Mayweather: I’ll knock out Pacquiao in 5 rounds

By: Roy Luarca - 10 years ago

Floyd Mayweather Jr AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The last time Floyd Mayweather Jr. knocked a guy out was in 2011. And it came against an unsuspecting, open opponent.

Victor Ortiz had let his guard down in the fourth round to apologize to Mayweather for a head butt when the flamboyant American uncorked a left hook and followed it up with a right. That floored Ortiz for the full count.

Now, Mayweather is boasting that he will knock out Pacquiao in five rounds or less in their Fight of the Century on May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather based his prediction on Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez’s sixth-round knockout of Pacquiao in 2012.

“Look, if Marquez knocked Pacquiao out like that in the sixth, then I guarantee I’ll have him out by the fifth because I beat Marquez like a slave,” Mayweather told celebtricity.com.

While it’s true that Mayweather dominated Marquez in their 2009 clash, it might not merit an accurate comparison.

That time, Marquez climbed two weight classes from light-weight (135 pounds) to reach the welterweight catch weight of 144 lb for the title fight.

Instead of reducing, Mayweather just paid the $600,000 fine for coming in at 146 lb as against Marquez’s bloated 142.

Outside of the Ortiz knockout, Mayweather last scored a haymaker in 2007 at the expense of Briton Ricky Hatton, whom he disposed of in the 10th round.

Of his 47 victims, Mayweather has only stopped 26 for a 55.55 percent knockout percentage.

Now Mayweather wants Pacquiao to become not only No. 48, but also No. 27.