It would have been worse for Pac 5 years ago...

[AllBoxingAD]

Im saying this with all my heart, I hate the fact that we had to wait 5 long years for this fight. I truly do.

And this is not a diss thread, I have nothing but respect and love for Manny, I have him up there as not just a HoF, but an ATG.

However, Ive come to the realization that he is lucky this fight didnt happen in 2010. Yeah he had a better motor back then. Better everything, in fact, as he was in his physical prime.

But... he still wouldnt have been able to cut off the ring. Still wouldnt be able to out-think Floyd. Still couldnt get away from the jabs upstairs and downstairs. Still would have gotten countered to death. Still would have been the smaller man. Still would have the shorter reach. Still couldnt match him defensively. Still wouldnt know what to do with a guy shoulder-rolling a southpaw. Still not as versatile as Floyd....

Yes things would have been rougher for Floyd in spots but Floyd is not just an ATG. He is in the same class as the untouchable legends from eras past like SRR, Ali, Leonard, Duran...

[!! Shawn]

Im saying this with all my heart, I hate the fact that we had to wait 5 long years for this fight. I truly do.

And this is not a diss thread, I have nothing but respect and love for Manny, I have him up there as not just a HoF, but an ATG.

However, Ive come to the realization that he is lucky this fight didnt happen in 2010. Yeah he had a better motor back then. Better everything, in fact, as he was in his physical prime.

But... he still wouldnt have been able to cut off the ring. Still wouldnt be able to out-think Floyd. Still couldnt get away from the jabs upstairs and downstairs. Still would have gotten countered to death. Still would have been the smaller man. Still would have the shorter reach. Still couldnt match him defensively. Still wouldnt know what to do with a guy shoulder-rolling a southpaw. Still not as versatile as Floyd....

Yes things would have been rougher for Floyd in spots but Floyd is not just an ATG. He is in the same class as the untouchable legends from eras past like SRR, Ali, Leonard, Duran...

Here is why you are Wrong.

Duran beasted SRL the first time out, because he was still at the edge of his prime.

Duran, looked like garbage for #3 because he was far past his best, and srl was still srl.

Saying that having the fight closer to Pacquiaos prime would have made it worse is just ******. Regaurdless of tonight, Pacquiao will be remembered as the greater fighter, just like Duran is remembered as the greater fighter even though he lost to Leonard 2x Hearns, Hagler, etc...

They will remember Pacquiao as the fighter, because he had the significant career, and fought the better opposition consistently, and in their prime.

This is an objective assessment from someone who doesn't particularly like either fighter.

Floyd has no significant wins over meaningfully great fighters in their prime.

Pacquiao has Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Cotto. All first Ballot HOF fighters, All in their Prime, while Morales is debatable, but his comeback success indicates he still was.

History will Remember Floyd as subordinate to Hopkins, Whitaker, and Pacquiao.

[DeadLikeMe]

Lol, Floyd with younger hand and foot speed...even more of a stylistic nightmare for Pac. Pac's feints didn't work on Floyd tonight, they wouldn't work on him yesterday, and they wouldn't have worked on him 5 or 6 years ago. Floyd is simply the superior fighter and it showed tonight.

[stuff jones]

No.

I thought we might see a turn back the clock performance from Pac tonight but no.

In 2009 Pacquiao was constantly in motion bouncing around on his toes and fearlessly aggressive.

Tonight he was flat footed and almost plodding and really tentative. People try to play it up like the Marquez KO made him smarter and gave him a better chance. That's crazy. He was never going to outbox Floyd. He had to overwhelm him with fearless aggression, constant motion and boundless energy.

He just can't do that anymore.

[Tay Roc]

I don't think he could have done worse than he did tonight lol

[ThePunchingBag]

Manny's footwork was garbage tonight.

Not quick at all.

In 2009 Pac had a lot of momentum coming off DLH, Hatton, Cotto wins.

It will always be a better fight the first time around.

[broblin]

No.

I thought we might see a turn back the clock performance from Pac tonight but no.

In 2009 Pacquiao was constantly in motion bouncing around on his toes and fearlessly aggressive.

Tonight he was flat footed and almost plodding and really tentative. People try to play it up like the Marquez KO made him smarter and gave him a better chance. That's crazy. He was never going to outbox Floyd. He had to overwhelm him with fearless aggression, constant motion and boundless energy.

He just can't do that anymore.

I would agree with this. The "old" Pacquiao might have made it a more exciting fight but he would have taken more punishment. The chances of Floyd winning via stoppage would increase dramatically.

However, that is the only way Manny would have a chance against Floyd... to throw caution to the wind and try to swarm him and hopefully land a lucky shot.

Floyd's style has never been good for Manny. Floyd is smarter, slick, and probably the best defensive fighter I have ever seen.

[LittleMacAttack]

The only way Pacquiao was going to win this fight was going to be if he was fearlessly aggressive. He needed to constantly push the action with little regard to his own safety. The problem is that is also how he could get knocked out, and Pacquiao knew that. The Marquez KO put that doubt in him, the KO has been in his mind since, especially in this fight against a renowned counter puncher.

For this reason a younger, brash, fearless Pacquiao would have fared much better than the modern tentative Pacquiao. Sure he may have been knocked out in a similar fashion to the Marquez fight had he fought him in that manner, but it was always his only shot.

[Hype job]

Lol this is nonsense, the fight wasn't even a shutout like you guys are claiming, it was an 8-4ish fight and many of the rounds were close.

What's key is Pac's tentativeness when throwing, DeadLikeMe even posted himself how Pac's been looking extremely tentative since the Marquez KO, you don't just recover from a KO like that.

Flat footed Pac had Floyd on the ropes and took too long to get off because he was overly tentative, reckless Pac would have just let his hands go and thrashed him.

[Hype job]

The only way Pacquiao was going to win this fight was going to be if he was fearlessly aggressive. He needed to constantly push the action with little regard to his own safety. The problem is that is also how he could get knocked out, and Pacquiao knew that. The Marquez KO put that doubt in him, the KO has been in his mind since, especially in this fight against a renowned counter puncher.

For this reason a younger, brash, fearless Pacquiao would have fared much better than the modern tentative Pacquiao. Sure he may have been knocked out in a similar fashion to the Marquez fight had he fought him in that manner, but it was always his only shot.

They'll pretend it played no factor lol.

Pac wasn't just out he was unconscious for about 5 minutes... he was never going to be the same.