As Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s super fight with Manny Pacquiao draws nearer, boxing greats are offering opinions and predictions on what will transpire. Recently Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya, once boxing's biggest draw himself, is the latest to break down the "Fight of the Century." Few observers have better insight on this matchup, as De La Hoya has fought, and lost to, both men.
In breaking down each fighter's strengths, De La Hoya mentioned Mayweather's power. He hasn't scored a knockout since 2011 vs. Victor Ortiz, and in that fight Ortiz was not even looking when he was sent to the canvas. Even though some label Mayweather a "runner" in the ring, De La Hoya said the pound-for-pound king does pack some thunder.
"Mayweather has that sneaky power. It can't knock you out, doesn't hurt, but if it surprises you, it can sting you. Look at Mayweather's last knockout, against Victor Ortiz [in 2011] and that was a punch that surprised Victor. He didn't expect that was coming at him," De La Hoya wrote.
De La Hoya was a primarily offensive fighter throughout his own career, and he described how Mayweather outlasted him. He cautioned that Pacquiao, the premier offensive fighter of this generation, will have to avoid that same fate. While De La Hoya said Mayweather outlasts and outthinks his foes, Pacquiao overwhelms them with activity.
"The way I describe Pacquiao is that he's a fly you can't shoo away. He seemed to be throwing thousands of punches at me, and I just couldn't get him off me. It wasn't that he hurt me - credit to my chin, the fact that I can take a punch - but it was like, "When are you going to stop throwing punches?'"
De La Hoya wouldn't rule out a Pacquiao knockout-" I wouldn't say it's impossible,"-but at the end of his piece admitted picking against "Money" Mayweather has been a fool's errand 47 times prior.
"The smart money is on Mayweather. Look, it's Las Vegas, Mayweather's hometown. His picture's on the side of the MGM. The close rounds are going to go to Mayweather. It's big business. It's no secret."
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