BoxRec

I think Mayweather might be more bored than actually showing signs of major decline.

The last time Floyd was over 90% serious he put on one of those performances that made you think "Who can beat this *********"? That was against Canelo.

Against Maidana, Floyd was willing to let Marcos get off because he felt no serious threat. He looked more lazy than slow to me.

That being said, I'd warn anyone thinking that Manny is good upset bet. Of course anyone can get KO'ed, but that's chance occurrence. If you think that Floyd is going to look like he did against Maidana, you're probably going to be wrong and lose your money.

I think Floyd is going to come in looking to not get hit, and he won't be lazy with Manny. Also, Floyd is legendary when he's the bigger man in the ring. Legendary. Definitely a better big man than Wlad and possibly better than Lewis.

You could be right, but I think the same could be said of Pacquiao, whose desire seems to be more of an issue than the regression of his physical tools in my view.

I think they'll both be ultra-motivated for this fight and I'm very excited for it.

I'm not sure how many signs Mayweather has shown of slipping. He struggled mightily against Maidana in the first fight, and I think that was largely because Maidana was super motivated and had a great plan. By the same token, I think Mayweather had a lot more success in the second fight largely due to Maidana lacking motivation. I don't think Mayweather has shown any major variance in any aspect of his game. He seems to be exactly the same fighter that he was 8 years ago, IMO.

I suspect that Pacquiao will bring it pretty hard. Since 2009, he has had a tendency to let opponents off the hook, seemingly out of reluctance to hurt them, and Freddie Roach has said as much as well. It is unlikely that Pacquiao will have Mayweather significantly hurt, so I don't think he'll ever have a reason to show mercy. He'll probably be going full throttle all fight long, and seem to be a more motivated fighter than you're used to.

We'll certainly find out in May.

He'll be on it for Manny & that will prove once & for all if he has regressed.

Syntax Error wrote:We'll certainly find out in May.

He'll be on it for Manny & that will prove once & for all if he has regressed.

We will have a definitive answer for both of these men.
Manny will be more motivated than ever in my opinion.
But I do not think Floyd has fallen much.
This could be a classic.Or it could be a snorefest. W e just have to wait to find out.
Come on May 2nd I'm ready

Floyd is slipping,, yes and that is a fact of life

will him still beat manny,,, that is what we are all going to watch the fight for

If Floyd is slipping it is more due to age than a matter of losing any skills, his reflexes has slowed but that comes with age but make no mistake Mayweather knows how to rise to the occasion. Mentally he is the most diverse in the game and in boxing 99% of the sport is that way, I'm believing this will be his best performance, he will totally shut Manny out and make it look better than any of his previous fights (including the fight vs Corrales).

I won't be surprised of a corner stoppage by Roach either, people will amazed at how easily he hits Pacquiao and how easily he outboxes him, makes him miss and makes him pay.

Look for the dominance to commence after round 4, once the timing has been solved all else will be easy.

He's slipped a little but Manny much moreso. An in and out pressure style is extremely dependent on split-second timing and reflexes, whereas a tight turtle defense like Floyd can withstand slight declines in speed. Manny's legs are not what they were 4-6 years ago, and that will make a huge difference in this fight.

In boxing, the legs are always the first to go. Floyd is not dependent on footwork like Manny's style is.

dempseyfire wrote:He's slipped a little but Manny much moreso. An in and out pressure style is extremely dependent on split-second timing and reflexes, whereas a tight turtle defense like Floyd can withstand slight declines in speed. Manny's legs are not what they were 4-6 years ago, and that will make a huge difference in this fight.

In boxing, the legs are always the first to go. Floyd is not dependent on footwork like Manny's style is.

I thought Manny looked great using his footwork against Bradley, Rios and Algieri.

KBB wrote:

dempseyfire wrote:He's slipped a little but Manny much moreso. An in and out pressure style is extremely dependent on split-second timing and reflexes, whereas a tight turtle defense like Floyd can withstand slight declines in speed. Manny's legs are not what they were 4-6 years ago, and that will make a huge difference in this fight.

In boxing, the legs are always the first to go. Floyd is not dependent on footwork like Manny's style is.

I thought Manny looked great using his footwork against Bradley, Rios and Algieri.

Especially against rios. Some may say that Rios being so slow made manny look that much better.... But at that point we'll never really know and its pretty much splitting hairs.

I firmly believe that Floyd chose to stand and trade with Maidana in the first fight even though we all said that it wasn't in his best interest. When his legs were bought into question after that fight and it was said that be could move anymore, he showed us that he without a doubt still has the ability to fight that way. Has he slipped? yes a little. But his mind is as sharp as ever and that was always his greatest tool anyways.

in their 2nd fight the ref didn't allow maidana to get close so the pressure was off floyd, in the first you say you believe he stood there on purpose, wanting to be hit low, elbowed, hit in the back of the head, I don't think so

Pureist wrote:in their 2nd fight the ref didn't allow maidana to get close so the pressure was off floyd, in the first you say you believe he stood there on purpose, wanting to be hit low, elbowed, hit in the back of the head, I don't think so

He wanted to make it exciting

Why didn't he make the Canelo or DLH fights exciting then?

