Image: Source
Manny Pacquiao’s less than impressive majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez nine days ago changed the whole scenario of debate regarding the Floyd Mayweather fight. From Manny Pacquiao being the one who wants the fight and Mayweather ducking/avoiding him, it’s impressionable that the opposite may be true, to a certain extent.
The third Marquez fight was just as close as the previous two. Manny Pacquiao, just as Freddie Roach predicted, had to win the last two rounds in order to win the fight. He did, and it barely got him the win. A bit more attack from an exhausted Marquez in those final six minutes, and it would have been a draw. However, Roach never anticipated the first 10 rounds – I can’t believe I was so f*****g wrong. I thought we were going to walk right through him. I thought he was going to come in with all that muscle, try to bang with Manny and he would get him out of there. But I honestly thought we needed to win those last two rounds to win the fight.
Marquez proved more than one thing that night, but mostly this – Great footwork and counter-punching, and even more importantly, showing no fear of Pacquiao, will get you good results. Maybe he fought a little dirty, with stepping on Pacquiao’s feet? Maybe. It doesn’t really matter. Manny Pacquiao didn’t impress and looked for the first time in a long long time.
Image: Source
What does this mean about the Mayweather fight? From a boxing standpoint, we still haven’t heard Floyd’s reaction to the fight. And we probably will at some point. The Marquez fight has changed some P-4-P rankings on some websites, moving Mayweather to number one. And there’s a growing fear that Pacquiao isn’t ready for Mayweather. The problem seems to be within the Pacquiao camp, and the differing opinions on who to fight next.
Bob Arum, a promoter, thinks about money. Long term money. He knows Manny Pacquiao will quit Boxing in a few years time, moving on to Philippines politics. He needs to squeeze out as many profitable fights as possible. A potential loss is bad for business. A fourth fight against Marquez? Excellent. They made almost 12 million dollars from tickets and the PPV numbers will probably be somewhere between 1.2-1.5 million buys. Another rematch might be ever bigger.
I won’t say Freddie Roach prefers Floyd Mayweather Jr. I’ll say he doesn’t want Marquez again. Manny Pacquaio doesn’t gain anything from those fights, with more and more to lose each time he steps into the ring with the Mexican who clearly has Manny’s number. Roach knows he needs to draw up a whole new fight-plan, whoever the next opponent is. Manny’s tendencies to step into right hands were well observed.
Mayweather isn’t a counter puncher like Marquez, but he’s got the footwork, the confidence and the skills to take advantage of the smallest weakness. However, the May 5 due date set by Mayweather is intriguing. Every fight fan wants to see it, and fighting anyone else might get that showdown cancelled, with Mayweather not wanting to take on Pacquiao after a loss.
Image: Source
Back to the organizers. Arum, promoting Pacquiao, and Oscar De La Hoya, the man Manny Pacquiao sent into retirement, promoting Mayweather. According to Golden Boy, Bob Arum’s simply afraid. He’s the one who’s stopping it from happening. Bob Arum doesn’t want to see the fight happen. Our side, meaning Golden Boy and Floyd Mayweather, he wants the fight, we want the fight. Mayweather has his date for the fifth of May next year. He wants the biggest fight out there. He wants Pacquiao, there’s no doubt about that. It would be very unfortunate if this fight could not be made because of Bob Arum.
Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, says it’s all up to the fighter – It’s like Freddie says, Manny has to push for the fight. if Bob says he doesn’t care what Freddie said, well, he should care because it’s Freddie’s fighter and Freddie knows what his fighter wants: Mayweather.
The only reasons to fight Marquez are financial ones. Boxing has to be more than just about money. Hey, he’s going to make a megaton of dollars from fighting Mayweather. A win over Floyd would mean so much, and it might be a great way to leave the sport, if he actually wants to. Pacquiao – Marquez IV would be good. Pacquiao – Mayweather would be legendary.
20 responses to “Mayweather vs Pacquiao – Where Does it Stand”
mayweather is a better counter puncher than marquez
Mayweather’s not a counter puncher? lol
Mayweather isn’t the counter puncher Marquez is? Mayweather is the best counter puncher in the game and one of the best boxing has seem in a long time mate.
The author sounds real ignorant suggesting that Mayweather isn’t as good as Marquez when it comes to counter+punching. Lmao.
“Mayweather isnât a counter puncher like Marquez” You were doing well up until that statement! Mayweather is in a different level than Marquez when it comes to counter punching!
