Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquaio: Money Man will lose on 2 May super-fight unless he goes on the attack, says Mike Tyson

Former heavyweight champ predicts a Pacquiao win - unless Mayweather abandons his conservative style

Tom Sheen
Friday 13 March 2015 10:47 GMT
Comments
(Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Boxing legend Mike Tyson says Manny Pacquiao will beat slight favourite Floyd Mayweather in their 2 May super-fight unless Mayweather abandons his traditional style and gets on the front foot.

Mayweather, unbeaten in all 47 of his professional fights, is regarded as one of the best defensive fighters ever who outclasses opponents and makes them miss - he has only recorded two knockouts in his last 12 fights stretching back almost 10 years.

But Iron Mike, a former heavyweight champion and pound-for-pound king, says Mayweather will have to change tact because Pacquiao throws a "hundred punches a round."

"I thought from the start that Paquiao is going to win," Tyson told the Daily Mail. "This guy is perpetual motion. He comes from every angle. He’s all energy. Always throwing punches. Never stops.

"Floyd tucks in and picks his shots and he is more accurate. But he doesn’t throw anything like Manny’s hundred punches a round.

"It’s unlikely he can knock Manny out so if he wants to win he’s got to change. Unless he throws more punches he can’t win the rounds."

Speaking at their only pre-fight press conference earlier this week, Mayweather said he considered the fight business as usual, despite the whopping $350million purse and its billing as the fight of the century.

"We’ve started training real well," he said. "Continuing to do what we always do. Doing what has won all our 47 fights."

Mayweather added that "we will both be the best boxer we possibly can because we both want to this fight more than any other in our careers."

Tyson responded to his comment by saying it was "not enough".

"He’s gotta do something different. He needs to take a look at how the only opponents who have given Pacquiao trouble are Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, who also throw a hundred a round."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in