A week from today, the eyes of the world will be on the MGN Grand in Las Vegas as unarguably the most anticipated fight of this Century since Tyson V Lewis finally comes to fruition. This is set to be the richest fight in boxing history, generating a whooping $300 million but much like Tyson-Lewis, this is a long over-due fight 5/6 years in the making. So the pertinent questions here are; will it live up to its hype? And what are we to expect come May 2nd.

Both fighters are very different in style, Floyd is a defensive counter-puncher who's perfected the art of hitting without getting hit, while Pacquiao is a tenacious power puncher & more of risk taker who throws himself right into the mix. However the one thing both fighters have in common is speed.

Floyd Mayweather steps into the ring with a slight height & reach advantage as well as an unbeaten record (which may also be a burden) while Pacquiao will for once relish the underdog status, thus lifting the weight of expectations off his shoulders.

In my opinion, this fight could go either way, it's going to come down to which fighter shows up in better shape physically, psychologically and emotionally coupled with how well each fighter is able to deploy the most effective weapon in his arsenal. For Floyd, his elusiveness and for Pacquiao, his power.

Most pugilist fans like myself hope for an explosive fight ending in a knockout and it's up to Pacquiao the more sensational fighter to make that happen. If Floyd is able to stop Pacquiao from getting inside and unleashing his vicious combinations, then we are in for a boring 12 rounds of Mayweather over-cautiousness, with the scorecards deciding the winner and we all know Pacquiao will never win a decision over Mayweather in Vegas.

My heart is with Pacquiao as I always root for the underdog but my head tells me Mayweather. I'm contemplating wagering on Pacquiao but how do you wager against a man who's never lost? Which ever way it goes, only one man will make the transition from Champion to Legend.

I created this thread so that fight fans on this forum (I hope they're still here) can have their say. Lets hear your per-fight analysis and predictions, are we going to witness an upset? If you had to, on whom are you going to wager & why?

Seun & Mods please be kind enough to push this thread front page.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2EcPPc1f6M

Mayweather all the way......

I'm in support of the best fighter

I'm in support of the best fighter.

Pitch my tent with Mayweather

pacquiao's boat
mayweather is too pompous

I fear mayweather may loss this match even if I somehow supports him. That Pacquiao guy look like Bruce Lee. I can't say may the best person win cos this is not so much about skill.

I'm a huge pac fan and tried to model my ring movement on him back when I used to train.

Even bought the same hogs as Manny wore against Miguel Cotto. But in this matchup I'm voting by skin..

The Money Team all day

Guys please desist from commenting if you're just going to make sentimental statements/predictions, that's not the aim of this thread.

I created this thread for the boxing heads on this forum, people with good knowledge of the sweet science who can back up their statements with solid logic and analysis.

I'd much rather have two folks with good knowledge of the sport, than multitude of novices spamming my thread.

Thanks

Nihilist:
I'm a huge pac fan and tried to model my ring movement on him back when I used to train.

Even bought the same hogs as Manny. But in this matchup I'm voting by skin..

The Money Team all day

Looool really? The Money Team got tired of running scared, they're going down on May 2nd.

You should return to training, why did you stop?

Excellent analysis you have here OP, on point. But I think Pacman is a more technically gifted, all-round boxer, compared to Floyd. The matches that Pacman lost were even debatable. I even wrote an article about a possible match-up between this two 4 years ago. I will be a bit sentimental here, but sorry, I am for Pacman all the way

50calibre:


Looool really? The Money Team got tired of running scared, they're going down on May 2nd.

You should return to training, why did you stop?

I got knocked out during an amateur fight.

3 rounds, only 150 pounds for the winner.

Woke up concussed and realised that I was risking my life for nothing.

About the fight, Manny is old and a politician and a basketballer.

Floyd can smell victory cos like like Anthony Joshua, he picks fights he can never lose.

Pac lost to Marquez and then got beat by Tim Bradley. Granted Pac came back strong in the rubber, but it already obvious that we're looking at a great in decline

Plus Kennny Bayless is the ref...That's like having two floyds in the ring.

Nihilist:


I got knocked out during an amateur fight.

