By Edward Chaykovsky
Former champion Antonio Tarver weighed in on the upcoming mega-fight between welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The fight takes place on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Tarver, currently a heavyweight contender and a commentator for Premier Boxing Champions on Spike TV, sees Pacquiao as a very dangerous opponent for Mayweather. Despite Pacquiao's brutal 2012 knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, Tarver sees his physical gifts and style of fighting as presenting some threatening problems for Mayweather.
"I can’t go against perfect, the man has been perfect throughout his career, Tarver told On The Ropes Boxing Radio . "We’ve seen Pacquiao knocked out, but at the same time, he possesses the type of style and from a southpaw stance, we cannot lose sight of that. Pacquiao is a tremendous southpaw, something that Floyd Mayweather hasn’t seen a whole lot of, and Pacquiao is moving at light speed."
Tarver views Mayweather as the quicker man, but he still feels Pacquiao is quick enough to change the tide of the fight or land closing shot.
"I don’t think Pacquiao can match Floyd’s speed but I think he’s fast enough. I couldn’t match Roy Jones’ speed but I was fast enough to offset his speed. That being said, I think Pacquiao is gonna have some moments and you know he has a very powerful punch. I think Floyd wins a decision but if this fight doesn’t go the distance, you have to lean toward Pacquiao landing that shot within the distance," Tarver said.
"There you have it, and that’s just being honest about how I know and see these fighters’ potential and their ability. Floyd can outbox anybody but he’s gonna have to stay away from Pacquiao’s power, that’s just point blank period."
