Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather JR Agree to Fight in March 2010By Geno McGahee-December 4, 2009
RSR got word from a reliable source that the super bout that the world is demanding will take place in March of 2010. The teams are currently working out the specifics but have tentatively agreed to a showdown early next year, which shouldn’t be a surprise to any boxing fan.
What other fight does either man have that the boxing public would want? Floyd Mayweather, JR., could take on the winner of Shane Mosley-Andre Berto, but it will not attract the masses and will not settle the score. The people are divided and even the biggest fans of each fighter are not certain of who will come out victorious.
There are arguments to be made on each side. You have Floyd’s defensive genius, timing, underrated power, and ability to adapt versus Manny’s speed, crushing power, timing, and ability to adapt. Both men have found ways to win and have not suffered defeats, ever, in Floyd’s case, and hardly ever in Manny’s. The losses to Pacquiao, outside of the decision defeat to Erik Morales (which was avenged twice by knockout), were early on in his career and cannot be considered when going into this showdown.
Even when you point to the defeat at the hands of Erik Morales, you have to admit that Pacquiao is a much better fighter now then he was at that point. He is more developed and more dangerous. His confidence is through the roof after his three straight knockout wins over popular and established warriors: Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.
Floyd needs this fight with Manny more than the other way around. There have been several instances throughout the career where Floyd took the easier money and elected not to face off against an opponent the people hoped he would. Antonio “Hands of Plaster” Margarito comes to mind. You cannot fault him for being a great businessman, but there is some sketchiness when you analyze the opponents he chose and when he chose to fight them.
Even his last opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez, was a safe and smart choice for his return. Marquez nearly beat Manny Pacquiao on two occasions, and since Floyd is always under the threat of the Filipino, he perhaps thought a dominant win over Marquez would silence the people. It hasn’t. Marquez had nearly zero chance of upsetting Floyd due to his size and style. Marquez had to be the aggressor, which is something that he is not comfortable doing and his weaknesses in that department were exploited quite nicely by Mayweather.
Mayweather made a point in that fight that he did better against Marquez, but the same can be said about Manny and his performances against De La Hoya and Hatton. He destroyed them both as Floyd struggled at times. What does all this mean?
Nothing.
Styles make fights and the style match up between Manny and Floyd seems perfect on paper. You have the aggressive and quick Pacquiao, trying to find a way in and you have Floyd, trying to counterpunch the quickest fighter he has ever faced. Considering that Zab Judah beat him to the punch on several occasions bodes well for Pacquiao, but Floyd is a better boxer than Marquez and has a lot more savvy…this is why this bout is so intriguing. Enjoy the fight, but don’t put too much money on it. It looks like a pick’em to me.
There are so many things that can be examined going into this fight and they will be. Because the fans are cut down the middle, both siding with their fighter to win the bout, and both citing reasons, publications will turn over every stone to try to predict an outcome.
What is promising for Pacquiao’s fans is his ability to put punches together in combinations and from different angles. Floyd loves fighting guys like Arturo Gatti and Carlos Baldomir, men that throw one or two punches at a time and they come at a snail’s pace. Pacquiao is a speed demon and it is debatable if Floyd can dodge them all. It is possible that Floyd’s counters won’t be fast enough and that he will be hit while trying to hit return fire.
A weak chin can be put to rest too. Manny Pacquiao took shots from a very strong and powerful Miguel Cotto and didn’t flinch. He won’t drop on one punch from Mayweather, but Mayweather doesn’t just throw one punch either. He will launch in with that left hook, which is a punch that Manny is open for. Unfortunately for the Pacman, that is Floyd’s best punch and if it lands, it could send him into a series of punches by “Money Mayweather.”
The best piece of evidence supporting the Floyd fans and their contention that he will win is the Miguel Cotto fight. It is Manny’s most recent outing and although he won it in spectacular and dominating fashion, there is something in there that should be pointed out.
In the first round, Cotto controlled Manny and easily won the round. He used his jab and a tight defense to keep the bout under control, but he did little after that. Did Manny adjust that well or did Cotto lose focus? Floyd never loses focus and if he gets control, he will be able to maintain it much better than Cotto.
A toss up. A “pick’em.” Whatever way you cut it, this is the bout that the public wants to see. The two very best in the sport going head to head in their primes. I, like all of you cannot wait and am happy to say with some confidence that it is close to be delivered.
A March showdown between Floyd and Manny will begin 2010 with a ****. The biggest fight in probably 10 years of boxing will take place for all the pound for pound marbles. The momentum is with Pacquiao, but he has never faced a puzzle like Mayweather. This is the type of fight that you would hope would reinstate the 15 round limit. It is a classic showdown, much like Thomas Hearns – Sugar Ray Leonard and should be treated as such.
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