3 rounds, only 150 pounds for the winner.

Woke up concussed and realised that I was risking my life for nothing

Hahahaha that's where the real boxers are separated from the pseudo ones. Lots of people join a boxing gym with hopes of one say boxing professionally but after that first knockout, many take flight. Those who stay, are the ones with the heart.

I once took part in a routine boxing training session and I found it to be the most gruelling of all the sports I can think of.

About the fight, Manny is old and a politician and a basketballer.

Floyd is older.

Floyd can smell victory cos like like Anthony Joshua, he picks fights he can never lose.

Hahaha Anthony Joshua is just starting his pro career so of course they only select easy opponents for him so he can develop and stack wins under his belt. Soon enough he'd have to face a worthy opponent, only then will he truly be tested. Floyd accepted this fight because he couldn't run anymore, Pacquiao camp had accepted all his conditions and he knew he had to face Pacquiao before retiring if he's to secure his legacy.

Pac lost to Marquez and then got beat by Tim Bradley. Granted Pac came back strong in the rubber, but it already obvious that we're looking at a great in decline

Ok!! We'd see about that. You must remember unbeaten records are not what makes great champions but the heart and ability to bounce after defeats. Even Muhammad Ali lost a few fights in his career.

Plus Kennny Bayless is the ref...That's like having two floyds in the ring.

Perhaps! However this isn't the first time he'd be refereeing a Pacquiao fight besides there's only so much he can do, he's not going to stop those hooks and jabs from landing.

50calibre:


Hahahaha that's where the real boxers are separated from the pseudo ones. Lots of people join a boxing gym with hopes of one say boxing professionally but after that first knockout, many take flight. Those who stay, are the ones with the heart.

I once took part in a routine boxing training session and I found it to be the most gruelling of all the sports I can think of.



Floyd is older.



Hahaha Anthony Joshua is just starting his pro career so of course they only select easy opponents for him so he can develop and stack wins under his belt. Soon enough he'd have to face a worthy opponent, only then will he truly be tested. Floyd accepted this fight because he couldn't run anymore, Pacquiao camp had accepted all his conditions and he knew he had to face Pacquiao before retiring if he's to secure his legacy.



Ok!! We'd see about that. You must remember unbeaten records are not what makes great champions but the heart and ability to bounce after defeats. Even Muhammad Ali lost a few fights in his career.



Perhaps! However this isn't the first time he'd be refereeing a Pacquiao fight besides there's only so much he can do, he's not going to stop those hooks and jabs from landing.

Floyd is in better shape. His defensive game is top notch and his careful selection of fights and unbeaten record reflect a man who avoids taking the hard knocks.

Pac beat marquez controversially and then got ko'd in their next fight. He's just a quicker, stronger, and faster Arturo Gatti.

I trust Floyd in taking it to the outside and avoiding those hooks and uppers...and he has experience from the Zab Judah fight(at least that I remember) in beating south paws

Freddie Roach has come out to say that even though Floyd is aging and his legs clearly slowing, he believes he can still evade pacman on the canvass...and that's his own trainer.

AJ is just a muscular phool. His last fight was a disaster....even though he won by TKO. Man hit the ring looking like a GI Joe and I was wondering what he wants to do with all that muscle. By the time he hits the real pro heavyweights, na that time en go know say no be by 'muzzle'

Tyson fury has his eyes set on Wladimir at age 25 and his belt. AJ is 22/23 and still fighting journey men while looking like a mixed race terry crews.

Nihilist:


Floyd is in better shape. His defensive game is top notch and his careful selection of fights and unbeaten record reflect a man who avoids taking the hard knocks.

Pac beat marquez controversially and then got ko'd in their next fight. He's just a quicker, stronger, and faster Arturo Gatti.

I trust Floyd in taking it to the outside and avoiding those hooks and uppers...and he has experience from the Zab Judah fight(at least that I remember) in beating south paws

Freddie Roach has come out to say that even though Floyd is aging and his legs clearly slowing, he believes he can still evade pacman on the canvass...and that's his own trainer.

