US boxer Bernard Hopkins. AFP FILE PHOTO
Bernard Hopkins, boxing’s ageless wonder, picked Floyd Mayweather Jr. to win over Manny Pacquiao in their megafight–in one odd way.
“I say Floyd wins by controversial decision,” the 50-year-old Hopkins told CBS Sports.
“I see Floyd making the adjustments, but by no means will this be a cakewalk. Floyd can just as lose as win.”
Hopkins, one of boxing’s greatest middleweights, said Mayweather will face an offensive onslaught from Pacquiao on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena and the undefeated American will face a boxer unlike anyone he’s faced before.
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“First six rounds, possibly less, it’s gonna be a tornado,” Hopkins said. “Because of Pacquiao’s style he will overwhelm Mayweather. If [Mayweather] gets through [that first rush], he will defeat him.”
It’s all about adjusting for Mayweather, Hopkins said, since Pacquiao is a different beast altogether.
Mayweather has never fought a boxer that throws punches with reckless abandon like Pacquiao, with his closest fight that resembled a slugfest was against Miguel Cotto in 2012. The same Cotto that Pacquiao put down to make himself the WBO Welterweight Champion and take home the shiny WBC Diamond Championship belt.
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“Mayweather will have to make adjustments, make Pacquiao think before he reacts,” Hopkins said. “If he can, it can be like taking candy from a baby. If he can do that, make adjustments as far as distance… Pacquiao jumps in and out. He’s not Maidana or Cotto.”
Hopkins said that Mayweather has to throw more punches against Pacquiao to match the Filipino’s motor and immense offense.
Hopkins also mentioned to CBS that no one should use Pacquiao’s vicious knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 as a card for the Mayweather fight since “Pacquiao just jumped in at the wrong time.”
“Erase that Marquez tape. You can recover from the one-shot knockout. It’s not that kills you. It’s getting dominated that lasts,” Hopkins said. “Because that pain from round one to twelve getting whipped sticks with you.” CC
For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.