Floyd Mayweather, JR Vs Manny Pacquiao: Evaluating Their Strengths and Weaknesses & Best Performances – Toughest Fights
By Travis Fleming
Tomorrow night is the fight of the century and all that can be said about it has been said, and more. After more than five years of waiting, all that’s left is the fight itself between the two greatest fighters of our generation. On May 2nd, live on pay per view from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather,JR., 47-0 26 KO’s, will square off with Manny Pacquiao, 57-5-2 38 KO’s, in the most anticipated fight of our time. The fight could end up a stinker or an electrifying battle, either way both men deserve credit for giving the fans what they demanded and they deserve respect regardless of the outcome. Without going into detail, as I have done in various other articles, I have done a breakdown of each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses in various categories. For each category, I have awarded each fighter a score out of ten. Will this be useful in predicting a winner? Who knows…. likely not as size, luck, and officiating also play a part, but just for the hell of it, here is what I deem to be a fair assessment of each fighter in the simplest form.
Hand Speed:
Pacquiao- 9.5/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Footspeed:
Pacquiao- 9.5/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Power:
Pacquiao- 7/10
Mayweather- 6.5/10
Heart:
Pacquiao- 9/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Chin:
Pacquiao- 7/10
Mayweather- 9.5/10
Defense:
Pacquiao- 6/10
Mayweather- 10/10
Offense:
Pacquiao- 9/10
Mayweather- 8.5/10
Volume:
Pacquiao- 8/10
Mayweather- 6/10
Ring Generalship:
Pacquiao- 7/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Punch Variety:
Pacquiao- 7.5/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Accuracy:
Mayweather- 9.5/10
Pacquiao- 8/10
Stamina:
Mayweather- 9/10
Pacquiao- 9/10
Jab:
Pacquiao- 7/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Physical Strength:
Pacquiao- 6/10
Mayweather- 7.5/10
Versatility:
Pacquiao- 4/10
Mayweather- 10/10
Ring IQ:
Pacquiao- 7.5/10
Mayweather- 10/10
Body Punches:
Pacquiao- 5/10
Mayweather- 8.5/10
Counter Punching:
Pacquiao- 7/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Aggression:
Pacquiao- 9.5/10
Mayweather- 5/10
Opposition:
Pacquiao- 9/10
Mayweather- 9/10
Total:
Pacquiao- 153/200
Mayweather- 170.5/200
Best punches:
Pacquiao: Straight left, awkward angled combinations.
Mayweather: Lead right, check hook, jab to body.
Biggest weaknesses:
Pacquiao: Open to counters, sometimes reckless, no infighting ability.
Mayweather: Doesn’t throw enough punches, trouble with southpaw stance, slow starter.
Best Performances:
Pacquiao:
1998: Win by KO 8 against Chatchai Sasakul, 33-1, for WBC flyweight title
2001: Win by TKO 6 against Lehlo Ledwaba, 33-1-1, for IBF super bantamweight title
2003: Win by TKO 11 against Marco Antonio Barrerra, 57-3
2006: Win by TKO 10 over Erik Morales, 48-3
2008: Win by TKO 9 against David Diaz, 34-1-1, for WBC lightweight title
2008: Win by RTD 8 against Oscar De La Hoya, 39-5-0
2009: Win by KO 2 against Ricky Hatton, 45-1
2009: Win by TKO 12 against Miguel Cotto, 34-1, for WBO welterweight title
2014: Win by UD against Timothy Bradley, 31-0, for WBO welterweight title
Mayweather:
1998: Win by RTD 8 against Genaro Hernandez, 38-1-1, for WBC super featherweight title
2001: Win by TKO 10 against Diego Corrales, 33-0, for WBC super featherweight title
2001: Win by TKO 9 against Jesus Chavez, 35-1, for WBC super featherweight title
2005: Win by RTD 6 over Arturo Gatti, 35-6, for WBC super lightweight title
2007: Win by TKO 10 over Ricky Hatton, 43-0, for WBC welterweight title
2009: Win by UD over Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4-1
2010: Win by UD over Shane Mosley, 46-5
2013: Win by MD over Saul Alvarez, 42-0-1, for WBC and WBA super welterweight titles
Toughest Fights:
Pacquiao:
1999: Loss by TKO 3 against Medgoen Singsurat, 18-0, for WBC flyweight title
2001: Technical Draw 6 against Agapito Sanchez, 31-9-2, for IBF and WBO super bantamweight titles
2004: Draw against Juan Manuel Marquez, 42-2, for WBA and IBF featherweight titles
2005: Loss by UD against Erik Morales, 47-2
2008: Win by SD over Juan Manuel Marquez, 48-3-1, for WBC super featherweight title
2011: Win by MD over Juan Manuel Marquez, 53-5-1 , for WBO welterweight title
2012: Loss by SD to Timothy Bradley, 28-0, for WBO welterweight title
2012: Loss by KO 6 against Juan Manuel Marquez, 54-6-1
Mayweather:
2000: Win by TKO 9 against Emanuel Augustus, 22-16-4, for WBC super featherweight title
2002: Win by UD against Jose Luis Castillo, 45-4-1, for WBC lightweight title
2006: Win by UD over Zab Judah, 34-3, for IBF welterweight title
2007: Win by SD against Oscar De La Hoya, 38-4, for WBC super welterweight title
2010: Win by UD against Miguel Cotto, 34-2, for WBA super welterweight title
2014: Win by MD against Marcos Maidana, 35-3, for the WBA and WBC welterweight titles