AJ is just a muscular phool. His last fight was a disaster....even though he won by TKO. Man hit the ring looking like a GI Joe and I was wondering what he wants to do with all that muscle. By the time he hits the real pro heavyweights, na that time en go know say no be by 'muzzle'

Tyson fury has his eyes set on Wladimir at age 25 and his belt. AJ is 22/23 and still fighting journey men while looking like a mixed race terry crews.

Of course Mayweather avoids taking the hard knocks, that's why I'm not a big fan of his, this is exactly why boxing is declining. A true champion doesn't select fights, but fights anyone put in front of him.

How do you know Mayweather is in better shape? Rumour has it that he was KOed in training by Zab Judah (a much slower southpaw) he's hands are weak so he's chopping wood as part of his regimen, his muscles take longer to recover hence he has to resort to using cryogenic saunas to shorten his recovery time.... How the hell is he in better shape than Pacquiao?

PAC is in prime condition, his foot work is great, his punch combinations and hand speed is impeccable, it's like he got better in his last 3 fights especially against Brandon Rios.

I said the same thing about Anthony Joshua, you don't need that much muscle in boxing, it slows you down, and even makes you tire quick. He should ask Frank Bruno

Hahahaha Tyson Fury is a joke, an embarrassment to the profession. How the hell did that clown get this far? He's just a big, tall, sloppy loud mouth. Wladimir Klitschko will beat the living daylight out of him.

50calibre:


Of course Mayweather avoids taking the hard knocks, that's why I'm not a big fan of his, this is exactly why boxing is declining. A true champion doesn't select fights, but fights anyone put in front of him.

How do you know Mayweather is in better shape? Rumour has it that he was KOed in training by Zab Judah (a much slower southpaw) he's hands are weak so he's chopping wood as part of his regimen, his muscles take longer to recover hence he has to resort to using cryogenic saunas to shorten his recovery time.... How the hell is he in better shape than Pacquiao?

PAC is in prime condition, his foot work is great, his punch combinations and hand speed is impeccable, it's like he got better in his last 3 fights especially against Brandon Rios.

I said the same thing about Anthony Joshua, you don't need that much muscle in boxing, it slows you down, and even makes you tire quick. He should ask Frank Bruno

Hahahaha Tyson Fury is a joke, an embarrassment to the profession. How the hell did that clown get this far? He's just a big, tall, sloppy loud mouth. Wladimir Klitschko will beat the living daylight out of him.

Floyd hasn't really been known for power, so the 'weak hands' comment is a moot point.

Money is a boxer not a brawler. He plays the points game not the KO game.

I heard about the alleged Zab Judah KO in training, which I why I mentioned the fact that he had actually beaten him in the ring.

Even though Money's manager and Zab himself have come out to deny it, I accept its a possibility. Money has to train hard against the best South Paw he can find, and pac man's left hand is going to be a problem...so it's better he gets acclimatised to that now.

As for Fury, my brother I beg you don't knock his hustle.

Dude has been british, European, and WBO world champ at only 25. And he has the skill to switch it up too...his last fight against Del Boy Chisora, he switched up to South paw and destroyed that nigga.


That's why Wladimir announced today that Fury is his next mandatory.

Tyson is a loud mouthed mofo, but the boy can fight for real

really hard to Chose... I like both of them but I will give it to Pacquiao

Nihilist:
I'm a huge pac fan and tried to model my ring movement on him back when I used to train.

Even bought the same hogs as Manny wore against Miguel Cotto. But in this matchup I'm voting by skin..

The Money Team all day

you dey fight boxing?
no come thread come give person knock out o

Odunharry:

you dey fight boxing?
no come thread come give person knock out o

Loooool that was a looooong time ago lol.

I don get belle now.

48:0 loading.....

Pacman's best days are far gone.

But Mayweather should be thinking of Retirement cos he's not getting younger and his unbeaten record is under threat

following..

thou, am a football fans but all na same. its lyke defensive chelsea (floyd) against an attacking liverpool side wit bad defense (pacquao) u know team defense will still won. I SUPPORT THE MILLIONAIRE

#TeamPacMan

Nihilist:


Floyd hasn't really been known for power, so the 'weak hands' comment is a moot point.

Money is a boxer not a brawler. He plays the points game not the KO game.

