It’s all business for Manny and Floyd
The biggest fight of this generation is still two weeks away and we can’t wait anymore.
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are deep into training, keeping the talking to a minimum because unlike some of their previous fights, this one is too close to call.
Except for the fights against the unpredictable Juan Manuel Marquez, you could settle into your favorite chair at home, round up your friends and family or enjoy the fight in the darkness of a cool movie theater for a Pacquiao fight. You know Pacquiao would emerge victorious, save for that one time when Timothy Bradley managed to sneak one away.
The same with Mayweather. Since he was back then content on avoiding a clash with Pacquiao, he could simply use that shoulder defense and throw those wicked jabs and straights that tore down opponents. It was getting predictable and many, save for the really diehard fight fans, watched Mayweather add another W to his collection.
From all indications, both fighters seem fit while mixing up their training schedules to make repetition of drills a little more bearable. They seem ready to go although trainers like to say they’re following some kind of schedule before the boxer hits peak form at just about fight night.
In the meantime, we’re all searching for possible kinks, something physical, mental or environmental that could affect the fight. Pacquiao has no “distractions,” that often-repeated euphemism for the million and one things Pacman would once do while in training. At best, we’ve seen a few appearances on American television which all help to promote the big battle.
He’s been seeing movie stars and NBA players who have trekked to the Wild Card Gym to be on the sideline of the training camps of one of the greatest fighters ever. And just like Pacquiao, we’re thrilled to see all these celebs posing for pictures with the Filipino champion.
Mayweather is decidedly quiet in preparations for this fight. He knows he’s in for a battle and that this duel will sell itself. He doesn’t have to do any taunting with his posse as back-up vocals. His focus is on getting sharp for a fight against the one fighter who could inflict his first loss.
Our media teams in the training camps are keeping their eyes peeled nonetheless for anything that could tilt the balance in favor of one fighter. Are there any rifts inside one camp? Is everybody “on the same page?” Is any fighter suffering fatigue or peaking too early? Are there any distractions that could affect the fighter’s state of mind on fight night?
So far, reports reveal that both sides are handling their media duties well and have managed to conceal any tactical plans or difficulties in training. Nothing so far indicates that one fighter will have some kind of edge on May 2.
The waiting is unbearable. Even looking for kinks up to now has come up with almost nothing.
Time again to look at some old fights before the big one explodes.
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