Taken from elsewhere....
#5: “Split-Entry Straight Left" – Others know this as Pacquiao’s “money punch," Manny sets up this punch with side-to-side upper body movement where his lead foot is positioned outside his opponent’s. His weight is shifted over his lead leg, his head is off-center making it difficult for Floyd to see the punch coming, and the punch is timed to “meet" an orthodox opponent’s jab. When Pacquiao throws this punch almost simultaneously with Floyd, not only is the force of Pacquiao’s punch amplified while Floyd steps in with the jab, but Floyd’s jab will also sail over Pacquiao’s left shoulder because Manny is so low to the ground causing Floyd to hit air. What’s going to make it even more difficult for Floyd is that Manny sometimes sets up this punch with a pawing jab coupled by feints, and when Pacquiao lands this punch, his tremendous footwork and foot speed allows him to be elusive, roll out on an angle, and safely move out of harm’s way. The key here is Manny’s ability to time his opponent. Without proper timing, this punch doesn’t have the same effectiveness. This is the punch Pacquiao will use to completely nullify Floyd’s jab.
#4: “Power Overhand Left" – Everyone saw how much success Marcos Maidana had with his overhand looping right hand against Mayweather. Now imagine the same punch coming from a southpaw, directly aimed at Floyd’s weak side (opposite his shoulder roll defense). Because of Pacquiao’s deceptive mechanics and low center of gravity, his overhand left (a punch he used with successive force against Antonio Margarito and caused Margarito to break an orbital bone in his right eye) is designed to arc around an opponent’s guard undetected. Floyd’s high guard defense is the perfect victim for this punch. And when Pacquiao executes this during the many times he will be in constant movement, it will be difficult for Floyd to see the punch coming because Floyd will be expecting a straight left right down the middle. Once Pacquiao begins to nullify Floyd’s jab (as explained in #8 above), this will open up Pacquiao’s overhand left around the high guard. Not to mention, this punch is also highly effective as a counter-attack because it comes outside an opponent’s line of vision. Just ask Juan Manuel Marquez who, in every single one of his four fights against Pacquiao, had a busted up right eye, or Ricky Hatton, who was put to sleep with this punch. If Floyd’s excellent reflexes has lost even a half a step, he’s in a heap of trouble.
TBC......
Pac's 5 weapons to make FMJ worry...
posted on 28/4/15
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posted on 28/4/15
Work rate should be one of them and his movement.
But what will win Pacquiao this fight his his defence, very underrated and he will have to perfect time to make Floyd miss and make him pay.
posted on 28/4/15
Manny's great at taking away a fighters jab, that's how he's been able to fight bigger guys and win. Mayweather loves hopping back or forward on his jab, so it's really difficult to counter.
That'll be one of the interesting battles in the fight, if Mayweather can control that distance it will be difficult for Manny to get close. But if Manny can take his jab away then he can be devastating when guys back up (or come forward) in straight lines like Mayweather does. Watch Mayweather defend against a "flurry" puncher and how Manny attacks vs guys backing up in straight lines (first round Marquez). Mayweather will need to use a lot more lateral movement and pivoting, not just getting out of range, meaning he'll have to trade at times. Which is why I've been saying he'll change his usual style and why he's been doing more strength and power training.
I doubt Manny will try to land many overhand lefts, it would leave him too open for Mayweather's best shot (counter right) and he'd start to time him into his pull counters. The straight left is Manny's big threat, Mayweather has trouble defending against that and even against orthodox fighters with a solid jab. Manny can definitely use right hooks to turn Floyd and set him up for the left, that's what worked for Corely and Judah against him.
As for feints and movement, something Manny's brilliant at and makes it really difficult to time him, that's why it's such an interesting fight. I imagine Mayweather will try to control with the jab and keep the fight at his range, but with feints and movement Manny can dampen his already low punch output. If early Manny can get Mayweather to react to his feints then he'll be more reluctant to pop the jab, especially if Manny feints and lands something early in the fight.
Both guys have got so many skills that will trouble each other.
posted on 28/4/15
Vik
If Floyd starts to bite when Manny baits him with feints, then he'll end up moving too much or too little. Floyd moved better in Maidana 2 than the 1st, but it was still a poor performance and he got caught on the ropes a lot by reacting to Maidana's feints and movement. Maidana sold him a feint on the big shot he hit him with at the end of the 3rd (or 4th?). Manny's feints and movement are a level above Maidana's, so I you can't pretend Floyd can avoid anything and everything.
Although something Floyd could be successful with is drawing Manny into traps by selling him a fake reaction to a feint because Manny feints and flurries rather than feinting to get a specific reaction.
posted on 28/4/15
Some interesting analysis Bitton.
As you say both fighters have things in their armoury that can really trouble each other. It's just a question of who will be able to implement their will on the fight and dictate the pace.
We know that Floyd is as clever as they come in the ring so you have to give him the edge just for that. But Manny will definitely land punches on Floyd, you can't fight Pacquiao and not get hit, it just doesn't work like that.
How much Manny is able to hit Floyd remains to be seen but I don't see Manny being able to land too many bombs, he will get chances though so it's up to him to make them count.
posted on 28/4/15
Floyd is TBE and will cement his legacy as the greatest boxer of all time after sweeping Manny aside.
"Showing is better than telling".
posted on 28/4/15
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posted on 28/4/15
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posted on 28/4/15
Vik... Don't necessarily disagree
Thing is, if Floyd lands a few good clean shots and Manny lands multiple glancing shots with one or two clean, then he could get the round. That's why I think Floyd needs to open up more if he wants to make sure he gets the round. That could work for or against him though.
Floyd will be looking to walk him on to something and it's possible he could get him coming in like did Hatton, but it'd be a risky strategy just to wait for that opening...
Superb it definitely comes down to who can dictate the pace. One thing that makes me think that Manny might win is that Floyd can be a bit of a slow starter, if Manny can force his pace at the start he can take a bit out of Floyd and he can keep his intensity up for every round. And once Manny builds up a bit of steam it won't be easy for Floyd to break that rhythm.
Other side of that coin though is if Floyd kills the pace early, pot shots and tries to tie Manny up when he comes in, then he could win a decision. I've never really seen anyone slow Manny down and get a hold of him though, even when he's lost it's been slugging it out.
posted on 29/4/15
It will hopefully be everything that everyone wants it to be.
Pac is an exciting come-forward fighter and Floyd is the opposite...the more boring the fight, the more rounds will be scored to him.
I expect a nervy start, a pretty average middle and a slightly more exciting end.
I think I'd like Pac to win, just to see what happened in the Mayweather camp. But I'm easy either way...I think both fighters are incredible.
The fight will be good for boxing in the long term, although not so much for the fans in the short term...I just hope more top of the pile fighters will fight each other after this.