I don't think they were nervous because of the stage at all. I think it's more a mutual respect that they had for each other's power and Floyd just fought a very smart fight and threw just enough to win the rounds he didn't take any unnecessary chances. Floyd might not have a one punch knock out power, but he definitely has enough to get his opponent's respect, Manny's, included and that's exactly why we saw a more cautious Manny who threw much less than most expected.
I really do think nerves played a part in it. I think both guys didn't want to make any huge mistake in the ring so that was the reason no one tried to go for broke in there. I do agree with you on Mayweather's power though. He might not have one punch KO power, but he throws his punches so accurately and usually when his opposition least expects it that it ends up stunning them effectively. I noticed that counter right he threw maybe 1:00 into the first round that got Manny's respect. From that point, I knew Mayweather was in control and that he had Manny thinking point about that counter right hand for the rest of the night. That right hand really made Manny trigger shy. Juan Manuel Marquez gave Manny PTSD with counterpunches. It was pretty evident in the Mayweather fight.
This story is pointless without the mention of the fairy string lights that dangle from the ceiling and sway ever so slightly from the circulated air coming out of my bladeless Dyson fan. There's a real nice, Mumford & Sons, euro cafe feel to my enclave. :verysad
The real question is why is Pacquiao so inferior a fighter to Mayweather that he couldn't hit him with 500 punch left death punch combos and just followed him around the ring like a lost scared puppy? :rofl
I'm amazed that people cannot see that the fight was a sham and are still trying to decipher "why ... ?" Two guys, way past their primes, spent years fighting other people when the world wanted them to fight each other, making HUDREDS OF MILLIONS for this one fight, and hoping for FUTURE PAYDAYS against other fights, and 'hopefully' another big mega-fight with one another ..... fight a lame 12 rounds ... one of the fighters rarely gets out of first gear and the other fighter backs off on the ONLY occasions he has a chance of doing anything ..... looks not even worthy of being called a sparring session ..... two guys leave the ring after 12 rounds with barely a mark on them, and about 200 million dollars richer .... ...... anyone who cannot see that this was a "gee", a "frame up", a "fake", needs their head examined. It has all the hallmarks. Even down to the 'hurt shoulder' explanation.