What man would have a better perspective on what Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will be bringing into the fight than a man that has been in the ring with both of them a combined six times?
The man in question is former championship level referee and “Play it to The Bone” star (Oh, you forgot?) Joe Cortez and he had a few things to say Constantino Garcia of ESNEWS about the advantages each fighter brings into the ring. Keeping in step with the majority of opinions out there, Cortez raved about Floyd’s defensive prowess, going so far as to consider it some of the best of all time.
“Floyd Mayweather has great defense. One of the most defensive fighters there is in the history of boxing. That’s why at his age, 37 years of age, he still has a body and movement, he still has everything, all the reflexes like a 21-year-old.”
Although he may have given the edge to Floyd’s defense, the offensive praise went to Pacquiao.
“Pacquiao is quicker, he throws more punches but don’t forget Mayweather has all the greatest defense.”
Joe Cortez has been up close and personal with both of these fighters on multiple occasions, but one has to take his assessments with a grain of salt. He hasn’t been in the ring with either of these fighters in years so what we are really getting is his assessment of what these fighters would bring to the table in their prime, but it’s still fun to hear the guy give his insight.
No matter which era Mayweather and Pacquiao Cortez may have been in the ring with, his assessment ends up falling right in line with what is quickly becoming the popular opinion. Floyd has better defense; Pacquiao has the better offense, and as the old cliché goes, defense wins championships. Joe Cortez’s fight prediction is in the books. In his own words:
“I still gotta go with Floyd Mayweather on this one.”
