Teddy Atlas on Mayweather-Pacquaio

THis is what Atlas believes but he wont say it. Manny was getting knocked out and on his ass by smaller guys and now hes walking through power shots of a middleweight. Its not like Pac is doing it being an elusive technician, hes beating brawlers by outbrawling them with less than perfect defense. How could this be? It doesnt make sense to Atlas, and he thinks the bigger more busy guys should be able to exploit Pac, which makes perfect sense, but Manny keeps proving everyone wrong by walking through big shots and showing a sturdy chin through the course.

 

Pac was getting knocked down when he was 19-20 when he was weight drained and before he got his man strength. His weight in the ring hasn't changed much from when he was at 130, as he was 144 against Marquez 2. Pacquaio was draining down 15lbs of water to make 130lbs, now he just doesn't drain the water. At 147 he is clearly less, Roach now is saying Manny was killing himself to make 135lbs, so Manny was always a big man fighting at lower weights and now hes fighting at a more natural weight. I honestly thought Pac was doing something at 126-130 because of how ripped and muscular while draining and maintaining incredible speed and stamina. I mentioned it at the time around here. HOWEVER there's no proof and going up in weight while not really gaining weight isn't an indicator of PEDs

 

He wasnt killing himself in the Marquez fights, and Im just stating what I believe Atlas believes. Going from lightweights to Cotto and Margarito is a big jump up in power, huge really, and hes taken their shots with no problem. It does raise an eyebrow more than his increased power, because Manny always hit hard and has maintained his blistering speed, but the ability to take the shots hes taken is what stands out most in my opinion too. I believe the Mayweathers feel the same way as well.

 

are their drugs that allow you to take a harder punch... besides A-side meth?

if their are I havent heard of them.

 

Steroids don't improve your chin. There are no PEDS that make you a more durable fighter.

Weight drain/dehydration severely decreases the cerebrospinal fluid in your head that your brain is encased in for buoyancy and protections, so yeah, there's that. He certainly was cutting quite a bit for his 126-30 fights, why do you think you can see his ribs? His body fat % was very very low.

 

If they help strengthen your neck, traps, legs, lower back then yes they would improve your ability to take a punch

Agree on him improving as a whole from cutting weight. Pacquaio isn't quite the small man everyone thinks he is, he's the same size as Ricky Hatton

 

I believe there are. Ever see police try to take down a guy on angel dust? Takes like ten of them.

 

That's more so about resistance to pain though, none of which matters if a punch shakes up your equilibrium.

I do believe that a person can possibly take a punch better by building a larger frame with the use of PED's. A thicker neck, a larger jaw and legs may play a part in the ability to take a punch.

Obviously there are no studies for this, but it seems logical that a David Tua can take a better punch than a Mark Breland. It also seems logical to assume that the Pacquiao of today can take a punch better than the Pacquiao who fought at 122.

This content is protected

This content is protected

The question is though whether this has been natural or unnatural growth. I do not think Pacquiao has become much if at all bigger from his 130 lb days, he has simply stopped draining weight and dehydrating himself, and now fights at his natural weight (147 lbs). Weight-draining also affects punch resistance as said above. It's not a stretch to say that Pacquiao, a 122 lber 7 years ago, can grow to a 140 lber (by today's standards). There are many examples of fighters growing in weight, and still being able to take the punches.

I'm rather sceptical of any fighter today though, but there's a case to be made that Pacquiao did not need to use steroids, and that there's no reason to assume that he's not "clean".

On a sidenote, we should not however forget the likes of Paul Williams or Sandy Saddler, being strong and stocky or long and lanky does not necessarily mean anything when it comes to being able to take a punch. One of the big mysteries in boxing. Logic can be thrown out of the window in many cases when it comes to boxing.

 

The angel dust comment was a bit of a joke. I agree with you, and 100% cutting weight and draining inhibits your ability to take a punch, but Pac, like no other fighter that weve seen has really shown a lot of improvements in power and ability to take a punch, and it raises a lot of eyebrows in "boxing people" accross the board.

Im not accusing Pac of anything, I just think hes a freak of nature but some people have a hard time believing it because of his past.

 

Pac is in complete control of his fights. He dictates the action and he does not get hit with big shots he doesn't see coming. The punch you don't see is the one that usually hurts you. These guys are so much slower than Pac that he sees everything.
He started as a pro when he was a baby. I think it's natural for a man of his size to grow from in the 115is as a teenager to 145 fifteen years later. Add in the fact that Asian fighters are notorious for cutting huge amounts of weight.
Having said all of that, he should just take the damn test and force Mayweather's hand. It's on both of them at this point IMO.

 

Pacqiao's power has much to do with his speed, volume and accuracy (when he lands). The punches he hurt Cotto and Margarito (in one of the rounds) were flush on the chin, and he landed many of them. Hatton's chin had been vulnerable since Mayweather's KO over him and Pacquiao landed on him at will while Hatton rushed in. I was not surprised at the way it went to be honest. Weight-draining on Cotto & Margarito's part and lack of draining on Pacquiao's part is also a factor to be taken into account.

Remember that Roy Jones was still a big puncher at light heavyweight, and likely a threat at cruiserweight as well had he ever fought at the weight, and kept a 220+ lb John Ruiz at bay (while giving away nearly 30 pounds). A freak of nature as you said. In the old days there was Sam Langford, who went from a lightweight to a 180-200 lber, knocking out men as big as 240 pounds, but that's way back.

Still, I do not count out the possibility of PED use at all. Not in this day and era, with the availability and the relative ease of passing the tests from what I've gathered. The ones who get caught, are often the ones inexperienced in using.

 

Yes, but even Jones looked a little slower at heavy. Pac looks faster at welter

 

I think it's the opposition mainly. You're going to look faster against a Margarito than a JM Marquez surely. Jones also had to build muscle and he was getting older.

 

The biggest cretin in boxing. **** knows why they even ask for his opinion anymore, his history of insanely pathetic fight predictions must surely have devalued anything that comes out of his hate-filled mouth these days.

The guy should stick to turning down title shots for his fighters, and keep his bull**** thoughts to himself.

 

You should watch boxing more and talk shite less.

Pac at 126 was lightning-fast. One could argue whether he is still as fast, but there's certainly no justification for saying he is clearly faster now.