Trainer Robert Garcia spoke to Thaboxingvoice.com recently about Manny Pacquiao(57-5-2, 38KO’s) and his chances against Floyd Mayweather Jr(47-0, 26KO’s) when the pair meet in Las Vegas on May 2nd.
Garcia trained and headed the corner for Marcos Maidana in his two unsuccessful attempts at handing Floyd his first professional loss last year. Garcia feels the tactics they tried to enact on the night is the right path to success, but that Pacquiao is unlikely to take that course of action.
“I don’t think Pacquiao’s gonna try and do what Maidana did, Pacquiao doesn’t do that, Pacquiao fights more in an out and counterpunches, and to do that you have to be really good to beat Mayweather. To beat Mayweather is the way Maidana did; just smother him and make it a dirty fight, make it an ugly fight, and I don’t think Pacquiao’s gonna do that.”
If he did, it would be a remarkable change in approach from what we are used to seeing from Pacquiao. He has neither the physical presence nor the one punch knockout power that Maidana possesses in the welterweight class, and so it would be foolhardy to try and implement such tactics against the bigger and seemingly stronger Mayweather.
But if Pacquiao is to use his hand-speed and feet to create different angles of attack from his southpaw stance. Which seems to be his best chance as that would play to his strengths- Garcia feels even that path would ultimately be blocked by the vast talent of the undefeated one.
“Pacquiao knows what he does inside the ring; he’s also a very experienced fighter; he’s very, very, fast and very awkward with his footwork. He should give Mayweather some problems, but Mayweather’s just too smart and can adapt to anything.”
The more I see experienced and respected people from inside the boxing world picking Mayweather in this fight, I’m beginning to wonder how it developed into such a big deal. Does the destructive form Pacquiao showed on that hot streak when he demolished Ricky Hatton, bludgeoned Miguel Cotto and caused irreparable damage to Antonio Margarito, still count for so much five years on? Or is it a case of boxing fans continuing to clamour for a fight they were for so long denied?
