The perception of power heading into Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao’s May 2nd showdown is that it favors Pacquiao. Basically, the more power plays a role in the fight the better chance Pacquiao has at coming out on top. Again, that is the general perception.
Reports have surfaced that Mayweather is implementing more power building practices into his camp, at least more than has previously been the case. From sparring with bigger fighters to exercises designed to increase punching power, rumors that Floyd plans on being a stronger puncher hints at a possible shift in the game plan for the “pound for pound” best.
However, according to Roy Jones JR, the rumors don’t hint at a style change and are part of a wider arsenal available to only the most elite of fighters. In an interview published on HoopJab’s YouTube channel, Jones Jr. says that there is no reason for Floyd to change anything about his style or fighting process, but instead he is triggering tools that have always been in his bag at all times but has never needed before, or only used sporadically and to a degree.
“A fighter like Floyd Mayweather does not have to change up his style. He’s not doing it (instituting a power regiment) to change his style; he’s just depending on a different set of tools. When you got a full toolbox like we got, you go in and get the tools out that you need for the job. What Floyd is doing is pulling out the tools that he thinks will be necessary to deal with Pacquiao,” Jones Jr. told Neal Johnson of HoopJab.
As far as the assumed power upside that favors Pacquiao, Jones Jr. isn’t so sure about that perceived notion and believes that it is Floyd that will have the greater likelihood of achieving the knockout win. Furthermore, he believes that Pacquiao is better off should the fight go the distance and believes he can earn a decision, which has been the complete opposite of the vast majority of opinions.
“I feel like if the fight goes 12 rounds, Pacquiao has a chance of being ahead in 12 rounds, unless Floyd can hurt him early, which Floyd can do, then it won’t be a problem. Floyd can be anything he wants to be because Floyd has the most tools. In a fight like this, Floyd got a better chance of knocking Pacquiao out and winning the fight, and I think Manny got a better chance of making a long fight, trying to knock Floyd out, but we don’t know for a fact that he can get to Floyd.”
