How is Manny Pacquiao still elite at age 40?

[South Champion]

Even Tim Bradley noticed that Pac changed from their first fight to the second fight (Pac was KOd by JMM between these two fights)

He adjusted and was never knocked down again since.

I remember Bradley said that Pacquiao didn't hit as hard and that his killer instinct was gone.

[techliam]

Because the current division is talent poor, with matchups feeling exciting because they are evenly matched

The sad thing is that they are all equally as poor, and promoted very well

At one point, Welterweight had dominant Floyd, dominant Pacquiao, Marquez, Bradley... then slightly before you had the Shane Mosley and Cottos in there. Night and day difference

[JakeTheBoxer]

And have you ever seen Provodnikov fight? I'm sure if he had a defense like Toney or Duran he would have lasted long too.

I agree, dude had no defense, lol.

[Monzon99]

He could be smoke and mirrors at this point. Wouldn't be a shocker if Thurman played soft for the big (much needed) payday.

[Mike D]

He could be smoke and mirrors at this point. Wouldn't be a shocker if Thurman played soft for the big (much needed) payday.

Give me a break, man. So now Keith possibly let Manny win for some extra cash?

Absolutely absurd. By the way Keith beating Manny's ass would have earned more money in the long run by leaps and bounds than throwing a fight with Manny would. I swear some people have it in for Manny so bad that they'll literally throw anything at the wall to see if it will stick.

It was an extremely competitive fight and Keith put out a very good showing of himself, but just started too slow. And a first ballot hall of fame all-time great hung on to win. That's what happened.

Thurman didn't "play soft" for an extra envelope of cash, dude.

[Monzon99]

Slow starts are always suspect, especially when it's the biggest fight of his life.

Haymon's franchise was Pac not Thurman. Haymon wanted to milk Pac to save for his planned franchise Spence.

Haymon did not want Thurman to win the fight because Thurman does not sell. Pac SELLS. Who knows. But when Haymon is involved you have to follow the long term money. His in house "fights" always follow the business plan for long term revenues. In case you weren't sharp enough to notice.

Haymon key assets NEVER lose in house PBC set ups. Never.

[whollisboxing]

pac is completely shot and past his prime. it's just that a shot past prime pac is still considered elite compared to a lot of these young underachievers. prime pac would completely obliterate and sweep through these young champs. that's how good prime pac was and why floyd avoided prime pac.

Without rehashing this argument yet again, Floyd's style may have aged better but he still aged.

Neither guy faced the prime version of the other and Floyd would have been more elusive in 2009 just like Manny would have been more explosive.

[Mike D]

Slow starts are always suspect, especially when it's the biggest fight of his life.

You do know that slow starts are a part of sports, right? And that it's not the individual or opponent necessarily just falling asleep, right? Or in your view a fix or staged outcome. Maybe, just maybe the opposition had something to do with that?

It happens in every sport on every level.

Do you think Lomachenko threw his fight too?

Actually I don't even know why I'm wasting my time on posts like yours. I just wanted to point out the epic absurdity of your ridiculous and totally baseless claim.

Anyway have a good evening...bye.

[Monzon99]

Lomachenko was psyched out before the fight by Lopez's confidence and bravado. Loma just could not understand how the heck this punk kid could be so confident about kicking his a55. Then the reality of how big Lopez is and how smart he boxes, using range to set up his power and control Loma and Loma had no answers. Then in the second half of the fight he pushed harder but it was not nearly enough, Lopez was the real deal.

Hagler's slow start vs Leonard - very suspect.

Thurman's slow start was contrary to all his other starts. He looked like a guy happy to get the big payday he was starving for.

[Roadblock]

Has the ability and is well managed, has a career build around big fights that were made to his advantage, you need the boxing ability to pull it off but the match making dictates where your ability goes.

You cant apply a formula to ATGs, they were born special, they were good all their career and they will be good longer today because of modern science, the day will come when a guy is too old to execute too old to defend, Manny not there yet but no doubt its just around the corner if he writes a cheque he cannot cash.