Kostya Tszyu -vs- Manny Pacquiao at 140…

Nah - I think Tszyu times Pac coming in like Marquez did eventually he was also about 155lbs in the ring from memory, Kostya has well known and legendary power - Pac would lunge into something if Tszyu stays composed and works off of Manny’s right hand.

 

I think KT is too strong for PAC and people forget but KT was very good at fighting Southpaws.

 

I wish Tszyu had been a pro at 18 and learnt his trade in America or Mexico instead of staying with his amateur trainers… though what we got wasn’t too shabby he was a monster.

 

I got to see alot of his amateur bouts and man he was simply amazing. Saw when he stopped future lightweight champion Orzubek.
I think he fell in love with his power in the pros and relied on it too much.

 

Around the 140 + range is where Pac's stylistic refinements really started to show. I think Pac's early blasting is a bad stylistic match up for Tszyu, who was pretty static when it came to head movement.

I also think Pac's 'level' as an ATG is simply higher and I find it hard to pick against him.

 

Massive Tszyu fan here as an Aussie but I think Manny is too much here.

As long as it lasted it’d be great to watch but Manny could keep up his frantic pace all fight and I’d expect Kostya to eventually fold under PAC’s relentless barrage and work rate.

 

Great thread, good comments on both sides of this one.

Its worth mentioning, it took Marquez 4 fights to land the money shot on Pacquiao… Marquez being an elite level fighter in his own right…

 

Tszyu was known to have a great time with southpaws because of his sniper right hand and I can see Pac getting hurt from a well timed shot.

Saying that though I think around that weight class was when Pac was much more refined as a boxer while still maintaining his explosiveness. Tszyu will start to feel more uncomfortable with Pac's speed and aggression and it would look similar to his first round against Judah. I think at some point Pac's overwhelming offense and sneaky counterpunches will take effect and Tszyu eventually gets stopped late. It would have been a great match up though.

 

I don’t know, I think his habit of lunging in and pretty much pushing off hard into every jab will betray him against Tszyu eventually. With Hatton and Vince he was there forever in with Phillips he was getting blasted but he was still in it, He was up against Hatton when he bowed out at a time IMO he should’ve been retired/done due to injuries etc, I digress Hatton stayed inside.
Zab ain’t the great Manny Pac but he was a speed demon who tried to win. I don’t think the plan to beat Kostya is in and out and that was Judah’s mistake, I think once you’re in you stay in, he wasn’t a great inside fighter (too much amateur time IMO) and you don’t pull out hanging in punching range or he’ll catch you, same as coming in too fast.
Juan Manuel Marquez timed Pac eventually in there series he was also getting up there in the years and a lot smaller / weaker (IMO) then Kostya, Kostya’s whole game was giving you opportunities and taking them away from you, he also worked off southpaw leads super well - he’ll get Manny to bite and time him. My uneducated 0.2$ but I’d be really interested in your opinion doe.

 

Tszyu was too straight up with no head movement for my taste to bet on him against an attacking fast guy like Manny...... I considered the idea of Kostya´s insanely good timing... still... Pac would be my píck

 

The first round with Judah didn’t look great for Tszyu but if someone starts fast and there speed surprises you, it typically takes some adjusting.
Tszyu needed a minute to figure out when to pull the trigger is all and that happens fight to fight, rhythm to rhythm but he was very tough so he wasn’t going anywhere.
Mannys aggression isn’t his friend here, like it wasn’t against Marquez in the 4th bout IMO in and out isn’t the same as in and in the way Hatton/Phillips approached the puzzle.

 

@Seamus I know you’re a fan of Zoo how do you see this?