How has Pacquiao exactly declined?

[Guest]

He's declined some but then again he's faced a lot of guys who have never been stopped in their careers in the last four years or so.

[ironmt]

I'm not sure that his stamina has declined as much as alot of people believe. He had a very good work rate In the Rios fight, pretty much fought the full 3 minutes of every round, as far as his killer Instint goes, the Pacquiao that we seen In China Is probably here to stay and I think that Is a smart move and will help to prolong his career. There will most likely be times that the old Pacquiao will resurface and he will stand and trade but he needs to hit and move and If the ko comes, It comes. No need to force anything.

[p4p-champ]

I wouldn't say he's declined, but mentally, his drive is no longer there. Physically, he still has all his tools but it doesn't seem like hes got the same drive anymore. I wouldn't call that declined though, thats just a mental issue. Maybe due to being super religious now or having been at the top level has made his hunger disappear.

People like to claim declined/physically deteriorated in order to validate the 40year old Marquez's brutal knockout and the fact that Manny hasn't KO'd anybody for a very long time.

[DAZED 2.0]

I'm not sure that his stamina has declined as much as alot of people believe. He had a very good work rate In the Rios fight, pretty much fought the full 3 minutes of every round, as far as his killer Instint goes, the Pacquiao that we seen In China Is probably here to stay and I think that Is a smart move and will help to prolong his career. There will most likely be times that the old Pacquiao will resurface and he will stand and trade but he needs to hit and move and If the ko comes, It comes. No need to force anything.

I think his stamina in the Rios fight was a product of his opponent. Rios is slow of hand and feet at lightweight -- how much more in his first fight two divisions north? People are reluctant to admit it but Pacquiao faded against Bradley and (to me, anyway) was fading against Marquez. I thought he looked a little slow in the sixth and that is partially why he was so easy to time with such a monstrous punch.

[bojangles1987]

I'm not sure that his stamina has declined as much as alot of people believe. He had a very good work rate In the Rios fight, pretty much fought the full 3 minutes of every round, as far as his killer Instint goes, the Pacquiao that we seen In China Is probably here to stay and I think that Is a smart move and will help to prolong his career. There will most likely be times that the old Pacquiao will resurface and he will stand and trade but he needs to hit and move and If the ko comes, It comes. No need to force anything.

Prime Pac would have thrown like 500 punches by round 7 against Rios, the second he knew Rios was defenseless the fight would have gone horribly downhill until Rios was stopped. That Pac didn't go all out is a sign his stamina isn't what it once was, because he didn't want to tire and leave himself vulnerable late.

[Guest]

Prime Pac would have thrown like 500 punches by round 7 against Rios, the second he knew Rios was defenseless the fight would have gone horribly downhill until Rios was stopped. That Pac didn't go all out is a sign his stamina isn't what it once was, because he didn't want to tire and leave himself vulnerable late.

I think this is the answer. He was playing it safe because of his last fight.

I don't think it was a stamina issue.

[ironmt]

Prime Pac would have thrown like 500 punches by round 7 against Rios, the second he knew Rios was defenseless the fight would have gone horribly downhill until Rios was stopped. That Pac didn't go all out is a sign his stamina isn't what it once was, because he didn't want to tire and leave himself vulnerable late.

I thought It had more to do with him being cautious, not leaving himself open for Rios to pull a Marquez.

[ironmt]

I think his stamina in the Rios fight was a product of his opponent. Rios is slow of hand and feet at lightweight -- how much more in his first fight two divisions north? People are reluctant to admit it but Pacquiao faded against Bradley and (to me, anyway) was fading against Marquez. I thought he looked a little slow in the sixth and that is partially why he was so easy to time with such a monstrous punch.

You have a point, I do think he did fade somewhat In the Bradley fight, Marquez I'm not so sure. He was beating him around the ring pretty good In the 5th and 6th rounds.

[DAZED 2.0]

You have a point, I do think he did fade somewhat In the Bradley fight, Marquez I'm not so sure. He was beating him around the ring pretty good In the 5th and 6th rounds.

Definitely not in the 6th. In the 5th for sure. The last 1.5 minutes of the sixth were fought on fairly even terms and Pacquiao was not throwing as much. And he definitely looked slower trying to pull of that patented move of his that ultimately got him flattened.

[DeadLikeMe]

If you can watch Pacquiao's last five fights and think Pacquiao is still the best fighter in the world, you're just delusional. That is all there is to it at this point.