Why Mayweather Will Beat Pacquiao Tonight

Published

9 years ago

May 2, 2015

It’s been said here since Manny Pacquiao devastated Ricky Hatton in two rounds back in May of 2009 that we’ll definitely see him and Floyd Mayweather fight before either retires. That happens tonight. It’s also been said in this space that the fight will only be made once Mayweather thinks it’s the right time for both business reasons and also when the in ring match-up best favors him, which apparently he thinks is tonight.

And the thing I’ve probably harped on most was this: when the fight is over Mayweather will still be undefeated.

If you’re picking Manny Pacquiao to beat Floyd Mayweather tonight, in my opinion you’ll be disappointed tomorrow. Then again as the great Roberto Duran recently said, “Remember in life anyone can be fooled, so they could fool me.” So maybe I’ve been fooled, and like everyone else it certainly won’t be the first or the last time when it comes to picking fights correctly. And as much as I would like to be proven wrong tomorrow as far as picking the winner goes, I don’t think that’ll be the case.

And here’s why:

Mayweather accepted the fight. And to me that only happens under two conditions and they both had to be met and in play……1) Floyd feels the time is right and he no longer just thinks he can beat Pacquiao, he now knows it. Remember, he could’ve made this fight anytime he wanted to after 2009. Granted, he may not be at his absolute best but Manny has declined more rapidly than Floyd has. And I believe Mayweather not only knew that would eventually be the case, he counted on it. Therefore it is he, not Les Moonves or anyone else who decided the time to go forth with a fight that should’ve been realized in 2010, is now……2) Mayweather has called the shots most of the way as to the terms of the bout regarding drug testing, purse split, and some even believe referee Kenny Bayless is more inclined to break the fighters up sooner and prevent in-fighting, which in one of Pacquiao’s strengths. Let’s be honest, Mayweather has never gone into a major fight in which there wasn’t something tilting the field of play in his favor. So if you forget about the actual ring combat for a moment, all signs point to Floyd. The fact alone that Mayweather OK’d the fight should scare the hell out of you if you’re betting on Pacquiao.

The in-ring combat and style clash:

I’ve read for the better part of the last two years that Mayweather’s legs are gone and how Pacquiao has the more judge friendly style of fighting. To that I say, yes, and it won’t matter regarding his legs being gone – and as far as the more judge friendly style, Pacquiao will not have that going for him when he touches gloves with Mayweather tonight. And probably the most overlooked thing regarding the two fighters is; Mayweather is clearly the bigger man. Don’t be surprised by how much bigger Mayweather is when they are standing face to face during the referees final instructions. Floyd’s size advantage will be a factor in the outcome because it truly takes a toll on the smaller fighter who has to attack the bigger fighter, especially when their skill sets are equal.

As for the case pertaining to Mayweather’s legs, he no longer moves and uses them like he used to. He’s now filled out and is very physically strong. Look how he handled strong powerful hitters like Miguel Cotto, Saul Alverez and Marcos Maidana. He held his ground and actually won many exchanges with them while his feet were planted and with his back against the ropes.

Pacquiaio will lose because Mayweather holds the style advantage. Manny is not a fighter who applies bell-to-bell sustained pressure like a vintage Roberto Duran used against Sugar Ray Leonard the first time they fought. Thus Mayweather will not be forced to do much of what he doesn’t want to do. Manny’s pressure comes in spurts and waves. Mayweather will be able to time him and counter Pacquiao’s aggression and attacks with his accurate and straight punching. Which leads to another problem for Pacquiao, which is Manny is easy to hit these days and has been prone to fighting more upright than when he used to come in low. If Pacquiao is getting hit cleanly as he’s attempting to bring it to Mayweather, his aggression will be blunted and stymied along with him being knocked out of punching range. This in turn will cause him to come up short with the meaningful shots he’ll be looking to send Mayweather’s way. Thus he’ll have to start all over again working his way in, and most like he’ll be blunted at the front door again. And while he’s looking for the side door Mayweather will score.

Pretty soon the round will be over and Mayweather will have landed the more telling and memorable punches during it to carry the round. And as the fight progresses the better Mayweather’s read on Pacquiao will become and the more upright Manny will start to get during his runs at Floyd. With that pattern unfolding Pacquiao will need to turn the fight with one punch. And therein lies another problem for Pacquiao. And that is he doesn’t have the single shot power to freeze Mayweather with one punch, which is mostly all that he’ll get, to the point to where Floyd is momentarily defenseless and vulnerable to Pacquiao going in and really pushing him to the edge of the cliff.

