By Edward Chaykovsky
Top Rank's head matchmaker, Bruce Trampler, has played a big role in building some of the biggest names in the sport - including Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather began his career with Top Rank and fought under their banner until 2006, when he bought out his contract and became a free agent.
On May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Top Rank's biggest star - Manny Pacquiao - will face Mayweather in the most richest fight in boxing history.
Trampler is realistic about the fight and says the first few rounds will be crucial.
“To beat a left-hander, you want to pressure him and take away his left-handedness. … So if I see Floyd dictating the pace, moving Manny where he wants him, I’m going to say Manny’s going to lose. If Manny is aggressive and shows that good lateral movement and throws punches in bunches and gets off first on Floyd, I’m going to pick Manny," Trampler told the Los Angeles Times.
“This is the first guy Floyd has fought … when the bell rings, Manny Pacquiao’s coming out not to beat him but to knock him out and hurt him. That’s his mindset, that’s what he’s telling us. Floyd’s a man. He understands this guy’s coming to hurt him.”
Mayweather has turned back 45 opponents in 47 fights. Trampler tabs Pacquiao, because of his physical gifts, as the best candidate out there to hand Mayweather his first career defeat.
“Nobody’s beaten Floyd Mayweather — 47-0, dominated the sport for the last decade — but if you had to design a fighter, a style that could beat [him], you’re going to come up with a left-hander who’s good with lateral movement, side to side, shifty [who] can punch with either hand. That’s not a guarantee that Manny’s going to win the fight, but he’s got the best chance of anyone to take away the ‘0’ on Floyd’s record,” Trampler said.
