Klitschko Trainer: Pacquiao Could Win Split Decision

By Edward Chaykovsky

James Ali Bashir, an assistant trainer to WBO/WBA/IBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, says Manny Pacquiao is very capable of winning either a close or a twelve round split decision victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. when the two welterweight champions collide for the WBO/WBA/WBC world titles on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

Bashir is not in agreement with those who believe Pacquiao will get dominated in the fight. He sees the Filipino star imposing himself in the fight and making things very close.

"I think that Floyd Mayweather is the complete package. I think both of them are past their primes but I think Floyd Mayweather is the complete package, he’s a natural born fighter and he covers all the bases. He has it all, he has a good chin, he has good skills, good defense, good desire. I expect that he’ll win the fight by decision," Bashir told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"Pacquiao however could be in this fight big time and he could conceivably come out with a split decision for himself. You got two great fighters meeting and their chemistry matches up perfectly. I’m expecting Floyd to win the fight but I’m not expecting him to dominate Pacquiao. Most people expect that he will dominate him but I don’t expect him to dominate Pacquiao. I think Pacquiao will come into this fight with a plan and I think for the most part the plan will work, keeping him in the fight throughout the duration. It may boil down to a decision or split decision fight for either one of them.