2005 Floyd Mayweather Jr (Gatti) vs 2009 Manny Pacquiao (Hatton) 140

Its a bit of a myth that Mayweather struggled with southpaws. He has a perfect record vs them.

That being said, Floyd could get hurt vs a leftie as he did vs Judah. To me, great offense beats great defense majority of the time.

I think a younger faster Pac is bound to land something huge early and score a knockdown. Once he does, Mayweather will go into a defensive mode which will allow Pac enough opportunities to land flurries.

Pac by a close decision where he likely scores a knockdown and wins the 10-8 round.

 

What I said years before they fought is that no one is faster than Floyd, has better reflexes, timing, sense of range, or better defense and footwork. So as great as Pac's offense was, and it was really good, that defensive, speedy, careful style, picking out single lightning fast blows with ducking, moving, grabbing, or covering, was always going to give Pac major troubles. The younger version of Pac might have had better volume and conditioning, and taken more risks, but so too did the younger and smaller version of Floyd, so it would have been a more entertaining fight at 140 years earlier, but style-wise it never was going to be a barn-burner. I always slightly favored Floyd to eek a decision. The actual fight went about the way I expected; not a shocker at all.

 

I think it goes the same as their actual matchup. Maybe Pacquiao wins one more round max but Floyd's style would always give Pacquiao trouble and I don't think Pacquiao has the ability to adapt enough to win.

 

100% agree.

One thing oft forgotten is that this version of Floyd has good hands and could punch that night.

When I think of what JMM did to Pac stylistically and then add in Floyd's superior athleticism, hand speed, IQ and defensive and offensive balance from this night, I think the fight would be less competitive than what most Pac fans would hope for.

 

Eh...Floyd typically took the fight to the opponent after getting wobbled or hurt. Pretty much stood in front of Mosley after getting his bell rung, started pressuring against Judah after getting flashed for an uncalled glove touch, dropped Corley twice after getting wobbled and even took the fight to Pac in the seventh after getting rattled in the sixth. Plus, this is a more offensive minded Mayweather in general.

Pac could flash him like Judah, but Mayweather's probably responding in kind should that happen.

 

Floyd by UD, btw.

 

I think what people forget is Mayweather was just as much past his prime as Pacquiao was Mayweather was 38 years old and would retire the same year.

You often hear people say "Mayweather got Pacquiao at the right time" but often fail to mention Mayweather's age or the fact he was at the end of his career also.

I respect both fighters they're both ATG's but i always do feel that Mayweather's counter punching and slickness is always a bad style match up for Pacquiao.

And whilst Pacquiao has alot of great wins he doesn't really have a win over a real slick fighter, i guess Bradley would be the closest he's fought in terms of a slick fighter. But i would've been interested in Pacquiao facing Zahir Raheem after he schooled Morales, and the likes of Joan Guzman when he was in his prime, too see how Pacquiao would go about fighting a real slickster.

But all in all Mayweather vs Pacquiao prime for prime would be another UD for Mayweather but the fight would probably be a bit more competitive and exciting. As Mayweather was more offensive at 140 before he started to have hand problems when he moved up to 147 hence the lack of stoppages at that weight.

 

Gayweather by points.

A dang shame they never crossed paths at their peaks and we had to wait a decade for a stinker or a fight.

 

They should have fought at 147lbs right after Pacquiao destroyed Delahoya, Hatton and Cotto, but Floyd said, oh Hell no, and went the other direction. That being said, after seeing the fight in 2015 i would lean toward Floyd because of styles.

 

Similar to their actual fight, but fought at a faster pace and a better fight.

8-4 type decision for Mayweather