How has Pacquiao exactly declined?

[Espada]

yeah he has declined but I can't understand why in the hell is Floyd still ducking the ***** out of him???? why???!!! why???!!!!!!!!

[ironmt]

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.

What areas do you feel he declined the most In.

[DeadLikeMe]

What areas do you feel he declined the most In.

Balance and stamina. Two things he very heavily relies on. Punch resistance remains to be seen as Rios didn't test his chin much if at all.

[New England]

for starters, it's mental. a prime pacquiao doesn't carry his opponents. prime manny didn't carry morales, barrera.


after that, his legs are going, and he can't use them for 12 rounds.
he's less accurate, and his balance is starting to suffer in his combinations.

and finally, his chin and reflexes are gone. you saw the fourth marquez fight. he got dropped by a telegraphed, winging right hand. those are shots he used to take.



it's quite obvious that he's slipped. he's not done yet, because a bit of the great fighter still remains, but he's on the downside.

[aaron.king]

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.

I think too much is made of both of these points. He hasn't really had a KO at 147 -- both Hatton and Cotto were either at 140 or basically at 140. His explosive power just never carried up to that weight. Additionally, the guys he's been fighting, as others have mentioned, have been iron-chinned or have absolutely clammed up into defensive shells after about three rounds. Hatton and Cotto both tried to fight with him and got caught.

In terms of his mental state or passion, I just think he's doing what all great fighters do as they age. Look at Hopkins and Mayweather for instance -- at a certain point in their careers, they stopped relying on their physical gifts and stopped knocking people out. Likewise, Manny increasingly uses his intelligence, experience, and technical skills to beat his opponents. It doesn't always look as impressive -- e.g. Mayweather's victory over Cotto -- but it works and prolongs the career.

Without question, Pacquiao has experience some marginal decline in his physical tools. But he should still be pretty heavily favored to beat anyone at 147 or 140 who isn't named Mayweather.

[BUNGALOWS]

for starters, it's mental. a prime pacquiao doesn't carry his opponents. prime manny didn't carry morales, barrera.


after that, his legs are going, and he can't use them for 12 rounds.
he's less accurate, and his balance is starting to suffer in his combinations.

and finally, his chin and reflexes are gone. you saw the fourth marquez fight. he got dropped by a telegraphed, winging right hand. those are shots he used to take.



it's quite obvious that he's slipped. he's not done yet, because a bit of the great fighter still remains, but he's on the downside.

Can't really say anything after this post.

[KickAzz]

pac is definitely past his prime.

1. his stamina is down. he takes breaks, sometime most of a whole round
2. his punch resistance is down from all them wars
3. his footwork isn't as good as when he fought dlh, hatton, and cotto
4. his head movement got worse.
5. he's not hungry anymore. he's not relentless anymore.

Anyone who can't see this...

[Pacquiao'd]

Hes not as fast, his stamina isn't as good, his reflexes aren't as sharp, hes not as durable.

All of the assets made him Pacquiao have dulled with age.

Thats because he's not on those special shakes too

[TRTboy]

He has declined. I think his hunger is not what it once was which is normal when you get to the very top and you have other obligations. Pac is a part time fighter. He has a full time job and a very demanding one at that when he is not fighting. The fact that he can still compete and beat very good fighters speaks volumes.

The guy has a lot on his plate but still manages to put on great performances.

[ironmt]

I think too much is made of both of these points. He hasn't really had a KO at 147 -- both Hatton and Cotto were either at 140 or basically at 140. His explosive power just never carried up to that weight. Additionally, the guys he's been fighting, as others have mentioned, have been iron-chinned or have absolutely clammed up into defensive shells after about three rounds. Hatton and Cotto both tried to fight with him and got caught.

In terms of his mental state or passion, I just think he's doing what all great fighters do as they age. Look at Hopkins and Mayweather for instance -- at a certain point in their careers, they stopped relying on their physical gifts and stopped knocking people out. Likewise, Manny increasingly uses his intelligence, experience, and technical skills to beat his opponents. It doesn't always look as impressive -- e.g. Mayweather's victory over Cotto -- but it works and prolongs the career.

Without question, Pacquiao has experience some marginal decline in his physical tools. But he should still be pretty heavily favored to beat anyone at 147 or 140 who isn't named Mayweather.

Nice thoughtful post. Mayweather wins the fight If It should ever happen{kills me to say that} but expect Manny to give him hell and leave It all In the ring.