It is that time where I need to look at footage to develop some concrete thoughts on an upcoming fight. The first fight I've watched is MAB v PAC and it is very telling. MAB comes out the aggresor and he is there to be hit. He is the one thinking and fighting offensively for the first three rounds. He is edging forward and PAC is raking him with fast, hard shots and none stop. PAC was ripping around 80 to 100 punches EVERY ROUND! In the 4th MAB adapts and starts to box...he finds success...but he couldn't put his Mexican machismo to sleep. Every time he'd box and find success he'd stop and brawl. He continously stood in front of PAC and lost out in the exchanges. This happened every round up until the end. Despite MAB adjusting in the 4th and boxing, he still didn't box enough. His major flaw was he never quite got around the left hand.. In the rematch MAB has to box continously and not consider brawling unless PAC slows. The best bet on slowing PAC is to catch him with body shots coming in and then step off. It still isn't a given that PAC Will slow enough because MAB raked his body the first time but always lost out in the trade offs. When MAB boxed, he moved to his left and avoided Pacs left. When he boxed he would pump a great jab. When he boxed he was keeping PAC in ring centre and turning him as he punched aimlessly. PAC was and still is younger, faster, stronger and harder hitting. Intelligence and skill has to win it for MAB. Some more footage to watch but I may be the one (or one of) to pick MAB to avenge the PAC defeat and then move on to Marquez before riding off into the sunset as POSSIBLY (but probably not) the greatest Mexican to ever do it!
I dont think that any adjustment MAB makes is gonna work, and I hate to say that, hes one of my favorites. Pacquiao is just simply going to beat him to the punch.
Im afriad, like Morales, MAB wont be able to handle Pac's speed anymore. I hope MAB can adapt and pull it out, im certainly not going to count him out because he has done the unexpected a few times.. but i think Pac will stop him again.
I agree, but even when MAB boxed, pac landed with both his left and right. If Pac comes in unprepared and underestimating this fight, there is a small possibility that he might lose, but if Pac fights the same fight, the result will be the same. Pac Tko 8
MAB to shock the world. At least I hope so. For me I'm going with my heart not my head, come on Marco.
Good post Achilles. The one telling thing that addresses your concerns are his bouts with Juarez. He was clearly wary of Rocky's power, just as he will be with Pacman this time around, just as he was in the days of Hamed. Nobody knew about Manny the first time around. He was supposed to just be an opponent, which he has clearly shown to be much more than that. Toss in the training camp issues and it was a recipe for disaster. Now, whether or not he can handle Manny's speed and workrate is an unrelated issue, but after watching the two Juarez bouts, its clear to me that Barrera will not stand toe to toe with Manny at all this time around. I think Marco's jab will be a very devastating weapon against Manny this time aronud, and Marco will box from a distance at all times. Thats why I think this one is gonna be a lot closer and a lot more interesting than people are giving it credit for.
It'll be a blow out either way. Pac is too fast for Mab and MAB doesnt have that height advantage over Pac.
There is a reason why PAc badly wants this fight, and MAB waited for almst 4 years before agreeing to this rematch. A replay of their first fight. Maybe, worse.
I said he would dominate Juarez in the rematch and only age would beat him. The first fight was only close because MAB fought the wrong fight. Juarez had youth over MAB, in addition to power. MAB let him enforce his advantages. I believe we are in a similar position but on a higher level. The first time MAB was stationary and brawled too much. MAB can't beat PAC in a brawl. He can't win trade offs. Of course he can edge Juarez in a trade off at this advanced age but Juarez isn't PAC. MAYBE when MAB was younger he would have outbrawled Juarez and PAC. I think he would have beaten Juarez in a brawl but not PAC. When he stands with PAC he doesn't have the speed or power edge. Unfortunately PAC doesn't just shoot his load thus MAB can't rely on it; unlike his moronic corner telling him PAC had shot his load and he sho uld close the show in the 3rd or 4th. If MAB boxes he takes away PACs speed, punch output and power. He times PAC, neutralised the left and isn't there to be hit, thus allowing PAC to let off an obscene amount of shots. PAC does not have good range or timing. He doesn't use his feet to be in optimum punching range. He'll overshoot his shots or punch sloppy so he can get to you. He won't time you, he'll generally outspeed you. This is where MAB has to enforce his intelligence, experience and the sweet science. If MAB sticks to his boxing, I say he'll take home the W. Its very easy to see dominating victories and not believe any other outcome i.e. Corrales-Floyd, Tito-X and Lacy-Calzaghe. This may be the exception to the rule.
The only way to beat pacman is to box as much as possible but even then you have to be willing to trade sometimes to earn his respect, the way erik morales done it. problem is, as much as there was nothing between moralers & barrera head to head, they both have different qualities & I dont see mab`s qualities being enough to beat pac. morales can take a better punch than barrera aswell as come back better when the fight isnt going his way. Dont get me wrong, mab is 1 of the best boxers of the past 10-15 yrs but my money is on manny pacquiao. I will root for pac also.
