Has Pac regressed as a fighter?

You've hit the nail on the head with regards to his movement. I would personally look back to the Cotto fight too, where after he had basically neutralised Miguel as a threat he couldn't cut the ring off effectively enough to put Miguel out in the 6th or 7th when he really should have done.

I'll offer a theory, the Mosley effect. Has he not just fell in love with his physical abilities and relying on his footspeed to chase after an opponent and put them out with his rather vicious power and handspeed? Rather than be patient, cutting the ring down and then using a variety of well chosen punches to get his man out?

 

No he just can't deal with fighters who don't stand still. As Roach said before the fight he is looking better than ever.

 

I don't think he has changed much it is just that he is not great against defensive fighters IMO, only 2 fighters who can beat him from 140-154 floyd and JMM, he is still a world class fighter.

 

No, it's just in the last 2 fights he's faced lateral movement for the first time since JMM 2. Naseem Richardson noticed JMMs success came from circling to Manny's right to take away the straight left, jabbing from that position and time the right hand as Manny comes inside. Mosley implemented this but his right hand was too wide to be effective and he's not a natural counter puncher, his jab however worked well. Cotto's movement wasn't too bad but his defence open, no right hand and he came straight too Pacquaio largely in straight lines

Marquez did what he's always done with Pacman but was more disciplined making less mistakes, hence no KDs

Put Pacman in with a Cotto/Margarito/Brandon Rios/Ortiz and you have Super Pac suddenly back with us, completely free of leg cramps with lovely fresh socks

 

Hope not. Like the guy above said hes used to fighting the ww guys. Hes faster and hits harder than them and he thought hed do this to Jmm.

To be honest I said Pacman in four. I think he and a majority of this site(including me) forgot that he could not do that against a brave counterpuncher.

My card is up in a new thread.

 

I don't think that gives Marquez the proper credit.

Supposedly, Pac was a vastly improved fighter who would slaughter Marquez. He hasn't regressed imo, it's just that JMM doesn't let him do some of the things his recent opponents did.

 

No Pop, you are crazy for suggesting this. Pac was the same old Pac its just that JMM has always been light years ahead.

on a serious note, for those who have watched the trilogy closely, it will be clear to see that Pacquiao performed the worse in the third than he did in the others, I picked up on the same things, he made it easier for Marquez. Marquez fought a great fight, he fought a Marquez fight, probably as good as he's looked in a long time since fighting Pacquiao & Barrera.

To touch on what you said, maybe its possible that he's been able to get away with not using his lateral movement, workrate, and intensity against slower fighters with less workrate, where he was able to use his quicker hands and power to win the fight. Tyson mentioned that Pacquiao actually had the advantage against bigger guys if he was the smaller, faster guy, and had enough power with ability to take their shot, because he would be able to get more of his shots in against his opponents.

 

No he hasn't regressed. He just doesn't do well against boxers with movement

 

People have said it for the longest time he had major problems with counter punchers and fighters with good movement, yesterday just confirmed this fact. It's a myth that '2009' Pacquiao was some sort of beast or a different fighter to who he was yesterday he simply isn't as good (not doubting his greatness) as people thought he was/wanted him to be.

 

He seemed to lack the explosiveness in his last couple but that could just be down to his opponents footwork

 

I think the Hatton fight was the last of Prime Pac.

He is a straight in and out fighter now.

 

the PED use has slowed down, its obvious for anyone to see.

 

I think that Manny is much more technically sound (better balance/footwork/punching technique) fighter, but that has taken him away from what made him great in the first place.

His successes, both in and out of the ring, have also added to this. The hunger isn't the same anymore either, he no longer has a 'chip on his shoulder' driving him to win.

 

No.

Marquez is just really good.