We may be talking about the best to have ever done it!
lets just face it manny pacquioa is not a great fighter everyone knows it he could’nt even hold agasint a 38 year old marquez, floyd is the best period. he has no defense or mental stability just because he is quiet and calm dosen’t mean he is awesome looks can be deciving.
mayweather not a counterpuncher like marquez????? did this dood see what happenend in the marquez floyd match. has he looked up on the stats on how many times floyd is hit in a match. floyd is on a different level then anyone else. and unlike manny there is no style that he has issues with. he dominates everyone people have rounds they look well yet they are all destroyed in the end.
[…] With Filipino Critics After Marquez FightBad Left HookPacquiao mum on next fightManila BulletinSportige -Examiner.comall 265 news […]
all you need to learn how to spell and second manny is much stronger then mayweather end of story
All boxing fans should boycot Bob Arum (Pacquios manager/promoter) until we the boxing fans get what we want. We dont want to see another Pacquio/Marquese fight, atleast not right now. And we dont want to see Mayweather and anybody els but Pacquio. These managers are forgeting whats most important, the fans.
[…] has more than just observers and fans in doubt whether Pacquiao can actually beat Mayweather, if actually should face him. Yes, there are the allegations of Marquez repeatedly stepping on Manny which took him out of his […]
Up until ortiz head butted mayweather and mayweather snuck him ortiz’s power was clearly too much for mayweather. Mayweather is a boxer not a fighterr he wants to duck and dodge and stay sway from punch es and throw a lil counter here and there which is fine and dandy if the fight goes to the score cards but manny is gonna take floyds head pff and lay his ass out and o cant wait until his dumb ass gets a loss
[…] Sportige […]
[…] Sportige […]
[…] Where do we stand – Floyd Mayweather has a fight booked on May 5. Opponent? It started as rumors from the Mayweather camp, saying he looking for the biggest fight possible. Not a big secret what that is. Mayweather’s return to boxing with his knockout win over Victor Ortiz quickly put the Pacquiao – Mayweather talks back on everyone’s lips. […]
@brad…c’mon dude are you for real w/the Ortiz fight? How many times have you heard fighters say after being in the ring with Floyd, “I had no idea how strong, crafty, or skilled he was”? We’re talking Baldomir, Hatton, DeLaHoya, etc. and even R.I.P. Corrales & Gatti, all of whom were supposed to “take Floyd’s head off and lay his ass out” as you say. And Floyd made them all look like Busters. Second, I get tired of people saying Floyd doesn’t like to fight or brawl or ‘he’s a boxer, not a fighter’. Well duh to all the brilliant ones out there…that’s why they call it “boxing” and not MMA or ultimate fighting. Boxing is the art of hit and not get hit! Seriously??????!!!!!!
Agreed with all!!! That counterpunching comment was absurd…
Just remember one thing. Marquez is a darn good counter-puncher that throws more than one-two punches. Also, he is not afraid to take a punch to give one. Mayweather’s counterpunches will not be as effective as Marquez’s on Pacquiao. Here is where you will see Pacquiao’s counterpunches be effective. One-twos don’t equal 3,4 and 5s.
I hear you Brad. I’m a brother, but I call a spade a spade. Mayweather has not yet been exposed.. why? because he does not fight people that are a disadvantage to him. I feel Ortiz was either fixed, or just a stupidity from Ortiz. Mayweather has a speed and reach advantage of everyone he’s fought. For his height, his arms are extraordinarly long. This is how he’s able to potshot (along with speed). What happens if/when he fights Ortiz again, or someone like 6 foot Mike Jones, or even Canelo. These guys have speed, reach and power?? His chin would finally be tested.
Okay, again the difference in Mayeather’s counterpunching and Marquez’s is that Mayweather counterpunches in 1s adn 2s with accurate speed. Marqueze counters with 1s, 2s, 3s adn 4s with uppercuts included. Not quite as fast as Mayweather, but definitely as accurate. When Marquez was dominated by Mayweather, Mayweather came in heavy and Marquez moved up two weight classes. I don’t believe it would turn out the same way if they fought again, with Marquez at 150lbs. Also, like I said, Marquez is not afraid to fight which is another reason his counterpunches are different from Mayweather’s. I hope that explains it a little better. I am obsessed with Mayweather or Pacquiao. I just call it how i see it.