Thursday, March 28, 2024  |

News

Aficianado

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight picks: Round 4

Fighters Network
30
Apr
Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Ahead of this weekend’s eagerly anticipated Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight, RingTV.com presents Round 4 of our Fight Picks.

This time a common opponent of both men, Juan Manuel Marquez, weighs in with his prediction, former undisputed middleweight champion Marvin Hagler and Mayweather’s May 2013 victim, Robert Guerrero, offer their insight, as do possible future opponents Shawn Porter and Amir Khan.

Here is what the experts had to say:


Arthur Abraham, WBO super middleweight titleholder



Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao: It’s the best vs. the most entertaining boxer in the world. There is a saying in team sports like football or basketball, which you can project to this fight: “Offense wins games, defense championships.” In terms of defensive skills and tactics, there is nobody who comes close to Mayweather. That’s why I see him beating Pacquiao without much problems – he may even stop him late.

Kenny Adams, trainer of 25 world champions

Floyd Mayweather UD 12 Manny Pacquiao: I’m looking for Mayweather to win a unanimous decision over 12. Handspeed, bigger fighter, all of that is going to come into play. I don’t think it’ll be easy because Pacquiao’s going to have those moments where he’s going to use his quickness and try to overwhelm you but I see Floyd weathering the storm no problem.

Rodney Berman, promoter, Golden Gloves

Floyd Mayweather UD 12 Manny Pacquiao: I am totally convinced Mayweather will prove that he is on a different level to Pacquiao, and will win a lopsided points decision – possibly even a late stoppage. I have no doubt about that.

Julio Cesar Chavez, former three-weight champion

Manny Pacquiao W Floyd Mayweather

Pipino Cuevas, former welterweight champion

Floyd Mayweather W Manny Pacquiao

Jay Deas, Deontay Wilder’s trainer

Floyd Mayweather PTS 12 Manny Pacquiao: Mayweather by decision. Mentally tough, physically strong. Close fight for eight rounds, rather tactical, and then Floyd pulls away with crisp counters once Manny slows a bit.

alt

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Cameron Dunkin, manager

Floyd Mayweather UD 12 Manny Pacquiao: My opinion, that’s a hard fight to pick not because I don’t think Mayweather is going to win because I do. I love Manny to death, I really do, I’m a Manny fan, I’ve had guys fight Manny and he’s always treated my guys really well, he’s a great guy. With that said, Floyd Mayweather’s a bigger guy, faster guy and Mayweather I think will be careful not to make any mistakes and I think Mayweather just boxes him and wins a unanimous decision.

Humberto González, former junior flyweight champion

Floyd Mayweather W Manny Pacquiao

Robert Guerrero, welterweight contender; fought Mayweather in 2013 and lost by unanimous decision

Floyd Mayweather UD 12 Manny Pacquiao: When it comes to speed, both Mayweather and Pacquiao are equal, but the difference is … Floyd has a longer reach. I believe that will be the difference in the fight. It will be difficult for Manny to land his power shots when Floyd is moving lateral while popping that jab. I’m picking Floyd to win by unanimous decision.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, former undisputed middleweight champion

Floyd Mayweather UD 12 Manny Pacquiao: Mayweather comes from a family of multi-talented fighters, his father and both of his uncles, so he was born with boxing in his blood.

He’s been waiting on this record-breaking fight for a long time and I see him jabbing, moving, and stinging Pacquiao with some terrific punches. He’ll also be confident of hurting him because Manny was knocked out cold by Juan Manuel Marquez.

Still, you can’t underestimate Pacquiao because it only takes a second for things to change in there. If he can put the pressure on from the start and deny Mayweather the time to think, like I did with Tommy Hearns, then Manny can maybe work him into a corner and unload combination punches.

Pacquiao can’t go in looking for the knockout but he needs to wear Mayweather down with serious blows from the opening bell. Being honest with you though, he really has to get Mayweather out of there in the first six rounds. After that, Floyd has his strategy down and will pick him apart.

alt

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Amir Khan, welterweight, former 140-pound titleholder

Floyd Mayweather PTS 12 Manny Pacquiao: I’m looking forward to this fight, it’s going to be a great event for boxing. This is a fight the world has wanted to see for a long time and it’s great that they will now get that chance. I believe that Manny will pose Floyd with a few questions early on before Floyd figures things out and starts to edge away on the scorecards. Floyd being taller and with the longer reach and speed will have the right style to win but nevertheless it’s going to be a great fight.

Oswaldo Kulche, promoter, Promociones del Pueblo

Floyd Mayweather KO Manny Pacquiao: I’ll go with Mayweather, his skills and intelligence will freeze the power of Pacquiao. Mayweather will surprise the world with a KO.

Ray Mancini, former junior welterweight titleholder

Floyd Mayweather PTS 12 Manny Pacquiao: I think Mayweather beats him, he’s bigger, faster, stronger and that’s a trifecta in boxing. If Manny beats him, it’s not an upset, Manny’s got a bad style for Mayweather, he comes from wrong angles. Mayweather has fought southpaws but he’s fought traditional southpaws. Manny’s not a traditional southpaw, Manny comes from weird angles. Mayweather likes to lean over to his right, well, Manny likes to slide to his left and throw that sweet left hand for which Mayweather’s right in the line of fire. Mayweather has the unique ability to figure guys out. It’s an interesting fight, who can dictate the pace, who can make the other guy do what he wants. My friend Freddie Roach says they have a special game plan and right now there’s no one better to figure out a game plan than Freddie Roach. I’m picking Mayweather but if Pacquiao beats him it’s not an upset. I think Mayweather wins a decision but if there’s a stoppage Manny stops Mayweather.

