Pac is probably my favorite fighter in last 20 years. Still I have to say the major criticism is his lack of adaptability. Think of great fighters like Leonard and Ali and how they were able to adapt to different opponents and make modifications to their style. Ali with his rope a dope, Leonard with his matador performance against Duran 2, Whitaker becoming a puncher (Hurtado) when the fight was on the line, Foreman with style change. Floyd after being rocked by Mosley hit the switch and became the hunter. Even JMM adapted in the 3rd fight with Pac by using strictly counterpunching with no attempts at all for sustained aggression. Yet with Pac it is one style all the time every fight. Move move, in and out power punching. He doesn't seem to be able to throw any change up. The problem is the style has worked on everyone except for JMM. Instead of trying to shake things up it is always more of the same. Regardless of whether you think Pac won or lost is it me or does his adaptability seem suspect? Fair criticism or not? Personally I do think he has had other options in some fights that he chooses not to use or perhaps just has no confidence to use.
JMM always played the coutner puncher against pac. Styles make fights . There are very few fighters who could nullify what pacquiao does , at least as effectively as JMM. Even the most versatile figher in the world will have certain habits /style tendencies that can get him trouble against the right opponent.
Yes he always did play counter puncher but he also mixed up aggression. In the last fight he seldom took a step forward and his strategy worked good for him.
That is a good point, he was much more hesitant than usual to creat offense. So it was an adaptation but the opposite of a successful adaption which is what is the goal.
He wasn't counter punching anyway. He was more worried about avoiding further punishment than he was about winning the fight. He knew he had lost the fight by rounds 10 or 11, even though he won.
Interesting points so far, I agree with all posts to some extent so far. I believe Pacquiao is a fighter who can do many little things within the same rhythm and style, but only fights in basically that one mode with only so much variation to it. He can lead or counter out of that same guard and stance and circle different ways and block and parry a number of ways, but he's always going to move like Pacquiao.
I think he was trying to counter, or at least went in with that strategy. Roach had expressed it before this fight (along with "I think he's more aggressive and that will be his downfall"), and before the rematch, where he actually had some success with it.
