayweather did in his bout, so it’s not like Pacquiao’s not a box office mega star, whereas Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito for example, both fighters Mayweather has been accused of dodging, simply aren’t big enough draws for the boxing public.

The key to big office draws isn’t the passionate boxing fans (i hate to say), it’s the casual fan, who hears a name and thinks ‘oh that’ll be a good fight, i know those two’. After beating a legend in Oscar and near enough sending him into retirement on a stretcher, he’ll be plastered over every sports newspaper, website, magazine etc.

But here’s the beautiful part, Manny can actually fight around Floyd’s weight. Competitively. And he hadn’t lost anything of his erratic flashes of speed and tenacity, he’s probably one of, if not THE, most exciting fighter on this earth.

Again, that must hurt Floyd a little bit, pick away at that ego. The most exciting fighter on the planet vs. the best fighter on the planet, that’s just a fight that has to happen. Attack vs. Defense, Composure vs. Flair, Gung Ho vs. Pure Ability. The list goes on, and it would be a money machine, if you let Golden Boy promote it as well you’re talking record breaking.

Manny may have to get past Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton first, but if that fight is at welterweight, and Manny puts on a display like he did and Hatton can’t handle the jump up in weight again he could seriously get Floyds attention. Which no doubt he already has but a win over the another mass-popular fighter in Ricky would just have to bring him out.

Manny wouldn’t have too many options, and Mayweather can never resist a little bit more cash in the bank. The signs point to a generation defining fight for pound for pound supremacy, the calls have to start.

Surely Floyd wont sleep with everyone telling him there’s a little Filipino fighter with a nations worth of fans and possibly even more admirers and some serious talent. Give every boxing fan, casual or passionate, the fight the whole world wants to see.