Juan Manuel Márquez, four-weight champion, who fought Pacquiao on four occasions, going 1-2-1; he also fought and lost to Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao: I want Manny to win but I think Floyd will win.

alt

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank.

Wayne McCullough, former bantamweight titleholder

Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao: I think Mayweather every day of the week. Anything can happen but I think if Pacquiao actually jumps in Mayweather can get the knockout. The way he jumps in, Mayweather’s not a big puncher but he’s got knockouts on his record, he can knock you out. If Pacquiao jumps in I think Mayweather can stop him in the middle to late rounds. You want it to be a decent fight.

Yvon Michel, promoter, GYM

Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao: We have the best offensive tools and on the other side we have the master of defense and genius in the ring. We learned through the years not to bet against Floyd Mayweather, he’s never lost, he’s gonna give something extra to make sure he stays undefeated. Pacquiao has already [been knocked out] a couple times. Some comments from his camp say it’s not the best camp, so I’m leaning toward Floyd Mayweather on points. It’s never been in his genes to try to knock out people, it’s just about outsmart them and outbox them and this is what I believe he will do with Pacquiao.

Diego M. Morilla, XNSports.com, RingTV.com, HBO.com

Floyd Mayweather W 12 Manny Pacquiao: So many questions, so many years of waiting, and only 12 rounds to answer all this. Is Floyd going to be able to withstand Manny’s sustained onslaught for 12 rounds? Is Pacquiao going to be able to land more than three punches in a row and be able to rock Mayweather? Is Floyd capable of catching the fleet-footed Manny with enough power to earn his respect? The answer, dear fellows, lies not in their virtues but in their mistakes. And Floyd makes very few of those, while Manny is known for a highly unorthodox style that has left him open for some demolishing counterattacks during his illustrious career. Sure, I have (we all have) doubted Pacquiao countless times, and his answers to our doubts were emphatic and incontestable. But Mayweather, like him or not, has been superb in the vast majority of his bouts, and his defensive skills are destined to set a new standard in boxing. In sum, I expect an emotional fight with Manny forcing the action in the middle rounds and finally being dominated down the stretch by Mayweather for a three- or four-point unanimous decision victory.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Shawn Porter, former welterweight titleholder

I think it’s going to be a great fight, obviously both fighters have what it takes to win. I’m really curious to see what goes down in the ring on the 2nd and the reason I say that is because we know what Manny has and we know what Floyd has. Manny has a style that contrasts to Mayweather which is counterpunching and waiting and sitting back. I think what the energy we’ve seen Manny have and the punch output that he has, also the speed, quickness and the power, I think it’s going to make Floyd immediately make some adjustments. So when I say I’m curious to see what goes down in the ring, I mean I’m curious to see what Floyd does in return to Manny’s offense. Obviously the fight will carry on from there. That combination is hard to beat, it took (Juan Manuel) Marquez four fights to finally beat Manny, he’s no pushover. At this time I really don’t want to pick a winner because I don’t think it’s a fight where you can pick a winner. I really don’t see anyone getting knocked out that night, I see it going the whole way.

Matt Richardson, Fightnews.com

Floyd Mayweather PTS 12 Manny Pacquiao: How can you not like Floyd Mayweather in this fight? While I think both men have unequivocally slipped in the last few years, I still think Mayweather has the slight edge. Only slight because I believe Pacquiao has the ability to cause him problems. After all, Pacquiao is both a southpaw and consistently aggressive, two qualities Floyd has difficulty with, particularly in the opening few rounds. Plus, I think Freddie Roach will have a good game plan focused on disrupting Floyd’s momentum. Then again, Mayweather, the consummate boxer and counterpuncher also has the style to defeat Pacquiao. That’s why this fight is so intriguing to me. Which style defeats the other? A good boxer usually beats a good puncher and that’s what I expect to happen again here. I think Pacquiao will be aggressive early on and score points and bank the rounds as he outworks Floyd (even if most of his punches miss). As the fight progresses in the the final third, however, I expect Mayweather to figure Pacquiao out, begin timing his rushes and outbox him down the stretch. It won’t be super exciting but it will be satisfying for the hardcore fans. I’m picking Mayweather on a close and perhaps split decision with scores in the 116-112, 115-113 range. I don’t make this pick with any real conviction, however, because in a fight this big, with this much hype and attention, any crazy element cannot be discounted. Mayweather by decision.

Carlos Zarate, former bantamweight champion

Floyd Mayweather W Manny Pacquiao

Final tally: 42-6, with two undecided, in favor of Floyd Mayweather to win Saturday’s welterweight showdown with Manny Pacquiao


Round 1 https://www.ringtv.com/news/387793-floyd-mayweather-jr-vs-manny-pacquiao-fight-picks-round-1

Round 2 https://www.ringtv.com/news/387851-floyd-mayweather-jr-vs-manny-pacquiao-fight-picks-round-2

Round 3 https://www.ringtv.com/news/388007-floyd-mayweather-jr-vs-manny-pacquiao-fight-picks-round-3

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright

 

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS