Mayweather/Pacquiao negotiations officially begin

Pac's best chance in this fight is early on because PBF will probably need atleast 3 rounds before really figuring him out after that he will just go to work.

 

:thumbsup

 

I'm not gonna say you're wrong, you make very good points. As always. But Him going to the ropes, from what HE said, was to show Cotto he was not afraid of his shots, that he was indeed the tougher guy and to take Cotto's heart away. I think him sparring Porter did alot for his confidence and going into the fight he wanted to prove he could and had taken shots from bigger/tougher guys then Cotto.

It's just when I hear somebody "adapted" in the ring, I think change of strategy, or change of game plan. In this fight I saw, just what I previously posted, Cotto change and become more vulnerable. His punches became slower and the threat of him following up with combos seemed to lessen so Pac could counter over that jab MUCH easier.

 

I think that will be true. PAC's chances are to beat him by getting a few KD's or a KO. As Floyd settles....adjust to PAC's speed he'll have more sucess in the mid rounds. BUt honestly PAC isnt going to be easy for Floyd to anticipate like other fighters. PAC is unpredictable. His offense is so spuratic and darts in, out, side to side, throwing a wide variety of punches. PAC can't beat floyd fighting in the center of the ring the entire fight....he'll need to chase Floyd down, corner him and unload. At that point is where pAC will have his success...unfortunatley for PAC it won't happen often enough to win a decision unless he can knock him down or out. And I don't see PAC getting a KO against Floyd....maybe he'll hurt him, but Floyd has been hurt before and he regained his senses and got back to the game plan. Floyd will be in his most exciting and most meaningful fight with PAC. It will also be his most difficult.....I mean to date Ricky was his most difficult fight. From what Floyd says.

 

:good You're right! Cotto at some point....began thinking more...takeing less offesnsive opportunities b/c I think he was aware PAC could end things if he got reckless. The jab did get slower, allowing PAC the opportunites to counter. The jab is going to be key for Floyd.....Floyd does a great job jabing to the body and head...switching it up and that will be a problem for Manny! But I do feel PAC will make some adjustments to counter the Jab...get on the inside where his shorter arms can hit something..ANYTHING and I do think Floyd will begin to show some wear and tear as the rounds progress. If PAC's face can hold up...doesn't get cut from eating Jabs...he'll have a shot. I just favor Floyd due to his style...being more of a problem for PAC than the other way around...but Floyd will still have his problems with PAC.

 

Those weren't the toughest opponents he could have faced. I agree that his best year by far since moving up from 135 was the year he fought Goldie and Hatton and was rewarded "fighter of the year" honors. But, my point is that his fight route has been calculated and weren't about money or to fight the best that was available for him. After his challenging fights with JLC, it seemed as if he stopped trying to clean out any divisions and simply tried to be a title holder of each weight class moving up to the eventual 154lb weight class.

After JLC he fought: Sosa, N'dou, Corley, Bruseles, Gatti, Mitchell, Judah, Baldomir, DLH, Hatton, and Marquez.

Note also that Hatton and Marquez was at welterweight. Not exactly neutral ground.

Now you tell me...are those the fights that capture the imagination of the casual boxing fan and merit ATG status? He's not a heavyweight...you can't blame his approach on a lack of competition.

Why not fight Freitas, Casamayor, Tszyu, Cotto at 140 or 147, Hatton at 140 his natural weight, Mosley, Margarito, Clottey, Paul Williams, Pacman...

Had Floyd any combination of possibly 3 or 4 of these fighters, i don't think there would be any doubt as to how great his legacy and resume would seem.

The truth is, and I've stated this before, had he made these fights, Floyd would have probably been favored in each of them and would have probably won each of them.

This is what drives the unbiased boxing fan nuts about Floyd Mayweather. Not an irrational hatred, which I've been accused of from time to time. Truth is, again, I don't care enough to hate him. Just an unbiased fan of boxing that views through an unbiased scope.

 

I don't argue with that he seaked out money fights. I just hate how people discredit the Hatton and Hoya wins. When at the time they were very risky fights.

