Pacquiao has chance vs Mayweather–sports analyst

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Is Floyd Mayweather Jr. still unbeatable?

ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas believes so.

And he also believes Manny Pacquiao has a “chance” to topple Mayweather’s immaculate 47-0 record.

“Pacquiao needs to understand that sometimes Mayweather gets intoxicated with his defense,” he said. “He starts slipping and sliding a little too much sometimes and allows you to get into him.”

Atlas, a former boxing coach, said Mayweather still had the advantage over Pacquiao (57-5-2 38 KOs) as the American had the psychological advantage after Juan Manuel Marquez gave Pacquiao a devastating knockout loss in 2012.

“The edge goes to Mr. Mayweather, the Money man,” he said. “He is the better defensive fighter, the guy that will take advantage of reckless aggression of Pacquiao.”

And Pacquiao certainly had a hard time against defensive fighters like Joshua Clottey and most especially Marquez.

Atlas said Pacquiao should utilize his lightning-fast style to slip and connect on the few openings of the Mayweather defense.

“Pacquiao can match Floyd just about with hand speed,” he said. “He’s a little busier than Floyd. Pacquiao will have opportunities with Floyd when he is in the defensive mode a little too much.”