Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be entering May 2nd as an undefeated fighter and the betting favorite but Manny Pacquiao’s skills are as strong as Floyd’s, if not stronger in some areas. In this article we will break down where Manny is strongest and how it’ll help him vs. Mayweather.
Quickness & Hand Speed
Pacquiao’s quickness made him a fan favorite over a decade ago and that ability will be a great tool when he steps into the ring against Mayweather.
While both fighters are extremely fast, their quickness shows differently. Manny’s is highlighted by his ability to throw a barrage of punches and combinations in quick burst. If he is able to get Mayweather against the ropes, similar to Marcos Maidana in his first fight with Floyd, then he can land some clean combinations. That is where Manny is at his best.
Punching Power
Many would argue that Manny’s punching power has diminished over the past 5 years due to his lack of KO victories but even during that time he’s shown the ability to freeze opponents in the ring. His punches haven’t been KOing boxers because his footwork has gotten progressively worse, which doesn’t allow him to finish through on punches and turns pinpoint shots into glancing blows. His punches still hurt… A lot.
Closing the Distance
Much is being made of Manny being the smaller opponent in the fight against Mayweather but its something he’s used to and at this point of his career it’s something that he embraces. Pac-man has become great at using his height as a benefit and taking advantage of the angles that it provides him to close the distance between him and longer opponents.
Killer Instinct
The biggest advantage Pacquiao has over Mayweather is his will power and killer instinct. Floyd posses the tools to be a consistent knockout fighter, but he doesn’t trust himself enough to open up and not fight defensive. Manny has shown that when he stuns an opponent he has no qualms about going in to finish the fight. It’s gotten him into trouble in the past, Marquez landed a KO punch when Manny rushed in to end him, but for the most part it’s what has made Manny one of the greatest of this era.
Pacquiao will be fighting an uphill battle against Floyd Mayweather but it is a battle that he can win if he brings his A-game to Vegas on May 2nd.