Sporting history will be made this weekend in Las Vegas when ‘Money Man’ Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao face off in what is expected to be the richest boxing match of the century.
So much has been said about the numbers involved that it is sometimes difficult to remember there are other things at stake – namely the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles and the title of best boxer of the modern era.
Boxing greatest names are earing their opinions about the outcome of the mega bout.
Bernard Hopkins – former two-weight world champion
“A turtle is only vulnerable when he sticks his head out – when he senses danger, he goes back into that shell. You can beat that shell up, but you’re not hurting him. Pacquiao has to trick Mayweather out of that shell, make him think he’s there for the counter. When he’s not – ‘bang’ on his mistake.
“Pacquiao has to make Floyd become the aggressor, something he’s not comfortable with. He has to make Floyd bring the fight to him, let his hands go while Manny’s letting his hands go and see who lands first. That’s fun for us.
“Counter-punchers aren’t good at catching up, we wait for you to come knocking at the door, we don’t come to you. So counter-punchers need their opponents to be aggressive and then take advantage of slow feet and slow hands. It won’t be a landslide win for Mayweather, it will be a hard-earned win. ”
Amir Khan – former light-welterweight world champion
“Both fighters still have so much to give and on Sunday, I’m sure they’re going to produce something very special for the fans”, Khan said.
“This is going to be a tremendous match-up.
“Manny has hand speed and fast feet, and that will cause Floyd some problems early on. But as it progresses, I expect Floyd to make the adjustments he tends to make to counter that before pulling away on the scorecards.”
Sugar Ray Leonard – five-weight world champion
“Mayweather has a couple of ways to win the fight: as a counter-puncher, wait for Pacquiao to make mistakes and make him pay for those mistakes; or just box him, dance around, do what he does best. He’s a little bit more versatile than Pacquiao.
“As for Pacquiao, if he can be the man who beat Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto, we’re talking about a very interesting, physical fight.
“I think there will be a couple of surprises for the fans, in terms of knockdowns. But there could be dominance from Mayweather.”
Mike Tyson – former heavyweight world champion
“Floyd can’t fight the way he’s been fighting if he wants to beat Pacquiao. He has to go forward and throw punches.
“Pacquiao throws over 100 punches a round. Floyd, in his last fight, threw 38 punches a round.
“Mayweather can’t be on the ropes against a guy like Pacquiao. It’s not going to work out. I think that it’s going to be a great fight.
“I like Pacquiao, although I’m not saying Floyd can’t win. But he’s got to change the way he’s been fighting.”
Anthony Nlebem
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