I heard about the alleged Zab Judah KO in training, which I why I mentioned the fact that he had actually beaten him in the ring.

Even though Money's manager and Zab himself have come out to deny it, I accept its a possibility. Money has to train hard against the best South Paw he can find, and pac man's left hand is going to be a problem...so it's better he gets acclimatised to that now.

As for Fury, my brother I beg you don't knock his hustle.

Dude has been british, European, and WBO world champ at only 25. And he has the skill to switch it up too...his last fight against Del Boy Chisora, he switched up to South paw and destroyed that nigga.


That's why Wladimir announced today that Fury is his next mandatory.

Tyson is a loud mouthed mofo, but the boy can fight for real

Which is why I find him boring to watch. I wanna see folks go into the ring with intent to do some serious damage not trying to win on point (oh how I miss the days of Mike Tyson)... that's what make an entertaining fight and this is why Manny would have to KO him.

Floyd cannot hurt Pacquiao, that's a given so the question is; will he be able to keep his not-well tested chin away from manny's flurry of punches?

Tyson Fury cannot fight shi*t!! He's a fraud, and the fact he's gotten this far, is testament to how weak heavyweight boxing has become. The guy is devoid of style or technique, zero footwork, he's tall and awkward, he once mistakenly punched himself in the face.... C'mon this guy is a fuc*king joke compared to previous British champions, someone like Lewis or Haye could have had him for breakfast.

Beating washed up fighters like Derek Chisora and Audley Harrison don't make him a good boxer. I saw the Chisora fight, and I must say it seemed as if Chisora was drunk before entering into the ring. It was a docile version of Chisora that showed up that night, not the same Chisora who face Vitali.

The only thing working for him is his height and size which obviously give him the power. Most of his opponents are hardly tall enough to connect with his chin. Klitschko however is a different story, they're almost the same height so that would count for nothing..it will be down to skill and endurance.

The beating will be so bad, you're going to say I told you so.

50calibre:


Which is why I find him boring to watch. I wanna see folks go into the ring with intent to do some serious damage not trying to win on point (oh how I miss the days of Mike Tyson)... that's what make an entertaining fight and this is why Manny would have to KO him.

Floyd cannot hurt Pacquiao, that's a given so the question is; will he be able to keep his not-well tested chin away from manny's flurry of punches?

Tyson Fury cannot fight shi*t!! He's a fraud, and the fact he's gotten this far, is testament to how weak heavyweight boxing has become. The guy is devoid of style or technique, zero footwork, he's tall and awkward, he once mistakenly punched himself in the face.... C'mon this guy is a fuc*king joke compared to previous British champions, someone like Lewis or Haye could have had him for breakfast.

Beating washed up fighters like Derek Chisora and Audley Harrison don't make him a good boxer. I saw the Chisora fight, and I must say it seemed as if Chisora was drunk before entering into the ring. It was a docile version of Chisora that showed up that night, not the same Chisora who face Vitali.

The only thing working for him is his height and size which obviously give him the power. Most of his opponents are hardly tall enough to connect with his chin. Klitschko however is a different story, they're almost the same height so that would count for nothing..it will be down to skill and endurance.

The beating will be so bad, you're going to say I told you so.

Don't get it wrong...Fury will most likely lose to Wladimir Klistchko.

Wladimir has ruled the heavyweight division for a decade. He has had the technique, the power, and the mobility to trounce all 18 of the contenders who have come his way since.

However, Dr Steelhammer is an outside fighter. He hides behind his (very powerful) jab, and relies mostly on his considerable reach and his 1-2s and 1-1-2s...and like Lennox Lewis before him, He absolutely hates the inside, and when a fighter takes it inside, Wladimir clinches very quick and very early. He's a big dude, very tall and heavy with a huge reach. When he clinches and leans on his opponents, he can suck the fight out of them. He even got a points deduction last night for his incessant clinching.

In this regard, I suspect Tyson has a chance if he goes at Wladimir in his usual heavy handed all-out approach, he might be able to hurt Wladimir on the inside, and in the pocket. Tyson is taller(6'9 ) and just as wide as Wladimir, so Klistcko should not be able to bully him with his size as he does to other opponents.

