Mayweather had returned from self imposed exile in 2009 with a dominant points win over Juan Manuel Marquez, a fighter who had given Manny huge difficulty in two previous fights. But since 2007, Pacquiao seemed to have gone up to another level, becoming the most exciting multi-weight world champion since Henry Armstrong - crushing lineal light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in 2, forcing DLH to retire on his stool in 8 and battering Miguel Cotto to a stoppage in 12. Pacquiao was clearly peaking so this is unlikely to be an exact re-run of their hugely late and very disappointing 2015 meeting. Bearing that in mind, who ya got?
I strongly disagree that Pacquiao was peaking in 2010. The reckless, 1 handed Pacquiao was better. Also Mayweather vs Marquez was a joke. Floyd didnt even make weight
Same fight as 2015 just fought at a faster pace with a little more intensity for the first few rounds.
Many will disagree with me but I honestly think Pac would have given Floyd a much tougher fight had they fought back in 2010 and possibly beat him in a close fight. His workrate, along with his speed, power was at his very best at that time.
I agree. Floyd would have been the favourite, rightly so, but Pacquiao was riding the crest of a wave at the time and he would have given Mayweather all he could handle. That's what made it such an intriguing match at that time. Despite that, I still pick Floyd but l think a win then over that version of Pacquiao would have cemented him as an automatic top 30 and approaching top 20 of all time as well.
I don't know about that. Pac Man was pretty special in 2009/10. I think he'd have given Floyd all he could handle. It surely wouldn't have been a carbon copy of what happened in 2015.
It's a fair point. Stylistically though, the extended delay on the actual fight impacted Manny and his style more than Mayweather's in my view. Pac in 2010 could match Mayweather in pure speed terms at least.
What makes you strongly disagree? I think he'd reached another level from the fighter he was two years previous. The results bear that out as well.
Interesting Philly .. Don't know what you mean that Pac is more popular?? As in the pick you mean?, because Floyd was the slightly bigger draw … and don't know what you mean that Pac was not on Floyd's level?? because he accomplished more in the sport than Floyd, imo, with the titles and his resume, fighting everybody and going up more weight than Floyd and winning more titles
All you have to do is read threads on this forum about the heroic warrior mentality of Pac contrasted with “Floyd Mayrunner” to know that boxing fans in general love Pac and hate Floyd. Pac was not on Floyd’s level in terms of skill! If Pac struggled with JMM he is going to look lost against Floyd....kinda like how he looked lost in real life, and Mayweather was pretty much coasting in there. I am not really a fan of either guy but can’t envision Pac winning more than 3-4 rounds at any point in time.