IKSRTFO wrote:

Pureist wrote:in their 2nd fight the ref didn't allow maidana to get close so the pressure was off floyd, in the first you say you believe he stood there on purpose, wanting to be hit low, elbowed, hit in the back of the head, I don't think so

He wanted to make it exciting

Why didn't he make the Canelo or DLH fights exciting then?

Pureist wrote:in their 2nd fight the ref didn't allow maidana to get close so the pressure was off floyd, in the first you say you believe he stood there on purpose, wanting to be hit low, elbowed, hit in the back of the head, I don't think so

I think its fair to say that maidana isn't a master of cutting the ring off. So the escape route was always there for Floyd to take if he chose to. In the first fight he didn't, second he did. The ref had nothing to do with Floyd not standing there leaning against the ropes as he did in the first fight even when maidana wasn't punching.

KBB wrote:

dempseyfire wrote:He's slipped a little but Manny much moreso. An in and out pressure style is extremely dependent on split-second timing and reflexes, whereas a tight turtle defense like Floyd can withstand slight declines in speed. Manny's legs are not what they were 4-6 years ago, and that will make a huge difference in this fight.

In boxing, the legs are always the first to go. Floyd is not dependent on footwork like Manny's style is.

I thought Manny looked great using his footwork against Bradley, Rios and Algieri.

Compare those to his fights with Oscar, Hatton, and Cotto. Very noticeable difference. And Rios and Algieri were simply not on Pac's level; Tyson Fury would look like a ballerina next to Brandon Rios.

dempseyfire wrote:Compare those to his fights with Oscar, Hatton, and Cotto. Very noticeable difference. And Rios and Algieri were simply not on Pac's level; Tyson Fury would look like a ballerina next to Brandon Rios.

You got not argument whatsoever with me in regards to that, Pac made both fights look too easy which is how everyone claimed he was back. I don't believe any other top fighter would've earned a shot at Floyd by beating Algieri and Rios but since it is Manny and they want so dearly to say he's back in top form and ready for the Mayweather fight then this is why we are at this particular juncture now.

Personally I don't believe facing a Rios or Algieri earns you the right to face Floyd nor does it prepare you for him either.

KBB wrote:

dempseyfire wrote:Compare those to his fights with Oscar, Hatton, and Cotto. Very noticeable difference. And Rios and Algieri were simply not on Pac's level; Tyson Fury would look like a ballerina next to Brandon Rios.

You got not argument whatsoever with me in regards to that, Pac made both fights look too easy which is how everyone claimed he was back. I don't believe any other top fighter would've earned a shot at Floyd by beating Algieri and Rios but since it is Manny and they want so dearly to say he's back in top form and ready for the Mayweather fight then this is why we are at this particular juncture now.

Personally I don't believe facing a Rios or Algieri earns you the right to face Floyd nor does it prepare you for him either.

Just like beating Andre Berto nor Adrien Broner doesn't earn you a right to face Floyd....oh wait

IKSRTFO wrote:Just like beating Andre Berto nor Adrien Broner doesn't earn you a right to face Floyd....oh wait

At least they were true WWs, not like blown up Algieri (a kickboxer) and Rios (who never had a fight at WW at that time).

KBB wrote:

IKSRTFO wrote:Just like beating Andre Berto nor Adrien Broner doesn't earn you a right to face Floyd....oh wait

At least they were true WWs, not like blown up Algieri (a kickboxer) and Rios (who never had a fight at WW at that time).

Broner is just as blown up as both of them.

IKSRTFO wrote:

KBB wrote:

IKSRTFO wrote:Just like beating Andre Berto nor Adrien Broner doesn't earn you a right to face Floyd....oh wait

At least they were true WWs, not like blown up Algieri (a kickboxer) and Rios (who never had a fight at WW at that time).

Broner is just as blown up as both of them.

We're talking about who they (Floyd and Manny) fought, not who their opponents fought.

KBB wrote:

IKSRTFO wrote:
We're talking about who they (Floyd and Manny) fought, not who their opponents fought.

Guerrero is just as blown up a welter that could be regardless of his two fights at welter.

I'd agree with that. I think the Robert Guerrero & Saul Alvarez fights showed that once already. He was kinda in the trenches with Miguel & than he schooled Robert & Saul cuz everyone was saying Floyd was shot cuz why else would he fought like he did vs Miguel. Then we had a similar thing go down with Marcos as with Miguel. I think there is a styles makes fights thing going on too, but "major decline" nah I don't see that. Obviously he's slipping like everyone to some degree once you hit that 20ish or early 30ish mark (seems like its different for different people although Bhop might be an anomaly along with Archie Moore), but majorly I don't see it.

Although I will throw it out there that Floyd is at that age (hell Manny too) where you think everything is fine up til they announce your name & then you just can't move when you see the punches coming or can't throw quick enough when you see the opening.