Ashley Theophane(37-6-1, 11KO’s) is a British-born light-welterweight now based in Las Vegas. As a member of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s(47-0, 26KO’s) ‘Money Team’ stable of fighters. Theophane has been accompanying Mayweather during his roadwork training for his May 2nd meeting with Manny Pacquiao(57-5-2, 38KO’s).
Theophane spoke to Elie Seckbach from Esnewsreporting.com to give an insider’s perspective on who will win the biggest, most significant fight of this millennium.
“I think Floyd is gonna outbox him. I think the first three-to-four rounds are gonna be like give and take, but I think from when Floyd has worked him out it’s gonna be a routine win.”
The Mayweather scouting mission normally takes up the first third of his fights, after which point he begins to take advantage of each and every shortcoming he has noted down, exploiting his opponents deficits. Theophane evidently feels the quality of the man across from Mayweather and the magnitude of the event itself will do nothing to change this.
“You just have to look at the Marquez fights. Marquez is a counter-puncher as well, but Floyd is on another level to Marquez, so I think it will be a wide points win. Or maybe like when Manny, he lunges in, Floyd might hit him with one and we might see him sleeping again.”
Pacquiao and Marquez fought four times between 2004 and 2012; a draw followed by a split and unanimous decision wins for Pacquiao before Marquez got the only comprehensive victory by leaving his foe face-down on the canvas, unmoving. ’Sleeping.’
Marquez and Mayweather are both counter-punchers but operate in so clearly different ways that comparisons between the two don’t quite work as a measuring stick for how Pacquiao will fair on May 2nd. Marquez will sit in the pocket and let his hands go with his opponent, picking his spots in the midst of a hard-punching rhythm.
Mayweather will make you miss one shot and punish you for it. If clusters are thrown his way he is looking to ‘dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge’ until the fire ceases, after which he will resume his own attack. I cannot foresee Mayweather trading with Pacquiao based on what I’ve seen of him thus far and so the opportunity for him to rock anyone to sleep will not be as readily available as it was to Marquez.
