The time for this Superfight to take place is finally here. For many
years the fight has been viewed by most fans as black or white, meaning
most people have picked a side and locked in… Floyd or Manny. Over the
years the debate has even developed into weird subcultures amongst boxing
fans. As always, it isn’t black or white but there are a ton of variables
and issues that will determine how this fight plays out.

The first issue that boxing people are aware of but has been
overlooked by the popular majority in the midst of the excitement is that
Mayweather at 38 and Pacquiao at 36 are both past their primes. However,
both are still capable of competing at or near their best. For an aging
athlete and even more so for an aging fighter, there will be more nights
where they realize that despite the same preparation that they just do not
have their A game once they step into the ring. Mayweather seemed to
acknowledge this after he beat Marcos Maidana in his last fight when he
gave his winning performance a C-.

Another factor is injuries. The question going into a fight of this
magnitude between two veteran warriors in their mid to late 30’s will not
be if either of these men are hurting and have any old nagging injuries,
the question will be if the injuries are bad enough on fight night to
impact their performance. Everyone knows that Floyd has had hand problems
most of his career, while Pacquiao has suffered from bad cramps in his
calves in the past and it has been reported he has had them in camp
training for this fight.

Considering the mental toughness, experience and greatness of both
fighters, injuries should not play a part in determining the outcome of the
fight or the strategy during it… but it depends on the level of their
presence on fight night. Floyd
Mayweather Sr. when discussing Pacquiao’s leg issues said, “To me, that
would be Floyd put pressure on him, back him up, back him up on his legs.
It’s going to be good because he ain’t going to be able to jump all night
like that.”

“He might be able to do it for two or three rounds, but if his legs are
really hurting him — I mean, he can get his legs back well before the
fight, but in a good, tough fight, the (pain) will probably come back.
It’ll probably come back to him.”

Besides brittle hands, Mayweather’s legs have also been questioned
despite the fact he used them a lot more in his most recent fight with
Marcos Maidana then he did in their first fight. Freddie Roach recently
said, “I actually think Floyd had a better chance of beating Manny five
years ago than he does now. I think his legs are a little bit shot. I think
he’s slowed down a bit. I think we can take advantage of that.”

To win the fight, Pacquiao will need to use his superior foot speed
and severe cramps can negate that speed and potentially take away one of
Manny’s best attributes. While Mayweather has dealt with hand problems
throughout his career and has always been victorious; he hasn’t fought
anyone who fights with the speed and intensity of Manny Pacquiao. To get
Pacquiao’s respect and keep him honest Floyd will need to be able to use
his hands to sit down on some shots and punch with authority when he gets
the opportunities.

Neither of these great warriors would have had such long brilliant
careers and be at this level, fighting each other in the biggest money
fight in the history of boxing if they weren’t both fighters who are
usually at their best when the stakes are the highest. That being said,
they are still human beings. However, with all the money and their
reputations on the line it would be highly unlikely either man would ever
pull out even for what most would consider serious last minute issues.

There have been very unique issues going on behind the scenes of big
fights in the past that have changed the history of boxing when the show
must go on. In these situations fighters are accused of being washed up,
or outclassed when there is more going on than meets the eye. Examples
include Evander Holyfield who is said to have contracted Hepatitis A at
some point prior to his 3rd fight with Riddick Bowe. To his credit
Holyfield knocked Bowe down and looked like he might finish Bowe, but he
clearly hit a wall where all his energy left his body and he was stopped.

In Azumah Nelson’s first fight with Jeff Fenech Nelson faded badly,
while he didn’t hit a wall like Holyfield did, he clearly was losing it
while Fenech came on late and appeared to score the victory (the judges
scored it a draw). Later Nelson revealed he had entered the bout suffering
with malaria. When they fought a rematch and a healthy Nelson stopped
Fenech in the 8th round, people took notice and many said, wow… he must have
been sick the 1st time. While facts or excuses will always be disputed,
these two were at least arguably true and seemed to make sense considering
the fighters prior and subsequent performances in the ring.

The anticipation and build up to the fight will probably out do the
fight itself, but there is the possibility this can actually end up a great
fight. Mayweather’s goal is simply to be Floyd Mayweather and win the
fight. Being Floyd Mayweather usually means slowing the pace down a lot,
and working the judges and the referee. Sharp defense and sharp but
infrequent single pot shots with just enough movement sprinkled in. For
the fight to have a chance to be great, first Manny must impose his will on
Mayweather, he must earn his respect and be capable of taking Floyd out of
his comfort zone more than he has ever been in his career, from there the
battle is keeping him out of it, while Floyd adjusts.

If Floyd wins a boring defense first conservative decision with a lot
of close rounds, the fight will be a disappointment to most. If Pacquiao
takes Floyd out of his comfort zone and Floyd is never really able to get
back into it and as a result Floyd is dropped and beaten or stopped, it can
be an exciting fight and an upset. However, for this fight to be a
classic, Manny will have to impose his will on Floyd to the point where
Floyd realizes that he is incapable of making the adjustments to quickly
turn it back into his fight, like he did with top fighters like Shane
Mosley and Zab Judah.

This may be the first time in his career that Floyd may be out
gunned. While arguments can be made that maybe one or two former opponents
were able to match Floyd in hand and foot speed, this appears to be the
first time that Floyd will be fighting someone with faster hands and feet.
Floyd is capable of handling that, but Pacquiao, whose boxing instincts and
IQ seem to be underestimated by most, may put Mayweather in uncharted
waters. If Pacquiao can beat Floyd to the punch, work in and out, work his
angles all while using his speed then the master of adjustments, Floyd
Mayweather may finally be forced to use everything in his arsenal to keep
Pacquiao off of him and stay competitive in the fight. Floyd may have more
opportunities to show his greatness in this fight than he has had in just
about all of his fights to date. Pacquiao can potentially give Floyd no
other choice but to stand his ground, sit down on shots, and possibly need
to stage a comeback or win the fight fighting Pacquiao’s fight possibly
looking for a knockout.

It is possibly that these two great warriors are capable of taking each
other to places that no prior opponent has been able to, especially
regarding Mayweather who hasn’t tasted defeat as a professional. If
Mayweather realistically wants to be considered “The Best Ever” he needs
this moment, more than Pacquiao does… but realistically they will both
need each other to show up with their A game and show their greatness on
Saturday to enable one of them to put their greatness on display and in the
process leave an everlasting impact on their legacies, boxing and sports.
It is possible that everything clicks on Saturday and Floyd and Manny are
forced to leave it all in the ring and this fight becomes an instant
classic.