The May 2 fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao continues to dominate headlines, as the much-anticipated match between two of the best boxers the world has ever seen draws even nearer.
Interviews and productions featuring either one or both boxers are being released to increase the hype for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, as analysts and experts alike continue to weigh in on who they think would win between the two boxers.
In the Mayweather/Pacquiao: The Legends Speak production of HBO Boxing, boxers who were able to fight both Mayweather and Pacquiao were asked for their opinion.
According to Oscar De La Hoya, Mayweather is a very tactical fighter who set himself up to win as De La Hoya simply was not able to sustain his attacks early on in the match. Shane Mosley, famous for landing two of the strongest punches that Mayweather may have ever received in his entire career, said that he thought he had the win, but Mayweather's superb conditioning allowed him to continue on and win the fight.
De La Hoya, on the other hand, was not able to punch back against Pacquiao due to how relentless his attacks were, as the punches kept coming. Mosley said that he did not believe that Pacquiao could beat him, but early on in the fight after being knocked down by a combination, he dreaded the fact that he still had 10 rounds to go with Pacquiao.
Ricky Hatton said Mayweather wants his opponents to put pressure on him, while Pacquiao continues to attack. Miguel Cotto sees Mayweather as beatable if he can be kept out of his strategy, and Pacquiao's advantage would be in his speed. Juan Manuel Marquez believes Pacquiao is beatable despite his speed and power, and believes Mayweather is the best pound-for-pound fighter with his great ability to use counterpunches.
Boxing legends George Foreman, Lennox Lewis and Bernard Hopkins were interviewed next on their thoughts about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. The three legends were involved in what were termed as matches that transcended boxing, as Lewis fought Mike Tyson, Foreman fought Muhammad Ali and Bernard Hopkins fought Felix Trinidad.
Foreman believes that the pressure on the match is on Pacquiao, as he needs to find a way to break Mayweather's unbeaten record. Hopkins, on the other hand, believes that the pressure is on Mayweather, as he looks to achieve history with a 50-0 win-loss record. Lewis, however, believes that if there is pressure on Mayweather, he is only doing that to himself.
Lewis and Hopkins agree that Mayweather will have to make adjustments to move and punch, with the question being if he will be able to do so. Foreman, however, thinks that Mayweather can continue fighting the same way he has fought.
Pacquiao will punch much more compared to Mayweather, which can score the points, but Lewis thinks that the strategy will open him up to counterpunches. Foreman believes that for Pacquiao, he will have to concentrate on winning the fight one round at a time to beat Mayweather instead of thinking about knocking him out. Lewis thinks something has to give in the great matchup between an aggressor and a defensive specialist.
Foreman thinks that in addition to the upcoming Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, the Joe Louis-Max Schmeling rematch and the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier match are the three fights that will "make up what boxing is all about."
Mosley picks Mayweather to win, while De La Hoya thinks Pacquiao will win. Cotto thinks that the man with no fear on May 2 will come out on top, while Marquez and Hatton believe that Mayweather will win.
Foreman believes Pacquiao will win by one round, Lewis thinks Mayweather will win if the match goes the distance and Hopkins expects Mayweather to win by decision.
In another HBO Boxing production that asked celebrities who their picks will be to win the fight, included in the camp rooting for Mayweather are Sean Combs, Shaquille O'Neal and Jamie Foxx, while those who believe Pacquiao will win include Mark Wahlberg, with Liev Schreiber stating that Pacquiao should never be counted out.
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