So who wins Mayweather vs Pacquiao now?

[chesh]

pacman....but floyd will never fight him..to hard its no hatton or an overweight marquez..he could get hurt

Spot on! I'm amazed that some knowledgeable posters here are picking Floyd who hasn't even fought a current top 10 welterweight. The only welter with a shot at beating Manny is Shane, but I'm not sure he has another great performance left in him.

[chesh]

What a great victory for Manny last night. He ruined Cotto and took some meaty shots without looking wobbled. He is on a great run.

But, it has to be said, DLH was drained, Hatton a little past his best and Cotto forced to lose 2 extra pounds. Put him in with a relatively fresh and prepared Mayweather and I think he will struggle.

Floyd won't lose his composure like Cotto did at times and will be a more effective counter puncher. I think Mayweather can out box for a UD but it won't be easy at all.

Agree with all you say apart from thr Hatton bit. Hatton was NEVER in the elite. At his peak he was b level. At best!

Funny how many consider Hatton to be PBF's best win!

[Flav1]

I have Mayweather beating Pacquiao on points. This has to happen. There's no way for Floyd to duck Pacman (not that he will, but often uses money as a way of choosing his fights), both fighter have equal draw and the money on the table will be insane. Perhaps it'll be the biggest fight since Ali Foreman.

I literally can't wait for this to happen. Mayweather has had problems with Arum in the past though hasn't he?

[chesh]

In several recent interviews, he's already cited the Arum factor as an excuse for a Pac fight not happening. Similarly for not fighting Cotto. And steroids for Shane.... Got to admit he's pretty creative with his excuses! He's said he's happy to re-match Hatton, though.

[Cannibal]

I can see Roach sending Pac out with similar tactics to what DLH used against Mayweather.

DLH had a good bit of success but just ran out of gas and wasn't able to keep it up. I can see Pac doing it to greater effect and exploiting chances that DLH was too slow to take and hitting with more concussive power.

Mayweather would never be up 6 rounds against Pac like someone said. It would be very close fight in my mind with Pac being the aggressor and if it happens in Vegas then I think the judges will favour Pac because they like that if it goes to the scorecards.

The only thing I'd worry about on Pac's end, is that he does this kind of leaping motion to one side on occassion to open up a new angle, I always thought that leaves him open to big counters that he moves onto and Cotto did catch him once or twice doing that.

It will be a travesty if the fight never happens.

[Flav1]

Would your respect for Mayweather go out the window if he ducks Pacquiao citing money or negotiation problems? I can't imagine Pacman not taking the fight for any reason, so it'll be down to Floyd.

He has to do it. He can't make excuses, he has to fight him. I want it that bad. I'll ring him up and tell him. Buncey will have his number. Gimme his number Bunce.

[Cannibal]

I think it's a fight that could break the 2 million PPV buy barrier and could probably fill a stadium with premium Vegas prices for the best seats. That's not money you can walk away from.

[Flav1]

Unless he really is scared.

[chesh]

Definitely, Flav. I think Mayweather will lose the respect of the boxing world if he doesn't fight Pac. He won't be able to use money as an excuse as there'll be more than enough for everyone involved.

[SnoopyLoopy]

Simply put, if Floyd doesn't fight Pacquiao next, he can retire.

[WayoftheCass]

I can see Roach sending Pac out with similar tactics to what DLH used against Mayweather.

DLH had a good bit of success but just ran out of gas and wasn't able to keep it up. I can see Pac doing it to greater effect and exploiting chances that DLH was too slow to take and hitting with more concussive power.

Mayweather would never be up 6 rounds against Pac like someone said. It would be very close fight in my mind with Pac being the aggressor and if it happens in Vegas then I think the judges will favour Pac because they like that if it goes to the scorecards.

The only thing I'd worry about on Pac's end, is that he does this kind of leaping motion to one side on occassion to open up a new angle, I always thought that leaves him open to big counters that he moves onto and Cotto did catch him once or twice doing that.

It will be a travesty if the fight never happens.

