Strengths for Each Man
Floyd Mayweather
Hogan Photos
Floyd Mayweather really has the strengths the matter—expert timing, speed, power, footwork, and the right amount of patience to break his opponent down round by round. His boxing IQ is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the sport, which is why it’s easy to say, “You can’t lose betting on Floyd.”
Lately Mayweather’s jab (to the head and body) has been really working for him. We also can’t forget the straight right hand that’s so crisp when thrown as a lead, and the check-hook. Mayweather could throw combinations if he wanted to, but his timing is so sick that it’s fun to watch him pick guys apart with those punches alone.
In addition to Mayweather being arguably the most intelligent fighter of our time, one of the most important adjustments he’s made over the course of his career for this fight is responding well to pressure. I saw it in his fight against De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. This is an important adjustment to have made now that he’s facing Pacquiao, a fighter that isn’t afraid to take the fight to his opponent. Mayweather has mastered staying poised and controlling the fight.
Manny Pacquiao
Photo by Chris Hyde
Manny Pacquiao has quite a few strengths to brag about, all of which will contribute to the fight’s competitiveness. He has remarkable hand speed and footwork, and it will be interesting to see how Manny uses these skills against Mayweather, who also boats the same qualities.
Combinations, combinations, combinations! Pacquiao is known for them, and he has an excellent grip on using his angles to throw his opponent off, and land flurries of punches. With Pacquiao’s amazing footwork and punch speed, he’ll definitely give an elusive Mayweather something to think about, especially if he starts letting go his lead left cross go, or a right hook when Mayweather steps in with a jab.
In recent years we haven’t seen Pacquiao display the same kind of power (his last win by TKO was Miguel Cotto in 2009). There’s been some speculation as to why that is, but perhaps age and his conditioning regimen are contributing factors. If knockout power isn’t something Pacquiao is relying on to win the fight, he has plenty of other tools at his disposal.
