By Edward Chaykovsky
Boxing legend "Sugar" Ray Leonard is unable to pick a winner in the upcoming mega-fight between welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. The fight is scheduled for May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Leonard, a five division world champion, predicts the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight will inject the entire sport of boxing with a massive boost of energy. Leonard gave his thoughts on the match, breaking it down. He seems to lean in Mayweather's direction to win, but doesn't pick him as the winner. He calls it down the middle as a 50-50 fight.
Leonard told the Gloucestershire Echo - "Part of me thinks Mayweather – he has never lost, he has never tasted defeat and has not had that feeling of having to come back. Pacquiao has tasted that but he is so different. He is blessed with hand speed, foot speed and power so maybe that doesn't apply to him. There is no one way to beat Mayweather because he is such a talented boxer, puncher and technician."
"You would want to set him up, boxing is like a chess match and your aim is to say checkmate. But ask me who would win if they fought me and there's only one answer. You have to respect talent but any fighter will say they can beat anyone else – if they don't they're not a fighter. I would have a height advantage and would have to use my jab but it is not as basic as it seems, it would take a bit of everything. Speed, movement, all of these things would have to be applied to beat guys like this. Anything can happen in the bout, it could be in the first round or the 12th. It's so exciting and I'm not sure which way to call it."
