Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., right, works out with co-trainer Nate Jones Tuesday, April 14, 2015, in Las Vegas. Mayweather will face Manny Pacquiao in a welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas on May 2. (AP Photo/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS—Unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr., the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, is sure of how the Fight of the Century will play out on May 2.
“Floyd Mayweather is going to try to take Manny Pacquiao’s head off,” Leonard Ellerbe said. “You can count on that happening, too. Floyd Mayweather is looking to finish him off.”
It was bold statement from the top official of Mayweather Promotions considering that Mayweather hasn’t knock out an opponent since 2011 when he hit an unsuspecting Victor Ortiz, who was still apologizing for an illegal blow twice, and sent him down for the full count.
Before that stoppage, Mayweather’s last knockout came in Dec. 8, 2007 when he outgunned the game Briton Rick Hatton in the 10th round.
Ellerbe said there’s a wide window of opportunity for Mayweather to show his power.
“Pacquiao commits a lot of mistakes and Mayweather will exploit it to dictate the pace and eventually knock him out,” added Ellerbie, who praised Mayweather’s work ethic and dedication in training.
Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera, a former three-division world champion, offered a different view.
“If the fight ends in knockout, it will be by Pacquiao,” said Barrera, who lost twice to Pacquiao. “If the fight ends in decision, it will be Mayweather.”
For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.