Mayweather-Pacquiao — the biggest fight in decades — is almost here, and we’re not short on hot takes about the bout. Floyd Mayweather is undefeated, but is he really better? Maybe not. Will Manny Pacquiao’s devastating left hand be the difference? Mayweather’s fight history provides some hints there.
We won’t know the answers until Saturday night, but here’s how eight NESN.com staffers — and one special guest — see things going down at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mike Cole’s pick: Mayweather
My heart wants to say Pacquiao, but my brain wins out here. For me, it comes down to strategy and the pace of the fight. Whoever dictates the pace should win, and no one’s better at fighting his fight than Mayweather. Pacquiao’s best chance will come if Mayweather opens himself up and Pacquiao catches him with a thunderous left, but Mayweather is just so good at not leaving himself vulnerable. Unfortunately, I think this will be a relatively boring fight once the hoopla subsides, and a boring fight favors Mayweather. He’ll come away with a decision win.
Ricky Doyle’s pick: Mayweather
Pac-Man will come out swinging, but it’s hard to imagine him maintaining that pace with any success against a more defensive and more skilled Mayweather. Money will pick him apart in the later rounds, which is a victory for those embracing Mayweather’s greatness but a defeat for those who favor a more aggressive style of boxing. Plus, who am I to question the greatest quarterback in NFL history? Ding, ding, ding!
Anna Fogel’s pick: Pacquiao
Pacquiao didn’t have to deal with his dog eating his homework. He had to deal with his dad eating his dog when he was just 12 years old, according to his trainer, Freddie Roach. For that and so many boxing reasons — which I totally know but just don’t want to tell you — I’m going with Pac-Man. Sure, Mayweather is undefeated and near impossible to touch, but when you run away from home and live on the streets after seeing what happened to the family dog, you just kind of deserve a win. (P.S. You’ll be happy to hear Pacquiao now is the proud owner of an adorable Jack Russell terrier named Pac-Man.)
Sam Galanis’ pick: Pacquiao
Given Mayweather’s history with domestic violence, I couldn’t bring myself to pick him, no matter how undefeated he is. Even if Mayweather didn’t have a shady past, I’m still not too sure he would have received my vote. Sure, he’s the better boxer, but the 2007 New England Patriots were the better NFL team, and the 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats were the better basketball squad, too. I think you can see where I’m going with this. Plus, Pacquiao has a good-luck charm in the form of his Jack Russell, and Mayweather doesn’t.
Darren Hartwell’s pick: Mayweather
Pacquiao has all the will and talent required to hand Mayweather his first loss, and if he fights the perfect fight, he can do so. But the odds are stacked too high against him. Mayweather only would agree to this fight if he had a strong chance of winning, and he’s fighting on his home turf in Las Vegas. There’s a reason the guy is undefeated, and Mayweather’s technical prowess will be just enough to outlast Pacquiao’s tenacity.
Andre Khatchaturian’s pick: Pacquiao
Pacquiao is the younger, quicker fighter, and that could be a factor in a bout that’s expected to go long. More importantly, Pacquiao is a southpaw, and Mayweather has struggled against lefty fighters. I expect Pacquiao to use his speed to tire out Mayweather and win in the late rounds.
Andrew Oak’s pick: Mayweather
Everyone has been waiting for this fight, but in reality, it would have been better five years ago. This will be a long, grueling battle, and I just don’t see either boxer being knocked out. A legacy fight of these proportions has been long overdue, but Mayweather’s toughness will beat out Pacquiao’s quickness in a unanimous decision.
Ben Watanabe’s pick: Mayweather
Pacquiao just doesn’t go away, but Mayweather also is an excellent defensive fighter, so it’ll be interesting to see what the pace is early. Neither packs a huge punch (relatively speaking), so if Pacquiao can’t wear down Mayweather early, Mayweather probably will turn the tables and trounce Pacquiao in the middle rounds.
Guest prognosticator: George Foreman III
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