I think ODLH was able to deploy those tactics so effectively as he had some major range advantages over Floyd. Even though JMM looked physically very poor on the night I thought PBF looked huge in there against him and Manny's the same size as JMM though in superior physical shape admittedly. I just can't see Pac man being able to keep PBF under the cosh behind the jab like Oscar did in the first half of their fight. The interesting thing for me is the speed. Manny looks so bloody fast at welter it causes great and very intelligent fighters like Cotto and Oscar to look totally mystified. Floyd struggled for 4 rounds or so with Zab's speed and at one point even hit the deck from a quick southpaw counter though it wasn't counted. Though eventually Floyd figured out a way to come to terms with that.
For me the big question is IF Manny can connect with one of those rapid power shots HOW will PBF react? Though it could be that he isn't able to land cleanly as hardly anyone ever does against Mayweather and that even if he does the yank has never looked chinny and it would probably take a lot more than one.
So many questions. I wish they would just get it on so that we could find out already. I think it will happen because it has an air of inevitability about it. I will be rooting for Manny but foresee Mayweather taking it on points.

[DG.]

Manny does not want pbf. I doubt he stays at welter.

[Cannibal]

Does Mayweather even have an alternative to Pacquiao?

Cotto is out the window, he doesn't want Mosley and any other marquee name has lost in recent times to one of the guys he won't fight.

Hatton II would be shit all over by the boxing public and would be even more academic than the first one if Hatton even wanted it. I'm guessing if he fights again it won't be against anyone who can claim a top 5 P4P spot.

The other option is a title holder that doesn't really have a name or the cred of any of the above mentioned fighters or another blown up lightweight.

Unless he is planning on jumping to light middle or doing a 180 on the Mosley fight, then the boxing public will shit all over him, and Pacquiao will always be considered a better fighter retrospectively because Mayweather ran from him.

[Cannibal]

I reckon Amir Khan could probably do a good mimic of Mayweather in sparring too with his speed.

[chesh]

Good posts, Cannibal.

[WildWaylon]

If Roach thinks Pacman can beat Mayweather, he probably can. TBH there are not that many fights for Pacquiao or Mayweather, both fighters are in the elite club and need each other for the ultimate showdown. We need that fight for 2010 which as far as boxing goes will be an historical event.

[Cannibal]

I hope if it does come off that they don't do it in the MGM or somewhere like that. You could get tens of thousands into a stadium for this fight.

[Flav1]

Mayweather could fight Paul Williams and maintain a level of respect, but that's a fight that holds as much danger as fighting Manny, but for other reasons like reach and size. Would be pointless in a way.

The brilliant thing about this is that Floyd is in a situation he can't control for once. This morning's fight has means that his boxing legacy is laid before him: take the fight, win, and leave boxing as one of the best ever, or don't, and be remembered as another great fighter who couldn't step to the plate when it mattered (for all his talk).

[Flav1]

I hope if it does come off that they don't do it in the MGM or somewhere like that. You could get tens of thousands into a stadium for this fight.

Wembley...imagine it

[stujones]

There still could be a small case for Mosley being the #1 Welterweight.... .and he could enhance that claim with a win over Berto. Aside from Mosley there is no-one else for either guy.

[n1ebf]

i don't really think you can write Pacquiao off. He's like the Germans in that respect. I won't make him second favourite again to any fcker.

Sure, there are flaws. Well. Not flaws but what I mean is, he takes a couple as well, show me a boxer that doesn't??....Is PBF the exception.

Stay on the outside all night Floyd but sooner or later the Philippino hits him, and when he does, he hits hard. He also has a good brain of his own, PLUS Roach

I said to my mate maybe Floyd fools everybody and becomes the aggressor in this fight....but realistically he will not do that.

For me, Manny catches up beats him on points.

[Deserter]

The brilliant thing about this is that Floyd is in a situation he can't control for once. This morning's fight has means that his boxing legacy is laid before him: take the fight, win, and leave boxing as one of the best ever, or don't, and be remembered as another great fighter who couldn't step to the plate when it mattered (for all his talk).

Great point. Right on the money.

[Goz]

The only fight out there for me now, really is the biggest fight in boxing for some time.

Simply HAS to happen in 2010.

[Counter-puncher]

Both looked amazing in their last fights, I've always thought Mayweather would beat him to slick but after that im not sure it would be a very intresting fight, I would lean to PBF though

i agree, i never thought i would say i see manny as having a shot at beating floyd, but after saturday night....

[big lennox]

Both are amazing fighters, but I trhink Manny does his best work against come forward agressive fighters who don't have the best footwork in the world. I think Floyds movement will give Manny nightmares + mayweather is a lot,lot faster than cotto witha longer reach and will slam in the body shots and slow manny right down. Mayweather on points for me.