Manny Pacquiao's decline has been greatly over-exaggerated: A look at recent fights.

[Felix25]

No doubt Pac has declined. 5 years ago he looked unstoppable with almost unlimited endurance... but today he needs to pace himself and is no longer so dominant in the ring. Still a very good fighter - and I think he'll (officially!) beat Bradley this time.

[Strategic1]

People who think his workrate and stamina and even speed is the same as his days during 2004-2009....are kinda funny. You need to watch Morales-PAC 1 and look at his stamina. That said, Pacquiao is a much more complete fighter now even considering his 2009 reign.

It's a no brainer...His workrate is lower. He definitely paces himself now. At the same time, he isn't as aggressive.

It could be the hunger issue. When you reach the top in terms of big fight purses $$$, world titles, and then family life,...its hard to keep that focus. The Born Again Christianity thing and being a politician, tv show guy doesn't help either.

But the reality is his declining aggressiveness could be attributed to lower testosterone. I'm sure he has plenty still as a professional boxer...But fact is, testosterone peaks in your early to mid twenty's. Fighting in your mid 30's is rare. Testosterone has an affect on aggressiveness. Fact.

[soul_survivor]

He did look awesome against Cotto and I think that's his second best win. I try not to get too caught up in comparisons though because there are usually too many factors involved. Pac and Floyd are two different style of fighters. Plus I think Cotto's confidence was at an all-time low at that time. He pretty much trained himself for that fight. The Mosley fight isn't even worth mentioning. IDK about Pac looking good only against sluggers. He's done pretty well against most of his opponents period. But the Mosley fight is a terrible example.

Cottp's confidence was hardly low, he came out blasting against Pacman and the first 4 rounds were fun but Pac beat what was left of Cotto's prime in the rounds that followed. In fact, by the 9/10th round, Cotto was literally flinching at every Pac faint and bob and weave. Even against Marg I didn't see him that scared.

I don't think the Mosley fight is a bad example, yes Mosley was shot, he was shot by the time he faced Floyd but none of those guys made Mosley RUN, none of them made him say "get me out of here". Mosley was ****ting himself past round 2.

Whats interesting is Floyd fights mostly slugger types or flat foot guys with slow hands yet he gets praised for these wins lol, but when Pac fights guys who pressure him hard they downplay his wins like tailormade.

Why is Floyds wins so much better than Pacmans? I don't get it. Floyd pot shotting tailormade opponents = Amazing the best ever! Pacman destroying and dominating pressure fighters with pure offensive combos = tailormade nothing impressive.

Sums it up nicely.

[IMDAZED]

Cottp's confidence was hardly low, he came out blasting against Pacman and the first 4 rounds were fun but Pac beat what was left of Cotto's prime in the rounds that followed. In fact, by the 9/10th round, Cotto was literally flinching at every Pac faint and bob and weave. Even against Marg I didn't see him that scared.

Coming out blasting doesn't quite mean your confidence is high. In fact it was a sign to me of how ill prepared Cotto was.

I don't think the Mosley fight is a bad example, yes Mosley was shot, he was shot by the time he faced Floyd but none of those guys made Mosley RUN, none of them made him say "get me out of here". Mosley was ****ting himself past round 2.

You said it yourself. He was shot. Really doesn't matter what someone makes a shot fighter do.

[bopbopbbe]

Pacquiao's aggresiveness is CLEARLY gone. He only fights in parts of rounds now rather than throw punches nonstop for the whole 3min. Does it mean he's done? No because he can still beat 99% of fighters out there like that. But to say he hasnt declined is delusional. I've been waiting for the old pacquiao since the mosley fight. It hasnt happened.

[hectari]

Cottp's confidence was hardly low, he came out blasting against Pacman and the first 4 rounds were fun but Pac beat what was left of Cotto's prime in the rounds that followed. In fact, by the 9/10th round, Cotto was literally flinching at every Pac faint and bob and weave. Even against Marg I didn't see him that scared.

I don't think the Mosley fight is a bad example, yes Mosley was shot, he was shot by the time he faced Floyd but none of those guys made Mosley RUN, none of them made him say "get me out of here". Mosley was ****ting himself past round 2.



Sums it up nicely.

Anyone who says Cotto;s confidence was low going into the Pac fight is delusional, Cotto and Hatton and even Oscar had an all time high confidence, they kept saying this little dude ain't going to beat me. Oscar took the Pac fight becaus he felt it would be easy pickens

Both Hatton and Cotto came at Pacman like a freaking bulldozer, they wanted to take this little dude out early to prove a point that shows supreme confidence. Cotto always backs off when he fight sa guy who can pressure him and take his punches, Cotto always tries to impose himself if he can't that is when he gets on his bike.

[hectari]

The thing Pac has lost that people arent mentioning as much, is his stamina

Before he had unhuman like stamina....

And that stamina is what made him a threat to mayweather.....now I cant see him being a problem for mayweather where as 3 years ago I knew he would trouble mayweather

yup, that is the main issue, his stamina is gone he was huffing and puffing during the Bradley fight and even in the Rios fight his muscle endurance was no longer the same after a combo toward the end of the combo his arms got slow and heavy, he used to finish combo with a power punch, now his arms get slower that is a sign of aging. dude is 35 for crying out loud.

[soul_survivor]

Anyone who says Cotto;s confidence was low going into the Pac fight is delusional, Cotto and Hatton and even Oscar had an all time high confidence, they kept saying this little dude ain't going to beat me. Oscar took the Pac fight becaus he felt it would be easy pickens

Both Hatton and Cotto came at Pacman like a freaking bulldozer, they wanted to take this little dude out early to prove a point that shows supreme confidence. Cotto always backs off when he fight sa guy who can pressure him and take his punches, Cotto always tries to impose himself if he can't that is when he gets on his bike.

yeah those guys are idiots or just haters, Cotto was exceptional that night but he got battered by the far superior fighter. In fact, people tend to forget how tight the odds were for both fights and how Pacman was supposed to get dragged into a war by both men but Pacquiao just waltzed it in the end.

[Holywarrior]

Anyone who says Cotto;s confidence was low going into the Pac fight is delusional, Cotto and Hatton and even Oscar had an all time high confidence, they kept saying this little dude ain't going to beat me. Oscar took the Pac fight becaus he felt it would be easy pickens

Both Hatton and Cotto came at Pacman like a freaking bulldozer, they wanted to take this little dude out early to prove a point that shows supreme confidence. Cotto always backs off when he fight sa guy who can pressure him and take his punches, Cotto always tries to impose himself if he can't that is when he gets on his bike.

Hatton had freaking Floyd senior as his trainer It was crap, and Cotto basically trained himself and flirted with his fat friend all camp. Also crap

[Fooliun_Smaxon]

Cottp's confidence was hardly low, he came out blasting against Pacman and the first 4 rounds were fun but Pac beat what was left of Cotto's prime in the rounds that followed. In fact, by the 9/10th round, Cotto was literally flinching at every Pac faint and bob and weave. Even against Marg I didn't see him that scared.

I don't think the Mosley fight is a bad example, yes Mosley was shot, he was shot by the time he faced Floyd but none of those guys made Mosley RUN, none of them made him say "get me out of here". Mosley was ****ting himself past round 2.



Sums it up nicely.

Can't believe Floyd has so many fans to regurgitate the nonsense that is spewed about Pacquiao, downplaying his achievements. There must be so many sock puppet alts at the MoneyTeam/Al Haymon camp writing on this forum.