Personalities from the whole spectrum of the sport have given their input into the poll as we count down the days to the most highly anticipated fight of this generation when two of the best ever collide to finally decide the pound for pound king.
In this final edition, promoters give their opinion.
WBC and WBA welterweight champion Mayweather, 38, and 36 year-old WBO title holder Pacquiao lay it all on the line in a $250m blockbuster match-up and below are some of the views given by those from the boxing fraternity.
AJ Galante – I’m going with Mayweather by split decision. I can see both men suffering a knockdown at some point during the fight.
Russell Peltz – The best Mayweather beats the best Pacquiao every day of the week. The question here is which one(s) do we get?
Yvon Michel – There is a great contrast between the two fighters. Pacquiao has the best offensive arsenal in boxing today and Mayweather is a defensive genius. We have a perfect situation for a controversial decision. From outside it will seem Pacquiao is overwhelming his opponent but on close look it will be Mayweather who is the most efficient. I don’t see the fight being a KO though. It is so hard to corner Mayweather and hurt him and on the other hand Moneyman always fights conservative and almost never goes for the kill. So it will be a decision, a very unpopular one but I see Mayweather winning by a close call, probably a split decision.
Alfie Warren – I can’t see anything but a Mayweather victory. But I do believe that Pacquiao will give him his hardest fight of his career. I said five years ago that Pacman is suited to Mayweather just like Hatton was and I still feel the same now. Just like the Hatton fight, Mayweather will be made to fight at a high pace and will not be given any breathing space during the fight like he has in his last few fights. Pacquaio has the engine to last the distance and can keep the same pace. From round 1-12, I just think that Mayweather will pick him off and will have every success on the counter. Mayweather may not be as fast as what he once was, but he has not lost his accuracy in his punches and he won’t be missing a lot when Pacman comes for him. One thing is for sure, we will be in for a treat. Mayweather on Points for me.
Gary Shaw – Pacquiao if he takes Mayweather into a real street fight, using everything, pushing, leaning, elbows, low blows, whatever it takes to take Floyd out of his game. If not, a walk in the park for Floyd. Pacman has to forget being a nice guy and not hurting someone, otherwise at the end of 12, his feelings will be hurt for sure.
Lou DiBella – Mayweather by a clear, non-controversial decision.
Barry McGuigan – Mayweather has to be a strong betting favourite to win on a wide decision simply on the basis that he’s unbeaten and he’s schooled Marquez who knocked Pacquiao out. However, that’s not always the way it works in boxing. Mayweather has problems with speed, note DeMarcus Corley, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley all hurt him because of their speed of punch. Pacquiao also has speed of punch. People who have fast feet can also cause him trouble like Judah and Mosley did. The only way to catch Mayweather is by throwing loads of punches with constant pressure like Marcos Maidana. Pacquiao throws punches in bunches while attacking all night long. However, you have to counter-balance that with the fact that Mayweather doesn’t know how to lose, is the slightly bigger man and is very hard to hit clean. Plus, he’s an excellent counter puncher and Pacquiao is at times reckless. I believe this fight will depend on which one of the two starts well, I believe it will be Mayweather but if Pacquiao can land his punches early on, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him pull of a decision win.
Rodney Berman (Golden Gloves SA) – Mayweather just too slick for Pacman and will easily handle him. Lopsided points decision and even possible stoppage in the later rounds.
Brian Amatruda: This fight should have happened a few years ago. Both great fighters still at the top but not where they were. These days they both look beatable whereas years ago they were unstoppable. Floyd will be defensive and the master of avoidance. If you look at similar opponents faced Floyd has handled them much easier. Unless he gets careless, I can see a run and counter type fight and Floyd will get the job done. Dangerous first five rounds then Floyd will take control. At end of the day Manny was knocked out a few fights ago and that shows he can be tagged. Floyd over twelve rounds by a wide margin, but I hope Manny wins.
Nisse Sauerland – Mayweather on points.
Kathy Duva – It is quite difficult to pick against a fighter as skilled as Mayweather. But I’m going to go with my heart, anyway, and pick Pacquiao. Each has had troubles with the other’s strengths. Floyd has had some problems with southpaws, and none of them were as good as Pacquiao. And, obviously, Manny has gotten in trouble with counter punchers, none of whom were as good as Floyd. Styles make fights and this match between two elite, legendary fighters with complimentary styles is as good as it gets. And, I suppose, that’s why the whole world will be watching!
Dimitry Eliseev – My prediction is 65/35 in favor of Floyd Mayweather, but if Manny Pacquiao can hit then he wins. There is a small chance.
Steve Goodwin – Mayweather to win on points by four rounds.
Francis Warren – I, like all sports fans across the globe, will be watching this fight in the early hours of Sunday morning which has been seven years in the making. It’s taken its time, but lets all keep our fingers crossed that it lives up to the hype and delivers what has been billed as the Fight of the Century.
For me, there is only one guy on the planet that I would have a punt on beating Mayweather….and it’s not Pacman. Floyd is too big, too slick, too smart and most importantly, far too used to winning to even contemplate getting beat. He has plan A through to Z, lives the life and beyond and for all his grit, power and brutal force, Manny only fights one way. This, as we all remember, had disastrous consequences against another counter puncher in Marquez – and we all know what Floyd did to the brilliant Mexican, beating him in a very one sided points victory in 2009.
The closer it gets to the fight, the likelier people will be to want to see underdog Manny cause an upset. He has three rounds to do it, otherwise Mayweather won’t be beaten. If you’re having a bet this weekend, don’t get caught up in the hype, bet like Floyd fights……smart. Mayweather on points, winning eight of the twelve rounds.
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Final total: 335
Mayweather – 253
PTS – 228
KO – 25
Pacquiao – 53
PTS – 42
KO – 11
Draw – 10
Undecided – 19
