consider the number of wars this guy has fought in, the crazy number of divisions that he's moved up, over 50 fights and now into his 30s, its no surprise really. And to those who will say that's impossible because he just knocked out Diaz and OScar and made them look slow, well its true, but Pac has just become such a complete fighter that he has a hell of alot more than just speed and power in his arsenal His physical peak was at 122, where p4p he was both more powerful and faster than he is today.
Thats what I'm thinking, except for the power thing. He's more powerful right now, but pound for pound power, the edge goes to the Pac of 122/126 days. Pac has been in some wars and yes he does have some "miles" on him. Can he compete at the same level he just competed at again, yes I think so. But when he starts to get "past his best", the decline is gonna be very noticeable.
Thats true, when he does move on from his best, it will be a sharp decline and noticeable. But i think he has 2 more fights left in him before he reaches that point. At least 2.
Pac was a young teenager when he started his career-- he isn't that from his optimum weight at say, 140, imo. He is kind of defying the laws of boxers moving up in a Duran like way though.
Pacman seems like a smart guy and freddie roach knows that Pacman got a couple of good fights left in hm. The man been in a lot of wars and over a period of time your are going to see the effect.
People seem to think just because Pac started out at fly that is his natural weight. But he was only a kid back then still growing into his body and the fact is he has settled into these higher weights very well. I think he was physically at his best at 122/126 but he has improved his technical skills a ton in recent years.
Beat me too it. He may no longer be at his optimal weight for physical performance, but he has more than compensated, by making himself a more of a complete boxer. Back in his days when he was a bantam his natural ability was all he was going on, just speed and power. Now he has a full arsenal of punches (back then it was just one 1-2 after another) and he actually goes into a fight with a strategy.
He is probably slightly past his physical peak, but not by much at all. And he is a FAR superior fighter to any previous version (since the third Morales fight).
He may have been faster and fresher back then at 122. However he is stronger today and has more experience obviously after each fight. He has been in wars and yes it has taken some out of him but he is still good enough to be one of the best P4P fighters today. He will still dominate today at 140 or 147 pounds. Sure a Floyd Mayweather might beat him, or maybe a Paul Williams or Miguel Cotto, bottom line is that Pacman can still bring it to the best at 135 - 147 pounds.
I think Pac is past his prime, but his power and experience are making up for it. I think he starts to knock guys out more and also maybe have more of a chance to get knocked out since he will open himself up to counters. I think he is going to look good for another 2 years, after that he will start to slip and also guys will start studying him and figuring him out how to beat him after he has a tough fight. Remember how everyone started to swarm Hearns after Hagler was successful doing it? Also Tommy dimininshed a little after Hagler. Little factors add up to a fighter losing later.