Pacquiao-Mayweather: What boring do they mean?

FOR A fresh, objective look into the failed superfight on May 2, here’s Julian Chua, protege of boxing expert Hermie Rivera:

Contrary to popular opinion, both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao put on an incredible performance.

The fight may have been “boring” to the common eye, but to the students of the game, it was a hell of a boxing match. Each man was able to do things to each other that no other opponent has ever been able to do.

That neither one of them was able to really land anything truly solid shows the caliber of the two fighters.

When have we ever seen Mayweather and his father Floyd Sr. so frustrated? When have we ever seen Floyd Jr. miss so many right hands?

The fact that Pacquiao was able to take that away from him, cut off the ring, keep him against the ropes at times, and land his shots in the middle of the ring were simply astonishing.

Despite this valiant and well played effort, however, Mayweather is just too damn good. There’s no shame in that.

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Why take risks against an extremely dangerous opponent like Pacquiao, when you can control him with defensive skills, evasive movements, and pop shots?

Mayweather was only being who he is. An astute boxing fan would not have expected a brawl. These men employ two very different strategies. They’re very different kinds of warriors.

In the end, Mayweather is a better tactician than Pacquaio.

Pacquiao had a fight plan all right, but Mayweather had one, too.

The reason Pacquiao couldn’t stick to his plan was because Mayweather left him fatigued. By the sixth round, Pacquiao was no longer feinting with his feet, a trademark move of his.

Mayweather knew Pacquiao would come out throwing heat.

For Mayweather, it was similar to Muhammad Ali’s strategy against George Foreman.

If you have ever been in a boxing match, you know that it is very difficult to stay sharp and focused when you are more tired than your opponent. For your opponent, it is also lot easier to figure you out when you are tired or fatigued.

Mayweather just needed to make sure that he didn’t get too far behind on the score cards in the opening rounds so he could cruise to a unanimous decision against the fatigued Pacquiao.

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For the people who are saying “I’m disappointed in Manny Pacquiao. I expected a high-volume super-combination fighter.” Here is my answer to them: He tried!

When have we ever seen anyone land a solid combination on Mayweather? We haven’t. He is a very defensive-minded fighter.

When Pacquiao lands a punch, Mayweather was ready to disengage, block and roll, grab and hold, or step around.

This is especially true when his opponent doesn’t maintain his distance and jump in on him, as Pacquiao did.

The only chance in landing a combination on Mayweather is to catch him off-balance (which is pretty much never) or when one has him badly hurt (which is also, pretty much never).

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I keep hearing that Pacquiao failed to consistently pressure Mayweather. The reason we didn’t see that is because Mayweather hits much harder than we think.

Anyone he has fought—including Canelo Alvarez, who is a massive junior middleweight—was unable to apply constant pressure on Mayweather. Maybe a young Pacquiao could have sustained that pressure or rate.

But he’s 36. Yes, Mayweather is 38, but he spent two years in retirement while the best welterweights fought each other.

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Last, to the viewers who say “It isn’t manly to box or to run like that,” let me ask you this: Are you a man? Because if you claim you are, then I dare you get in the ring with a guy like Pacquiao and trade shots with him for 12 rounds. You can’t.

And if you’re sane, you wouldn’t even try. This has nothing to do with manliness. Smart Mayweather had the guts to step in the ring with ferocious Pacquiao. It was unparalleled smart boxing on Mayweather’s part.

Julian Chua

Indiana Golden Gloves Champion 2007 Adidas National Champion 2013

Boxing Trainer, Wilcard (west branch), Sta Monica, CA