The Mythical Breakdown: Pacquiao vs. Recent Lightweight Monsters
The Boxing Truth is home to some of the most knowledgeable fight fans across the world and a fellow simply known as Jay "The Expert" shows why. Here is his breakdown of Manny Pacquiao vs. some of the top 135 pounders of recent times. How exactly would the "Pacman" fare against the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, or even a prime Oscar De la Hoya at lightweight?
Here is "The Expert's" breakdown:
For recent times I will not go any further back than 1990. The leading Champs outside of Chavez and Whitaker would be Mosley, De La Hoya, and Mayweather. Those would be the biggest Match-ups one could make.
Chavez: The only lightweight of my lifetime that could beat Chavez at his best and that was Roberto Duran. Having said that I don't think that Manny's style or stance would throw Chavez off.....just make a great fight. Chavez at lightweight had movement, ring prowess, an unbelievable chin, and and deceptive speed. He would either put you against the ropes and punish you like he did Rosario, or he would move and punish you with power shots like he did to Ramirez. Pacquiao has big speed and power for a lightweight, but not enough to offset Chavez.
Whitaker: Unlike most people I think that Whitaker was protected by the Duva management and marketed well. His competition was more celebrated than accomplished at lightweight. The biggest names: Mayweather, Ramirez, Nelson, and Paez were men rising in weight. He never fought anyone with a perfect blend of speed and power. Plus I never saw the tremendous speed that every one referred to in the hands and feet. Great upper body movement, but not near as fast as his stable mate Meldrick Taylor. Whitaker for being so illusive did get hit...Mayweather knocked him down. Chavez did not have a hard time finding him before the blatant low blows in the sixth round turned the tide. I think that Whitaker would have gone in arrogant as always and it would have been like a lightweight version of the Hurtado fight. The difference is that Whitakers power or lack there of never shows up. When things didn't go his way Whitaker got dirty like against Jacobs and Hurtado so I could see a DQ on Whitakers part seeing that he lost with the same class that he won with.
Mosley: Too big. Too fast. Too Strong. His hand and foot speed was real and could work the body. His KO percentage did not go down once he stepped up to world class opposition unlike most Duva fighters. Even though Pacquiao is a fast southpaw, I think that Mosley's body shots would catch up in the later rounds. Pacquiao has shown a great chin since he moved up in weight and his legs seem pretty strong. I think that Manny goes the distance based off heart and determination, but clearly the loser.
De La Hoya: Oscar has never faired well with southpaws. Bredel went too many rounds with him, so did Camacho, and Whitaker made him look so bad that some people were fooled into thinking that Whitaker deserved to win (he didn't). Oscar also did not throw allot of combos at lightweight which would give fast-handed boxer punchers like Pacquiao a good chance to build up a lead. Oscar's legs were not as steady due to the fact that he was already too big for these weights by the time he turned pro. I see Manny using his in and out movement and fast hands to offset Oscar's jab and stop him late.
Mayweather: At lightweight Mayweather was not that impressive. He only looked exceptional in the N'dou fight. I thought Mayweather lost the first Castillo fight, but he gave away the first four rounds. Had he not he would have won a split decision. And had he not quit fighting after the 8th round in the rematch, he would have won a unanimous decision in the second fight. I think Pacquiao's jab, speed, and power would have kept Mayweather on his heels and unable to leap in with his power shots. The middle rounds would have turned into a give and take where I think that Pacquiao who has shown more power at 135 and 140 would get the better of it.
I think that Manny goes 3-2 against the recent top lightweights.
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Here is "The Expert's" breakdown:
For recent times I will not go any further back than 1990. The leading Champs outside of Chavez and Whitaker would be Mosley, De La Hoya, and Mayweather. Those would be the biggest Match-ups one could make.
Chavez: The only lightweight of my lifetime that could beat Chavez at his best and that was Roberto Duran. Having said that I don't think that Manny's style or stance would throw Chavez off.....just make a great fight. Chavez at lightweight had movement, ring prowess, an unbelievable chin, and and deceptive speed. He would either put you against the ropes and punish you like he did Rosario, or he would move and punish you with power shots like he did to Ramirez. Pacquiao has big speed and power for a lightweight, but not enough to offset Chavez.
Whitaker: Unlike most people I think that Whitaker was protected by the Duva management and marketed well. His competition was more celebrated than accomplished at lightweight. The biggest names: Mayweather, Ramirez, Nelson, and Paez were men rising in weight. He never fought anyone with a perfect blend of speed and power. Plus I never saw the tremendous speed that every one referred to in the hands and feet. Great upper body movement, but not near as fast as his stable mate Meldrick Taylor. Whitaker for being so illusive did get hit...Mayweather knocked him down. Chavez did not have a hard time finding him before the blatant low blows in the sixth round turned the tide. I think that Whitaker would have gone in arrogant as always and it would have been like a lightweight version of the Hurtado fight. The difference is that Whitakers power or lack there of never shows up. When things didn't go his way Whitaker got dirty like against Jacobs and Hurtado so I could see a DQ on Whitakers part seeing that he lost with the same class that he won with.
Mosley: Too big. Too fast. Too Strong. His hand and foot speed was real and could work the body. His KO percentage did not go down once he stepped up to world class opposition unlike most Duva fighters. Even though Pacquiao is a fast southpaw, I think that Mosley's body shots would catch up in the later rounds. Pacquiao has shown a great chin since he moved up in weight and his legs seem pretty strong. I think that Manny goes the distance based off heart and determination, but clearly the loser.
De La Hoya: Oscar has never faired well with southpaws. Bredel went too many rounds with him, so did Camacho, and Whitaker made him look so bad that some people were fooled into thinking that Whitaker deserved to win (he didn't). Oscar also did not throw allot of combos at lightweight which would give fast-handed boxer punchers like Pacquiao a good chance to build up a lead. Oscar's legs were not as steady due to the fact that he was already too big for these weights by the time he turned pro. I see Manny using his in and out movement and fast hands to offset Oscar's jab and stop him late.
Mayweather: At lightweight Mayweather was not that impressive. He only looked exceptional in the N'dou fight. I thought Mayweather lost the first Castillo fight, but he gave away the first four rounds. Had he not he would have won a split decision. And had he not quit fighting after the 8th round in the rematch, he would have won a unanimous decision in the second fight. I think Pacquiao's jab, speed, and power would have kept Mayweather on his heels and unable to leap in with his power shots. The middle rounds would have turned into a give and take where I think that Pacquiao who has shown more power at 135 and 140 would get the better of it.
I think that Manny goes 3-2 against the recent top lightweights.
http://theboxingtruth.com/
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