By Ryan Burton
BoxingScene.com recently caught up with elite trainer Robert Garcia. The Oxnard, Calif. based trainer's stable of fighters includes his brother Mikey Garcia, Brandon Rios, Marcos Maidana, and many others.
In recent years Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach and others have questioned whether the Filipino still has the killer instinct he had earlier in his career when he jumped from lightweight to junior middleweight and demolished opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, and Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao is now very religious and his motivation has been questioned in recent fights.
Garcia feels that regardless of whether Pacquiao has his old killer instinct or not, he possesses the skills to give Floyd Mayweather Jr. a tough fight when they meet on May 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the Las Vegas strip.
"He is going to be very motivated and yes he may not have the killer instinct anymore but he still has the speed and those 4 or 5 punch combinations. He does move from one side to the other and that will give Mayweather problems," said Garcia.
The former champion feels that Mayweather has the edge in the fight because it will take place on his home turf in Las Vegas and that the judges are used to his style and will give him the benefit of the doubt when the rounds are close and difficult to score.
He also feels that the styles each fighter tries to implement will be a key factor in the fight. He said that if Pacquiao presses the action and throws a lot of punches, he will definitely have a shot at pulling off the upset and if Mayweather stays on the outside, he probably will leave the ring as the winner.
'I don't know what kind of game plan Mayweather has. If he is going to use his normal style and be defensive and use his jab and stays on the outside and uses the ropes then maybe Mayweather wins a decision. The judges here in Nevada and whoever the referee is going to be, they know the way he fights and the close rounds - those will go to Mayweather.
'If he decides to exchange and please the crowd then he might be in trouble. Pacquiao is very fast, very awkward and very difficult. It depends on what type of fight Mayweather brings and also which style Pacquiao brings. If he wants to fight on the outside and counter punch then he can't win. If he presses and throws 4 or 5 punch combinations then he has a shot," Garcia told BoxingScene.com.
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com . You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter
