April 28, 2015, Queens, NY Speed kills fast. Power kills faster. Speed plus Power kills fastest. And that is why Manny Pacquiao will beat Floyd Mayweather on May 2. Pacquiao is the speedier fighter. Pacquiao is the more powerful figther. The “B” side (Pacquiao) will beat the “A” side (Mayweather). Pac be nimble, Pac be quick, Pac be powerful, and will give Mayweather fits (yeah, I know it’s corny–but I also know that you got the point).
Mayweather doesn’t fair that well with fast-footed and fast-handed fighters. See Mayweather-Mosely, Mayweather-Judah (as in Zab), and Mayweather-Corley (as in Chop-Chop). The other fast-handed fighter that gave him fits and beat him in the eyes of many experts is none other than the “Baby-face Destroyer” Oscar De La Hoya. The aforementioned were fast, but not Pacquiao-esque fast. Not in hand or foot. Pacquiao’s muscle memory is that of a batamweight. His instincts and fast-twitch muscles will always make him the faster fighter when he is facing naturally bigger boxers.
Mayweather is a very cerebral fighter, but speedy opponents give you less time to think. You can never be too comfortable on your feet with a speedy fighter because if you blink, you’ll be off your feet. It’s the punch that you don’t see that gets you. If Mayweather found the speed of fighters who aren’t as fast as Pacquiao unsettling, how is he going to react to Pacquiao’s speed. And this was the Mayweather of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011… That Mayweather, the one with better reflexes, had problems with fast fighters. This Mayweather, the one whose reflexes have diminished, the one who is so late in his 30s that he might as well be in his 40s, this Mayweather will be overwhelmed by Pacquiao’s speed. Mayweather May hit the canvas early, probably a flash knockdown, probably by the second or third round. From that point on, Mayweather would be going for every Pacquiao fake. Every Pacquiao bob. Every Pacquiao weave.
It’s not only Pacquiao’s hand speed that would pose problems for Mayweather, it’s Pacquiao’s foot speed. Pacquiao darts in and out, left and right with mongoose-like quickness. Name the sport in which there is movement, and it can’t be denied that footwork is the key. Tennis is about your footwork. Rebounding and defense in basketball is about your footwork. Playing quarterback is about your footwork. Playing infied or outfield in baseball is about your footwork. Soccer is all footwork, even when you’re using your head. Foot speed coupled with hand speed is a dangerous combination. Moreover, foot speed, hand speed, and throwing punches from various angles is even more dangerous. Moreover (two times), foot speed, hand speed, angles, and being southpaw is perilous.
If you’re still not convinced that Pacquiao will beat Mayweather, here is the coup de grace–Pacquiao is the smaller man with the bigger punch. Pacquiao Packs Power. He has fought bigger and stronger men than Mayweather and has hurt them. Pacquiao knocked Ricky Hatton out–cold, stopped Oscar De La Hoya, whipped Cotto, beat up Antonio “Hand of Plaster of Paris” Margarito, and kicked the “sugar” out of Shane Mosely.
Pacquiao will land punches on Mayweather. Pacquiao will hurt Mayweather when he (Pacquiao) lands punches. Pacquiao will knock Mayweather down (a few times). Pacquiao May knock Mayweather out. Mayweather had the reflexes five years ago. Now, he can be hit. See Mayweater-Cotto, or Mayweather-Maidana. And speaking of Mayweather’s fight with Maidana, Mayweather was tagged repeatedly by a relatively slower (when compared to Pacquiao) fighter, which is further proof that Pacquiao will have little if any problem reaching Mayweather. Worst case scenario for Mayweather is believing he can or resorting to slugging with Pacquiao. Pacquiao can and will hit Mayweather even when he (Mayweather) is in a defensive posture. Imagine what would happen if Mayweather attempted to exchange with Pacquiao? Imagine how open Mayweather would be. It’s obvious whose punch would land first, cleanly, and hardest–Pacquiao.
Pacquiao will win because he will hit Mayweather with two kinds of punches: the ones you see coming, and the ones you don’t.
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at cliffb@puresportsny.com.