The problem is that recently, Tyson has been working on his fundamentals and is now fighting in a relatively more polished,and somewhat refined manner. If he tries to Out-box Wladimir he will be destroyed in minutes, as Wladmir is a master of the fundamentals. If he bumrushes Klistchko though....

Anyway, back to the Floyd v Pacman matchup....It's still Money team all day. No doubt if Pac gets Floyd in the corner, he can do some damage. But hey, they didn't call Floyd 'Pretty' for nothing...

Nihilist:


Don't get it wrong...Fury will most likely lose to Wladimir Klistchko.

Wladimir has ruled the heavyweight division for a decade. He has had the technique, the power, and the mobility to trounce all 18 of the contenders who have come his way since.

However, Dr Steelhammer is an outside fighter. He hides behind his (very powerful) jab, and relies mostly on his considerable reach and his 1-2s and 1-1-2s...and like Lennox Lewis before him, He absolutely hates the inside, and when a fighter takes it inside, Wladimir clinches very quick and very early. He's a big dude, very tall and heavy with a huge reach. When he clinches and leans on his opponents, he can suck the fight out of them. He even got a points deduction last night for his incessant clinching.

In this regard, I suspect Tyson has a chance if he goes at Wladimir in his usual heavy handed all-out approach, he might be able to hurt Wladimir on the inside, and in the pocket. Tyson is taller(6'9 ) and just as wide as Wladimir, so Klistcko should not be able to bully him with his size as he does to other opponents.

The problem is that recently, Tyson has been working on his fundamentals and is now fighting in a relatively more polished,and somewhat refined manner. If he tries to Out-box Wladimir he will be destroyed in minutes, as Wladmir is a master of the fundamentals. If he bumrushes Klistchko though....

Anyway, back to the Floyd v Pacman matchup....It's still Money team all day. No doubt if Pac gets Floyd in the corner, he can do some damage. But hey, they didn't call Floyd 'Pretty' for nothing...

Loool tyson won't just lose the fight, he'd be pummelled comprehensively and then knocked out. He's blabbed and blasphemed his way to this point, after eating those Klitschko jabs, he will regain his senses. Except he's no more the Tyson Fury I know as you said, I haven't seen him fight in a while so maybe he's transformed into a proper boxer. I actually noticed some improvements when he fough Chisora.

Wladimir dominated this long due to the lack of worthy contenders, he's been able to hone his skills with mediocre fighters.... the guy is big, strong but also robotic and has a proven glass chin. He came at the wrong time when Americans had become too lazy to produce a real heavyweight fighter, I hope to see him lose before retiring, I'm pinning my hopes on Deontay Wilder.

If you're that sure of Floyd then put your money where your mouth is, wager on him. after all he's the bookies favourite.

50calibre:


Loool tyson won't just lose the fight, he'd be pummelled comprehensively and then knocked out. He's blabbed and blasphemed his way to this point, after eating those Klitschko jabs, he will regain his senses. Except he's no more the Tyson Fury I know as you said, I haven't seen him fight in a while so maybe he's transformed into a proper boxer. I actually noticed some improvements when he fough Chisora.

Wladimir dominated this long due to the lack of worthy contenders, he's been able to hone his skills with mediocre fighters.... the guy is big, strong but also robotic and has a proven glass chin. He came at the wrong time when Americans had become too lazy to produce a real heavyweight fighter, I hope to see him lose before retiring, I'm pinning my hopes on Deontay Wilder.

If you're that sure of Floyd then put your money where your mouth is, wager on him. after all he's the bookies favourite.

Me wey don bet on Floyd tay tay

I'm even watching the fight at a Casino in my town.

Yes my man Deontay is the one! he's also a bit unpolished....but the man carries mortuary and obituary in each hand. The closest fighter to him in terms of relative punch power is Danny Garcia...but Danny looks like he's in danger of falling off in that Welterweight category these days.

Zeal to win,I give it to Pacquiao..

Floyd would be humbled by defeat.

Mayweather knows this,that's why he was avoiding to fight Manny.

Since the. Fight is official,Floyd has been quiet,so unusual of him.

