B-Hopkins drops some gems of boxing knowledge in this interview

[mastertech1985]

I don't always agree with what he says, but unlike a lot of the posters on this site, he can support his position with intelligence, some proof, and insight

[KoolAidMan]

I wholeheartedly agree with Bernard on this one. And his theory of Mayweather "taming" Pacquiao, turning Pac into a 1-2 punch and reset fighter is the reason why Pacquiao will win this by decision (assuming there's no robbery and the fight is called fairly as possible).


Mayweather will not tame Pacquiao. No one has tamed Pacquiao for years. he's been a bit more cautious after the JMM knockout but his style and aggression will always be the same. Pacquiao will employ a new strategy, that I'm sure but his bread and butter which is to throw volume, fast and powerful combinations in awkward angles will be there on May 2nd. Pac has nothing to lose. He's not going to fight at Mayweather's tempo.



Pacquiao in 11 TKO or SD IMO.

[mastertech1985]

I wholeheartedly agree with Bernard on this one. And his theory of Mayweather "taming" Pacquiao, turning Pac into a 1-2 punch and reset fighter is the reason why Pacquiao will win this by decision (assuming there's no robbery and the fight is called fairly as possible).


Mayweather will not tame Pacquiao. No one has tamed Pacquiao for years. he's been a bit more cautious after the JMM knockout but his style and aggression will always be the same. Pacquiao will employ a new strategy, that I'm sure but his bread and butter which is to throw volume, fast and powerful combinations in awkward angles will be there on May 2nd. Pac has nothing to lose. He's not going to fight at Mayweather's tempo.



Pacquiao in 11 TKO or SD IMO.

if you've been tamed once, you can be tamed again....Manny has 5 losses and many close calls that could have went either way


Manny was just kayoed less than 5 fights ago, that's not the easiest thing to oversome...just because a fighter has recovered mentally, doesn't mean their body has....he hasn't faced a fighter who poses a possibility of hurting him since losing by Kayo...IMO mayweather hits harder than Bradley, Rios, and Algeri at 147

He is a great fighter but it is not out of the question that a fighter who was outboxed by a past prime erik morales in his own prime can lose past prime


Morales and Mayweather are similar in reach and build both can fight inside, outside, and side to side.....Mayweather adds more speed, better defense and he is physically stronger of the 2.

[stuff jones]

Manny is a much better fighter than he was vs Morales.

[mastertech1985]

Manny is a much better fighter than he was vs Morales.

I disagree....he is 20 pounds heavier, slower, throws less punches, older doesn't take as good a shot as he used to, and he still has the same technical liabilities.....lunging, throws jab, left low.....throws power left, right hand low and he jumps in face first.


only thing he does better now is pace himself and his punch variety is better




Mayweather is not a better fighter at 38 than 28 either....more experienced...not better

[stuff jones]

I disagree....he is 20 pounds heavier, slower, throws less punches, older doesn't take as good a shot as he used to, and he still has the same technical liabilities.....lunging, throws jab, left low.....throws power left, right hand low and he jumps in face first.


only thing he does better now is pace himself and his punch variety is better




Mayweather is not a better fighter at 38 than 28 either....more experienced...not better

Of course he's slower at a higher weight class. But he's got a better right hand now, is more versatile and is more defensively responsible. In general he's much more refined.

[Reloaded]

I wholeheartedly agree with Bernard on this one. And his theory of Mayweather "taming" Pacquiao, turning Pac into a 1-2 punch and reset fighter is the reason why Pacquiao will win this by decision (assuming there's no robbery and the fight is called fairly as possible).


Mayweather will not tame Pacquiao. No one has tamed Pacquiao for years. he's been a bit more cautious after the JMM knockout but his style and aggression will always be the same. Pacquiao will employ a new strategy, that I'm sure but his bread and butter which is to throw volume, fast and powerful combinations in awkward angles will be there on May 2nd. Pac has nothing to lose. He's not going to fight at Mayweather's tempo.



Pacquiao in 11 TKO or SD IMO.

Thats not the way he is saying it , he is saying Mayweather will out think Manny and if he gets Manny to think over riding instinct he will tame the aggression .
Mannys aggression will not be the same IF Manny is countered solidly between flurries , IF Floyd controls distance , IF Floyds power is respected by Manny , all 3 are very possible .

[KoolAidMan]

Thats not the way he is saying it , he is saying Mayweather will out think Manny and if he gets Manny to think over riding instinct he will tame the aggression .
Mannys aggression will not be the same IF Manny is countered solidly between flurries , IF Floyd controls distance , IF Floyds power is respected by Manny , all 3 are very possible .

Bottom line. Pacquiao is an instinct fighter. He's been up and down before and he always fights the same way. Mayweather is not going to tame Pacquiao. Pacquiao has historically shown punches is not going to slow him down. He'll come down swinging.

[KoolAidMan]

if you've been tamed once, you can be tamed again....Manny has 5 losses and many close calls that could have went either way


Manny was just kayoed less than 5 fights ago, that's not the easiest thing to oversome...just because a fighter has recovered mentally, doesn't mean their body has....he hasn't faced a fighter who poses a possibility of hurting him since losing by Kayo...IMO mayweather hits harder than Bradley, Rios, and Algeri at 147

He is a great fighter but it is not out of the question that a fighter who was outboxed by a past prime erik morales in his own prime can lose past prime


Morales and Mayweather are similar in reach and build both can fight inside, outside, and side to side.....Mayweather adds more speed, better defense and he is physically stronger of the 2.

Manny has evolved so much since his fights with Morales. It's Apples to Oranges.

[therealpugilist]

Bottom line. Pacquiao is an instinct fighter. He's been up and down before and he always fights the same way. Mayweather is not going to tame Pacquiao. Pacquiao has historically shown punches is not going to slow him down. He'll come down swinging.

Going down swinging is admirable but not smart in a boxing ring...if he is too reckless he will go down....this aint 8 kos in 20 fights algieri, or 12 ko in 30+ fight Bradley


Manny has to have effective aggression to limit being hit clean and be responsible on defense while outworking Floyd... That's a tall order


May has speed intelligence and a 5" reach advantage