Marquez trainer picks Pacquiao over Mayweather

MANILA, Philippines – The man who successfully devised a game plan to defeat Manny Pacquiao is picking him to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their May 2 super fight.

Ignacio “Nacho” Beristein, who trained Juan Manuel Marquez in his four fights with Pacquiao, is confident that the Filipino icon will emerge victorious against Mayweather in the match that’s expected to be the richest in history.

"Pacquiao will definitely win. Pacquiao is just too tough and too strong. Pressure and a lot of punches just beats Floyd up," Beristein recently told Mark Malinowski of Ring Observer.

Oddsmakers have installed Mayweather as a 2 1/2-1 favorite to beat Pacquiao, but Beristein believes the General Santos City-based southpaw will buck the odds.

Interestingly, the 72-year-old trainer was in Marquez’s corner when the Mexican legend fought and lost to Mayweather by decision in 2009. But it will be Beristein’s work against Pacquiao that will mostly define his legacy as one of the best trainers in boxing history.

Pacquiao and Marquez clashed four times, with their first three outings ending up closely. In their final clash in 2012, Marquez knocked Pacquiao in the sixth round to register the first conclusive result of their storied rivalry.

Beristein just knows Pacquiao from head to toe that he believes the fighting congressman has the tools to end Mayweather’s unbeaten 47-fight run.

”I know very well Pacquiao. I’ve seen him fight many times. He’s very good. And everybody picks Mayweather to win the fight because he wins so much against easy fighters, but Pacquiao is just too tough, too strong,” he argued.

“Mayweather’s style – when he fights someone that pressures him and throws a lot of punches – he (Pacquiao) just beats (Mayweather) up,” Beristein added.

Beristein pointed out Pacquiao’s remarkable work ethic, saying it will be one of his keys to victory.

”He just works too hard. His training is too hard. He works very hard,” he continued.

Mayweather works hard as well, and in more than two months, the world will know who’s more effective. - Dino Maragay