Strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune knows Floyd Mayweather Jr. won’t be able to keep up with Manny Pacquiao’s pace on May 2.
Mayweather may be undefeated at 47-0, but it will be his first time to face an opponent with Pacquiao’s speed.
“No, not at all. Floyd’s never experienced someone of a fighter with Manny’s pace. Never. Floyd’s opponents have been four punchers, three-four punch combination guys. This guy (Pacquiao) is six to eight,” Fortune told INQUIRER.net Monday at the Wild Card Gym.
Fortune also praised Pacquiao’s conditioning with the welterweight title unification fight just two weeks away.
“He’s good. His conditioning is exactly where we want him to be. He will definitely peak right at fight time so he’s fine. Now he’s maintaining and making sure he doesn’t go over but we’re good.”
According to Fortune, Pacquiao’s training has been focused on improving his footwork which the eight-division champion would need against Mayweather who, apart from being a defensive genius inside the ring, is also known as an outstanding counterpuncher.
“Freddie (Roach) wants him on his toes for 12 rounds so we’ll put him on his toes for 15 rounds. When Manny moves, you can’t hit him. So he moves and he punches so hard and throws so many combinations he’s very, very difficult to hit.”