By Edward Chaykovsky
Abel Sanchez, trainer of WBA/IBO/WBC-interim middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin, is still picking Floyd Mayweather Jr. to defeat Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas - but he says it won't be as easy as it was five years ago.
While the boxing world is going wild for the match, Sanchez is not overly thrilled with the fight. Five years ago, when both sides were first negotiating, he saw Mayweather as a wide points winner. He still picks Mayweather to win but sees the contest as being closer mainly due to Mayweather slowing down a bit.
"It’s still not appealing but I think it’s a fight that had to happen just because there’s so many people out there clamoring for it. I think five years ago it would have been an easier fight for Mayweather, I still think Mayweather wins now but it won’t be as easy as five years ago, but he still wins a decision," Sanchez said to On The Ropes Boxing Radio .
"I think Manny makes too many mistakes as he jumps in and Floyd’s a master, he’s the best in the world, he’s pound-for-pound the best in the world for a reason and he’s gonna make him pay for all those mistakes."
Sanchez broke down the difference in decline between both fighters.
"I see that he’s getting slower, I see that he’s more stationary but decline from 100%, say Mayweather’s declined 20% but Pacquiao was at 80% and he’s declined 10%. He’s still not as good as Mayweather, in my opinion. I think Mayweather is still the cream of the crop," Sanchez said.