*in Pac's voice* God will deliver Mayweather to my hands on May 2nd.

If this fight had happened when it was first wanted in 08 & 09 or even 3 years ago, I would have put all my money on Pacman. But by all measures you have to make Mayweather the favorite here. This fight will be decided by the judges, simply because Mayweather is too perfect a defensive fighter too ever get knocked out and too smart too get into the ring with anyone who still carries a seriously genuine threat to knock him out. Mayweather can't lose at Vegas with his style, the judges will always go his way, he has perfected the art of winning the judges scorecard and he will never let himself get knocked out. You want to beat Floyd, you have to be able to do it on points. Forget the idea of knocking him out, or scoring knockdowns at least until you can first prove a big threat to him by leading the scorecard.

The reason why some boxing fans and a lot of insiders were actually confident of Pacman's ability to defeat Mayweather when this fight was first proposed, was because Pacman was the only boxer with the style (southpaw), heart, energy/workrate and most importantly discipline, to take Floyd out of his comfort zone by actually making him worry about losing on a Vegas scorecard, plus the added bonus that he had the ability to knock him down and even knock him out, if Floyd tried to switch from his base approach.

But enough time has passed now and incidents taken place, to have diminished a lot of what would have made Pacman a nightmare opponent for Floyd. Meanwhile time has been a lot kinder to Mayweather and his own strengths and weaknesses.

Pacman all the way


Via a TKO

Nihilist:


Me wey don bet on Floyd tay tay

I'm even watching the fight at a Casino in my town.

Yes my man Deontay is the one! he's also a bit unpolished....but the man carries mortuary and obituary in each hand. The closest fighter to him in terms of relative punch power is Danny Garcia...but Danny looks like he's in danger of falling off in that Welterweight category these days.

You go loss that money believe me.

Pacman is the man, I'm betting on him. The Pacquiao we are going to see that night will be on fire... Watchout.

Besides have you bought a box office ticket, Sky will be the only one showing the fight in the UK. Normally I'd just go online for free streaming but I don't want excuses this time.

Danny Garcia is a future prospect, he's the next big thing.

montelik:
If this fight had happened when it was first wanted in 08 & 09 or even 3 years ago, I would have put all my money on Pacman. But by all measures you have to make Mayweather the favorite here. This fight will be decided by the judges, simply because Mayweather is too perfect a defensive fighter too ever get knocked out and too smart too get into the ring with anyone who still carries a seriously genuine threat to knock him out. Mayweather can't lose at Vegas with his style, the judges will always go his way, he has perfected the art of winning the judges scorecard and he will never let himself get knocked out. You want to beat Floyd, you have to be able to do it on points. Forget the idea of knocking him out, or scoring knockdowns at least until you can first prove a big threat to him by leading the scorecard.

The reason why some boxing fans and a lot of insiders were actually confident of Pacman's ability to defeat Mayweather when this fight was first proposed, was because Pacman was the only boxer with the style (southpaw), heart, energy/workrate and most importantly discipline, to take Floyd out of his comfort zone by actually making him worry about losing on a Vegas scorecard, plus the added bonus that he had the ability to knock him down and even knock him out, if Floyd tried to switch from his base approach.

But enough time has passed now and incidents taken place, to have diminished a lot of what would have made Pacman a nightmare opponent for Floyd. Meanwhile time has been a lot kinder to Mayweather and his own strengths and weaknesses.

Really? Mayweather's defences are not as impregnable as they used to be, he got hit many times in his last two fights against Maidana.. Besides he's never faced anyone the calibre of Pacquiao so his defences haven't really been tested.

Granted that Pacquiao was at a low point between 2011/2012, he came back strong in his last three fights, putting up impressive performances against Brandon Rios & Timothy Bradley (who'd previously defeated him) maybe the defeats he suffered was a good thing, that was his epiphany because he found himself afterwards, became a committed Christian, not like it has anything to do with this, but it's given him a greater sense of purpose.

Maybe it will go down to the scorecards, maybe not! But it's going to be one hell of a fight, Mayweather's defences alone ain't going to cut it for him, he's going to be forced to come out and fight.