Tweet
When rumors of this fight first surfaced months ago, I was as much against it as anyone else, obviously due to the size difference. Oscar has fought at middleweight and Pac had been below 130 his entire career when this bout was first discussed. However, comparing both of them NOW, I see MANY advantages for Pacquiao.
Oscar got hit a lot more than he expected by Steve Forbes, an average fighter who is not very fast and who was fighting 10 lbs. above his best weight. Despite having no power either, he busted Oscar's face up. Unlike Pacquiao, Forbes is not a pressure fighter, he has a much more passive style and is not in your face all the time like the much faster and precise Manny.
We all know Oscar's stamina issues, they have been a problem for him throughout his career. This is his first fight at 147 since 2001, and even in 1999 vs. Tito he had to get on the scales twice to be at 147. Oscar is not 26 anymore, he's 35, and making weight is MUCH harder, not to mention having the same energy for 36 minutes.
The jump from 130-147 may seem drastic for Manny, but when you consider that he gets in the ring at about 144, the move may actually benefit him. By not having to drain himself by 10-15 pounds the day before the fight, he probably will have more energy on fight night. If he just stays at 145 for a few weeks before the fight, he'll be fresher and stronger than ever because he would not need to rehydrate for the fight.
All of this combined with Oscar's diminishing skills (less stamina, slower hand/foot speed, declining reflexes) and Manny's strengths (speed, relentless attack, power) make this a very interesting fight. I believe the main factor is if Manny can handle Oscar's power. I see no reason why he shouldn't, as Steve Forbes was not hurt in ANY moment during their fight, and he is also much smaller than Oscar. If Manny starts early (and he always does), he will wear Oscar out with his speed and constant attack, and Oscar's already diminished power will be even worse down the stretch. When you factor in his stamina issues and the fact that he WILL be very weight drained, this makes it a VERY winnable fight for Pacquiao, and he just might do so in impressive fashion.
Oscar got hit a lot more than he expected by Steve Forbes, an average fighter who is not very fast and who was fighting 10 lbs. above his best weight. Despite having no power either, he busted Oscar's face up. Unlike Pacquiao, Forbes is not a pressure fighter, he has a much more passive style and is not in your face all the time like the much faster and precise Manny.
We all know Oscar's stamina issues, they have been a problem for him throughout his career. This is his first fight at 147 since 2001, and even in 1999 vs. Tito he had to get on the scales twice to be at 147. Oscar is not 26 anymore, he's 35, and making weight is MUCH harder, not to mention having the same energy for 36 minutes.
The jump from 130-147 may seem drastic for Manny, but when you consider that he gets in the ring at about 144, the move may actually benefit him. By not having to drain himself by 10-15 pounds the day before the fight, he probably will have more energy on fight night. If he just stays at 145 for a few weeks before the fight, he'll be fresher and stronger than ever because he would not need to rehydrate for the fight.
All of this combined with Oscar's diminishing skills (less stamina, slower hand/foot speed, declining reflexes) and Manny's strengths (speed, relentless attack, power) make this a very interesting fight. I believe the main factor is if Manny can handle Oscar's power. I see no reason why he shouldn't, as Steve Forbes was not hurt in ANY moment during their fight, and he is also much smaller than Oscar. If Manny starts early (and he always does), he will wear Oscar out with his speed and constant attack, and Oscar's already diminished power will be even worse down the stretch. When you factor in his stamina issues and the fact that he WILL be very weight drained, this makes it a VERY winnable fight for Pacquiao, and he just might do so in impressive fashion.
Comment