IN boxing, there comes a time when a seemingly invincible fighter meets his match and for some, today’s epic encounter, the $300 million plus super fight between two of the best welterweights of their generation Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao provides that possibility.
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada is the epicenter of what has been dubbed ‘The Fight of the Century’ as undefeated Mayweather 47-0, KO26 stakes his WBC title against a most dangerous opponent Pacquiao who has a 57-5-KO38-2 record.
Can Pacquiao be the man who beat the man? Yes, he can if he effectively uses all his assets tonight. The Filipino has incredible speed of hand and foot and packs knockout power in both hands.
This arsenal if blended well could be Mayweather’s undoing. How he uses those lighting combinations and fast feet may well determine if wins tonight. Pacquiao will be after Mayweather from the bell.
Although neither fighter has knocked someone out for years now, Pacquiao appears to edge Mayweather in the power punching department.  He’s got more one punch power than Mayweather, but this per se may not win him the fight.
His strategy should be aggression, a relentless barrage of punches and batter Mayweather around the arms, elbows, shoulders and inevitably – the body and head. Mayweather can be slowed through accumulation of hurtful shots.
Pacquiao’s work rate is higher than Mayweather’s and he’ll need to be busier than ever before with Mayweather, as he must know that not all of his shots will land given the hard to crack Mayweather defence.
If he throws a huge number of punches with the speed, southpaw stance and movement he has, you’d have to think that logically some will eventually get through and hurt Mayweather – especially that killer Pacquiao left hand. Pacquiao’s in and out and side to side movement is amazing at times.
Being a southpaw and Mayweather being orthodox, particularly with that shoulder roll defense Mayweather has, Pacquiao will need to move to Mayweather’s left (Pacquiao’s right) to try to open up Mayweather and bring him out of that shoulder roll defense.
Footwork could be key in the fight for Manny if he’s to beat Mayweather. In all this, trainer Freddie Roach’s advice in between rounds could have a significant role in Pacquiao’s performance. Roach knows Mayweather well and will have Manny more ready than ever for this one.
For his part, Mayweather has a number of advantages going for him in this fight. He is bigger, taller and has a longer reach than his opponent.
Mayweather is certainly a canny operator and a fighter revered for his immaculate defensive work. His counter-punching is forensically accurate, his movement is slick and his in-ring nous makes him extremely difficult to catch with any kind of combination.
Pacquiao has never faced a guy with the boxing IQ of a Mayweather who can really utilize his reach, with an almost sixth sense for distance and knowing where to position himself in the ring when getting his shots off.
The Mayweather jab might play a crucial part of his strategy tonight and I think with his reach, this could make it difficult in patches for Manny.
Let’s not forget that Mayweather is also the physically bigger guy too, so if it does get rough on the inside Mayweather won’t have much of a problem pivoting, pushing or spinning off Pacquiao if he were to get caught up on the ropes.
Mayweather is a master at the mental games unlike Pacquiao who leaves that up to Roach. But as good as Freddie is, he is not fighting for Manny tonight. Pacquiao should be careful not to go in with too much aggression because if he does, that could play right into the hands of Mayweather, a deadly counter and pin-point puncher.
Forty seven professional fighters, some of whom future hall of fame athletes, have tried to break down Mayweather’s almost impregnable defence that Mayweather with no success to date.
His shoulder roll makes it very difficult for anyone to land anything clean and when he’s on the ropes he’s got this unique way of spinning out of trouble at the almost drop of a hat.
He’s also very good in the way he covers up and defends on the inside and isn’t afraid to mix it up in the pocket with rough house tactics if his opponents go down this road with him. Defensively, probably the best of all time.
If Mayweather decides to keep it long and box on the outside with those famous right hand pot shot counters, Pacquiao will have to be very clever with his faints and foot work when trying to get inside.
My take on the fight is Mayweather will win on points in a tough and close fight. mwale.simon@yahoo.co.uk / 0966 755 574/0953744074