MANILA, Philippines - Floyd Mayweather Sr., the outspoken father of the undefeated Floyd Jr., said his son will easily defeat Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao when they slug it out in a megabuck showdown on May 2 at the MGM Grand.
“What I see is, first of all, the man (Pacquiao) ain’t knocked nobody out in five years. He ain’t knocked nobody out in five years, and the same guy that knocked his *** ice cold, for 12 rounds, Floyd beat him 12 rounds easy,” the elder Mayweather told Ben Thompson of fighthype.com, referring to Juan Manuel Marquez, a common opponent of Pacquiao and Floyd Jr.
Floyd Jr. routed Marquez in their 2009 encounter. It’s the same guy whom Pacquiao went through hell for four fights in a storied rivalry that culminated in the Filipino champion getting knocked out in their final bout in 2012.
That pretty much sums it up as far as how Pacquiao would fare against Mayweather, according to his father.
“So man, if he was struggling with Marquez then, that boy ain’t got a chance in hell. I’m just telling you the truth, man. It is what it is,” Floyd Sr. said.
The Las Vegas-based Floyd Jr. is known to have fought only a few left-handed opponents in his career. He struggled for the first half of his 2006 clash with Zab Judah – a speedy southpaw like Pacquiao – before stepping up the gas in the next six rounds to earn a unanimous decision win.
The last time Floyd Jr. took on a southpaw was in 2011 against Victor Ortiz, whom he knocked out in the fourth round. Ortiz, however, does not have Pacquiao’s hand speed and ferocity.
Nevertheless, the elder Mayweather thinks Pacquiao will be the easiest southpaw his son will face.
“This is one of the easiest damn southpaws Floyd is going to have a fight with. Man, Pacquiao, come on, man. I’m just trying to tell you, they’re going to see when it’s time to go in the ring. Ain’t nothing to talk about. Floyd right now can definitely outthink him,” he said.
“Outthinking him ain’t even the problem. He’s going to be thinking the wrong way. When he gets to thinking, Floyd already done thought about it. Pacquiao ain’t never been no thinker, man. He’s just in and out, in and out, a little bit of punches, and he jumps in and out,” Floyd Sr. said.
Floyd Jr. himself earlier declared that the Pacquiao fight will just be another day in the office for him. His father is likewise brimming with confidence that he is not discounting a knockout win.
“Floyd’s going to make him (Pacquiao) look like a baby. Believe me! Floyd can hit him with a jab and stuff easy, man. He’s the most hittable man in the world. You gonna see that. You gonna get a chance to see exactly what I’m talking about. Floyd gonna hit him so easy. Floyd will dominate him bad. He gonna paralyze him. Floyd got a good chance of knocking him out!” Floyd Sr. said.