Volume puncher outpunched

PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA/INQUIRER/See more at FRAME

LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather Jr. outpunching Manny Pacquiao?

Incredible as it might seem, that was what happened on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila). That is, if the fight statistics were accurate.

The final fight stats released to the media by Compubox after the colossal battle at MGM Grand Garden Arena showed Mayweather throwing more punches than offensive dynamo Manny Pacquiao, 435 to 429.

Considering that Mayweather is among the stingiest of punchers in boxing, the figures seemed out of this world.

If the figures are accurate, then Mayweather truly deserved to score his 48th straight victory.

Gun-shy Pacquiao

Even before the first punches were thrown, boxing pundits had pointed out that the key to a Pacquiao victory would be volume punching.

Pepper the flamboyant American with so many punches because it would be difficult to parry them all. The strategy was also designed to throw Mayweather off balance and disturb his rhythm.

Instead, again according to Compubox, it was Pacquiao who was gun-shy, especially in the last six rounds, which were all awarded to Mayweather by the three judges.

Acknowledged as the more accurate puncher, Mayweather landed 148 shots for a 34-percent conversion rate as against Pacquiao’s 81 for 19 percent.

5-inch reach advantage

Exploiting his 5-inch reach advantage, Mayweather fired 267 jabs, connecting on 67 for 25 percent.

Pacquiao threw 193 and sneaked in only 18 for a measly 9 percent.

Looking to knock Mayweather out, Pacquiao unloaded 236 power punches, landing 63 for 23 percent.

Virtual punching bag

Mayweather, who was virtually turned into a punching bag by Pacquiao in the fourth and sixth rounds, unleashed 168 power shots and landed 81 for 48 percent.

With such few shots thrown, the fewest he’d ever thrown against an opponent, Pacquiao and his corner unwittingly awarded the fight to Mayweather.

Pacquiao, who unleashed over a thousand punches each against Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey (1,231), didn’t run out of ammunition—he simply became gun-shy probably because of the nagging pain on his right shoulder.

Just 429 punches from Pacquiao. Unbelievable.

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