The same thing applied to Marvin Hagler when he fought Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987. Hagler was successful from time to time nailing Leonard with his Sunday best, but he never could hurt Ray enough to the point to where he lost his senses and wasn’t able to either move away, flurry back or tie Hagler up. And that was a big factor as to why Leonard was so effective boxing Hagler – because he never really was hurt or under duress. I see Pacquiao having the same problem with Mayweather tonight, never being able to hurt him enough to where Floyd is momentarily defenseless and vulnerable.

Manny cannot and will not beat Floyd by playing the wait and then react game. He’s got to jump on him and give Mayweather no choice but to have to fight him off. Manny has to answer every Floyd shot with two of his own…..My fear is he’ll get hit too cleanly trying to do it. Pacquiao is not a good defensive fighter, his offense is his defense, and I think in this case, his offense can lead him to getting hit too squarely by Mayweather from outside before he can get going. So if you take into account Mayweather’s size advantage, that he’ll be able to live with Pacquiao’s sporadic pressure and he’ll have no trouble hitting Manny before he gets off with anything big – in addition to not being hurt to the point during the bout to where he can’t recover, Mayweather wins the fight.

On Sunday morning May 3rd 2015 Floyd Mayweather will be 48-0 and will have become the sixth professional fighter to have done what five other fighters have done, defeat Manny Pacquiao.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

1 hour ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

Ramirez-Outpoints-Barthelemy-and-Vergil-Ortiz-Scores-Another-Fast-KO-in-Fresno

Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.

Fans gasped.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.

From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11^th round.

Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Vergil KOs Number 21

Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.

Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.

“It was a very calculated punch,” Ortiz said.

It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.

Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

Other Bouts

Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.

It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.

Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.

Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.

Welterweights

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.

Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.

First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.

Facts.

Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garcia’s can’t be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.

Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.

Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” he said.

Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.

Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.

I must confess that I first saw Garcia’s ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.

And that brings resentment.

Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.

Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?

Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.

Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.

Golden Boy Season

After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

It’s a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.

Ortiz has all the weapons.

Also, Northern California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was

a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.

In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.

Munguia and Canelo

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.

Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).

Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

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Ramon Cardenas Channels Micky Ward and KOs Eduardo Ramirez on ProBox

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Ramon-Cardenas-Channels-Micky-Ward-and-KOs-Eduardo-Ramirez-on-ProBox

The Wednesday night bi-monthly series of fights on the ProBox TV platform is the best deal in boxing; the livestream is free with no strings attached! Tonight’s episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas and Eduardo Ramirez who brought a caravan of rooters from his hometown in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

Cardenas, coached by Joel Diaz, entered the contest ranked #4 by the WBA. He was expected to handle Ramirez with little difficulty, but this was a close, tactical fight through eight frames when lightning struck in the form of a left hook to the liver from Cardenas. Ramirez went down on one knee and wasn’t able to beat the count. It was as if Cardenas summoned the ghost of Micky Ward who had a penchant for terminating fights with the same punch that arrived out of the blue.

The official time was 1:37 of round nine. Cardenas improved to 25-1 with his14th win inside the distance. Ramirez, who was stopped in the opening round by Nick “Wrecking” Ball in London in his lone previous fight outside Mexico, falls to 23-3-3.

Co-Feature

In an upset, Tijuana super welterweight Damian Sosa won a split decision over previously undefeated Marques Valle, a local area fighter who was stepping up in class in his first 10-round go. Sosa was the aggressor, repeatedly backing his taller opponent into the ropes where Valle was unable to get good leverage behind his punches.

The 25-year-old Valle, managed by the influential David McWater, was the house fighter. This was his 10^th appearance in this building. He brought a 10-0 (7) record and was hoping to emulate the success of his younger brother Dominic Valle who scored a second-round stoppage of his opponent in this ring two weeks ago, improving to 9-0. But Sosa, who brought a 24-2 record, proved to be a bridge too high.

The judges had it 97-93 and 96-94 for the Tijuana invader and a disgraceful 98-92 for the house fighter.

Also

In a fight whose abrupt ending would be echoed by the main event, 34-year-old SoCal featherweight Ronny Rios, now training in Las Vegas, returned to the ring after a 22-month hiatus and scored a fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco of the Dominican Republic.

A three-punch combo climaxed by a left hook to the liver took the breath out of Polanco who slumped to his knees and was counted out. A two-time world title challenger, Rios advanced to 34-4 (17 KOs). Polanco, 34, declined to 21-6-1. The official time was 0:54 of round five.

—

The next ProBox show (Wednesday, May 8) will have an international cast with fighters from Kazakhstan, Japan, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom. In the main event, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.

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