By James Blears

Brilliant, resourceful and pensive Maestro of strategy - trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, is crossing his fingers that Manny Pacquaio will win the May 2nd mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather, but he thinks Floyd wiil prove to be the victor.

At the weekly press conference by the World Boxing Council in downtown Mexico City, reporters, photographers, TV folk and caterers alike lapped up Nacho's words of wisdom.

Wonderfully qualified to know exactly what he's talking about, Nacho stated:

"I think Floyd Mayweather will win. But my heart is with Manny Pacquiao.  Manny is a spectacular fighter, who people pay to watch with delight. Floyd is truly excellent, but his style is defensive, which isn't attractive for many people. Manny's strategy must be pure, concentrated pressure. With speed and also with intelligence. Manny must use speed and feline movement. Manny must fight like a wildcat," Nacho said.

"While Floyd must use his natural speed and reflexes. Floyd must entice Manny to come into range of his very effective counter punching."

Nacho says that a knockout is possible, but given the recent records of both, a decision is more likely. 

Pacquiao suffered a vicious sixth round knockout at the hands of Nacho's star fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez, in 2012. Recently, father and head trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. said the KO defeat would make Pacquiao much more susceptible to another knockout loss. Nacho says that loss is "not likely" to be a lingering factor in the bout, because Manny has the "mentality of a natural winner."

That said, Nacho puts Floyd's chances of winning at fifty percent. While he estimates Manny's possibilities are forty five percent. The unsaid remaining five percent might point to either ending the fight by KO?