 

You're a moron and an immature child...you say that Pac has trouble with counter punchers? Last time I checked, DLH and Cotto are very good counter punchers. In fact, they've made a career out of it. Dude, you're looking in the past. Pac isn't the same fighter he was when he faced Morales and JMM. And boy...I was watching boxing while your Mama was wiping your fat ass!! You have no idea who i am but I have a pretty good idea who you are...someone who uses the internet to try and escalate their lack of character in reality. Someone who's life depends on whether or not their fighter wins on a given Saturday. You sir, and I use that liberally, are a loser!!:hi:

 

I agree and so did the rest of the boxing community by giving him fighter of the year honors. hopefully he will continue with the trend and make the Pac fight an actual reality.

 

If Pac doesn't cut and Floyd isn't able to hurt him, then the championship rounds are gonna be very interesting when they both have their gas tanks and the pressure builds.
The jab will be KEY! you are right.
I think the shoulder roll defense, and Floyd's stubborness will be Pac's biggest problems. Pac will HAVE TO play the roll of the aggressor, this will give Floyd the speed advantage. It is much easier to read and react to fast hands when you are in a defensive shell waiting, as it is when you are pressing the action.
Alot is being said of Pac's angles, but Floyd's angles are equally important in analyzing this fight. Floyd bends his body and throws counter uppercuts and left hooks from wierd defensive postitions. Pac's shorter reach, and determination to land will force him to overcommit sometimes and will leave him very vulnerable.

Now what Floyd has to worry about is this: He is ALWAYS able to bend all the way to his right side, then step out of the way. Pac may be prepared for this and has the footspeed to stay right on top of him. That could be HUGE. How Pac is able to maneuver around Floyd while he is in his shell will be crucial to his victory. Will he be able to take a step to his left to get a shot in and still avoid a counter?

 

floyds biggest gift is his defence- i mean the guy never gets rattled when hit- and i ve never seen him hit twice or with a combination. nobody is ever fast enough or elusive enough to get to him. floyds is so good because he understands the techincal nature of boxing and can anticipate motion- you can see this from his pad work with roger- which works on reading punches from people- if somone throws a left hook - theyre likely to follow with a straight right- and so on.

what i m getting at is with floyd- the better the boxer you are - the more at a disadvantage you are in a way- floyd does really well against boxers- and sluggers- who have fundamentals down- because he can predict you- he can read you.

where he struggles is against unorthorthodox guys- guys like augustus, or even southpaws lke zab- who he took a while to figure out.

this is what makes this fight compelling- because pac s greatest strength is his unpredictablity - his style. he throws never one punch- but multiple- and its his punches from awkward angles- that have so much power- look at his first ko of cotto- it was freaky- going right - punchin with his right- while cotto was going left- and it was from a foot away!

i really think pac can move in and out- and befuddle floyd- and if not tag him with his first hit- walk thru the counter and get him with the 2nd or 3rd. witness all pacs last ko punches- they come from weird angles- in fact they havent been a straight left in a while- but rather- overhand lefts, and short right hooks, or left uppercuts going back. i just have a strong feeling that he ll be really difficult for floyd to get to

everyone is saying how will pac deal with floyds defence- how will he get thru? in my mind- equally compelling- is how will floyd get pac off of him- how will he avoid every punch- seeing as pac will only need one to change the fight. pac is stronger- as fast at this stage and at this weight i think. faster in feet certainly- although he dosent move as smootlhy and as balanced- he changes direction and darts in and out quicker than floyd at 147, and perhaps shorter and faster in hands too- he can get off combos faster than anyone at 147.

anyway- this is such a good fight- i can go either way when i put my mind to it- i can see it going either guys way- i can see one dominating the other- i can see it being close- i can see it being exciting and boring. thats what makes it the fight of the century i guess.

 

whatever happens- if its somewhat close- or goes to decision or even if its close at time of stoppage - we need to do this again- the 80 s were great because of the rematch- who dosent love a revenge plot?? these guys could go 5 times and id pay to see it every time.

how cool would it be for boxing if this went like 3 fights to a rubber match- if you think this fight is big- imagine how big the trilogy could be??

 

Good post!! Very good points on both fighters. it is a very compelling fight and I hope both parties make the fight happen!:good

 

The beginning of this post reminded me of a Dan Brown Book Like you have uncovered a true secret to Floyd's style. Awesome post by the way and as I do favor Floyd in this fight, this post has definitely made me open my eyes. Not meaning to boss you around, but your post would actually be good topic for a thread. (floyd better against better boxers)

 

But when Floyd starts limiting his options with his defense, Pac WILL become predictable because he will find only a few things that might work.