This. I still think Mayweather takes Pacquiao if they fight now. Pacquiao looked very beatable in the last Marquez fight, and got some favorable judges.
If Marquez hadn't figured out a way to box with Pacquiao after 3 fights, then he's hopeless. There's a lot of emotion to be seen in their fights, and lots of instances of Manny just trying to hit, hit and hit some more without playing defense. This last fight, Marquez drew back into a counter-punching strategy that ended up working for him better than his previous performances. While it's true that Mayweather is a near-perfect defender with brilliant speed & accuracy, this last performance by him leaves a lot of questions. In no way is Cotto as fast as Manny... nor is he as accurate, and he doesn't flurry. For the Pacquiao camp to come completely unprepared for his defense is an unrealistic assumption... that's probably what they'll focus on the most. If Pac can keep the pressure up, there's only so many bobs & weaves a man can do before he a) gets winded or b) gets hit. I think Floyd knows that...
Oh geez. "figured out a way to box with Pacquiao after 3 fights, then he's hopeless"...the first fight was a draw, the second was a split decision and the third was a robbery that Marquez won. Mayweather outclassed Marquez when they fought. And while styles make fights, I see nothing in Mannys game that would suggest he would beat Mayweather. Mayweather would be the clear betting favorite in that fight, that's a fact. Flurry on a Mayweather, the greatest defensive counter puncher probably ever, and Manny will be picking up the loss he should have taken against Marquez.
If you read my comment once more, you'll note that I never suggested Pacquiao will become the victor is the two were to fight. I noted my theory for Floyd's reluctance. I also try not to put a huge amount of stock in the ways others have lost to the two boxers. While it's true that Mayweather put on a clinic with Marquez, it's also true that Pacquiao punished Hatton, De La Hoya & Cotto at a rate that Mayweather couldn't match... so "who beat who worse" is a trivial strategy, especially once we remember that boxing is not a "one-play offense" type of sport. Your style, preparation, and strategy will bend according to who you fight. Betting favorites also aren't that good an indicator, once we consider that Pac was the odds underdog for Oscar. You might note that Hatton has said that Mayweather is the better boxer, and that's understandable given that the length of his fight with Pacquiao was too short to rememeber lol. Mayweather is, by all measures, one of the best counter-punchers the sport has seen... and Manny Pacquiao is, by all measures, one of the most accurate southpaw combination punchers the sport has seen. That's why this fight should happen. Although I'm a fan of Pacquiao's humility and aggressive boxing style... I'm a fan of boxing first, and I've love to see these two tango.
Hatton is correct, Mayweather is the better boxer, the best technical boxer in the world. Pacquiao isnt the best boxer in his division, as Marquez recently reminded us. Anything is possible in a fight, but I don't see how anyone would the give Pacquiao the nod in that fight. Mayweather is bigger, faster, and pretty much technically flawless. Mayweather is way past the point of the southpaw jinx which has given lesser boxers problems. Manny is open to counter punching, which Marquez exposed. I believe Mayweather would box his ears off staying outside with his reach and counter punching.
I had it 115-113 for Cotto. While I could see the fight going the other way, I felt Cotto let the last rounds slip, the scoring was an absolute joke 117-111 and 118-110 what the (*)(*)(*)(*) where the judges scoring??? I've seen this trend both amongst fans and judges that you cant hold a fighters style against him. Like hell you cant.
Good Lordy in Heaven. You seriously scored it for Cotto? I had it 116-112 Mayweather. Outside of round 8, Mayweather landed more shots in every round, both power shots and jabs. Landing more punches at a higher percentage will usually win a boxing match with the judges, at least in my world. http://www.mannypaquiaovs.com/mayweather-vs-cotto-compubox-statistics/
Sorry, but, there's no way that fight could've legitimately been scored for Cotto... I wanted him to win, but, he just couldn't hang w/ Mayweather for 12... At least not effectively enough... I think Cotto landed a lot of good shots throughout the fight, but, Floyd was just more accurate overall... *shrug*
First, compubox is absolutely horrible when it comes to scoring body blows. Cotto worked Floyd's body and compubox scores almost all of those bodyshots as misses. I score minute by minute so I don't base my scoring on what compubox says at the end of the round. Personally I have always thought compubox was a joke and this fight kind of proves it as we are suppose to believe that Cotto performed almost equal to Mosely. If you believe that you need to have your head examined. Pretty good rescore here http://blitzsportsnetwork.com/2012/...-scored-after-aid-of-replays-and-slow-motion/ And I can agree with the 115-113 for Mayweather You can see just how much Compubox (*)(*)(*)(*)s up. Its is really one of the worst things in boxing. Second, I only car about accuracy when it is effective. Mayweather only hurt Cotto once and that was in the last round. The big difference is my scoring is ring generalship. Maywether fans like to think that Mayweather wanted to be on the ropes. No he didn't. Numerous times he tried to push Cotto off but couldn't do it. Cotto controlled the fight which gives him the edge in ring generalship.
Actually I would agree with what Richardson said about the two recently. His point was that in the late 90s he told Hopkins that while Roy Jones Jr. was the most talented the best fighter was Trinidad and that for Hopkins to secure his legacy as the best he had to beat Trinidad. Mayweather is the most talented of his generation but Pacquiao is the best fighter.
I agree. Mayweather reminded him of that for 12 rounds. Pacquiao ended the fight quite early. Pac landed more punches than Marquez, and landed them at a higher percentage. A jaded feel for who won doesn't change the numbers. Not really. Mayweather pins his chin to his left shoulder, and leans completely to an open right side as a "go to" avoidance for an oncoming combination or power punch, then counters with a fast right. That is a dangerous reflex against an agressive (and fast) southpaw that tends to land punches from very unorthodox angles, especially when your countering response is a right jab that will inevitably be used as a new defensive shield for your face. Southpaws Corley & Judah (although much slower boxers than Pacquiao) have shown this to be true.
Mayweather wont use his cross guard and shoulder roll against a southpaw. He uses a conventional high guard most of the time against southpaws. The thing is that his high guard is good but not great. He is a great defensive fighter when fighting out of his cross guard but in his high guard his vision is obstructed and his counter punching suffers. While he is still a very good defensive counter puncher out of his high guard he isn't great and far form the best. There are plenty of high guard counter punchers that are better than Mayweather. Winky now retired springs to mind but he is now retired, so does Marquez and Hopkins. So to summarize its not that the southpaw stance bangs against Floyd. Its that the southpaw stance takes away Floyds preferred guard and tactics and forces him into a fight that isn't his best.
