Less than super, megabout not even close
As it would turn out: 1) Mayweather still has very good legs; 2) Mayweather could stop running, box flat-footed and still be very dangerous and effective. AP PHOTO/JOHN LOCHER
No one can say Manny Pacquiao did not do his promised best. He brought all his talent and power into the fight ring. He fell short, however, after the famous American trainer Freddie Roach discovered only midway in their desperate bid to overthrow unbeaten world pound-for-pound boxing king Floyd Mayweather Jr. that they had made two wrong presumptions.
As it would turn out: 1) Mayweather still has very good legs; 2) Mayweather could stop running, box flat-footed and still be very dangerous and effective.
In a monumental bout billed ahead as the “fight of the century,” the call of the moment was to try an alternate route, or Plan B.
There was no distinct effort for significant adjustment while Mayweather continued to flourish on superior craft and competence en route to a big unanimous decision win.
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There was another misconception on the part of Team Pacquiao.
This was the one openly mouthed by Roach about Floyd Sr., Mayweather’s trainer, being a useless cornerman because the outspoken father of the unbeaten American champion was usually incoherent and too nervous during round breaks.
It was not a precise assessment as would be borne out in the early goings:
Round 1 was clearly a Mayweather round as he moved ahead to center ring, scored two successive shots to the head, received one in between, before landing another head shot for a balanced attacking start. The next two rounds would also be Mayweather’s as he took better control with sharpness and superior ring management.
Round 4 was altogether different. Pacquiao poured on the heat, landed a hard one to the head, then blitzed Mayweather, who covered up and cowered his way out of danger.
Floyd Sr. moved in at the break. Irate, wide-eyed, he scolded his son for soft-pedaling. The old warrior slashed the air immediately before Floyd Jr. with lightning combinations to demonstrate what needed to be done. Floyd Sr. had pushed the right shift button and Junior resumed sharp and strong as he had done in the first round.
* * *
Based on noisy prefight pronouncements, Pacquiao could have also expected a punching picnic with his supposedly overwhelming speed and power. There was none, as his team failed to make proper adjustments after the other party refused to dance their way.
Mayweather, avoiding to be run over, controlled the tempo with brilliant cutting, sharp countering and sly trapping, while forcing his foe to punch the air repeatedly.
It was not exactly a case of reality prevailing over fantasy; although Mayweather, on the whole, managed to unmask all the super claims made by Team Pacquiao about unstoppable speed and power as nothing but colorful make-believe.
* * *
After the fight, a fresh and clear-eyed Mayweather complimented Pacquiao as a great and deserving champion, although without his world welterweight crown now.
In his turn at the microphone, Pacquiao, who visibly won only a couple of rounds, did not tarry and instead claimed he honestly believed he won. The interviewer appeared incredulous.
The way it was being explained charitably, Mayweather may have not beaten Pacquiao, OK, but the greatest boxer of his time took the pride of the Philippines to school.
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