We're just days away from the megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, who will finally come face-to-face at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday, and anticipation surrounding the bout is quickly rising.
Fans have been waiting for this fight for years, often assuming the two most dominant boxers of our generation would never face each other, and it's almost surreal to think that in just a few days, it will finally happen.
As shared by ESPN's Arash Markazi, the hype surrounding this bout is unlike anything we've seen before, giving you some idea of the magnitude of the event:
Mayweather is still undefeated at the age of 38; Pacquiao has lost twice in recent years, against Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, but has since returned to his usual, dominant self. Their styles and personalities are polar opposites, and their fans have been debating the outcome of this fight for years.
So, which factors will determine who walks out of the MGM Grand with his legacy intact on Saturday? Let's find out.
Key Factors
Stamina over Power
Six years ago, this fight would have been billed as the classic battle between the knockout artist and the defensive wizard. Mayweather was virtually impossible to hit, while Pacquiao was at his very peak, knocking out opponents for fun.
Fans will never forget where they were when the Filipino slugger did this to Ricky Hatton in 2009:
As a southpaw with deadly hand speed and a great left hook, Pac-Man was a matchup nightmare. He would throw an incredible amount of punches every round, and every so often, he'd launch that left hook in search of a stoppage.
But, via Markazi, things have changed since then:
Pacquiao's power isn't gone, but since his loss against Marquez, he's become a more careful fighter. He no longer opens up recklessly, knowing his biggest strength is his hand speed, not his power.
He'd be wise to remember that on Saturday. Pacquiao has been waiting for this fight for years, and after all this time, there's probably nothing he'd rather do than hand Mayweather his first loss by knockout.
But Money remains one of the most elusive boxers in the world, and while it's possible to land big shots against the pound-for-pound king, he usually limits the damage to single power punches. Even Pac-Man seems to know he should aim for the cards, not a stoppage, via MailOnline Sport:
If Pacquiao wants to beat Mayweather, he has to forget about that big knockout shot and work on out-boxing him. Landing combinations and winning on the cards will be key, and with his hand speed, it's not out of the question.
Floyd's Legs
Once upon a time, Mayweather was arguably―and probably―the greatest defensive fighter the sport had ever seen. During his prime, he was virtually untouchable, using his jab and reach to deadly effect while ducking in and out of the reach of his opponents.
He was a feared counterpuncher, and his shoulder-roll defence was a sight to behold for boxing aficionados.
Years later, Mayweather is still an excellent defensive boxer. But as explained by Compubox's Bob Canobbio, he's no longer the perfect defensive fighter he was years ago:
If the numbers prove anything, it's that Mayweather can be hit. He's become a more static target, particularly closer to the ropes, and his lateral movement is no longer elite. His head movement is still fantastic, and he can still duck and counterpunch like the best of them. But Floyd can be hit.
He's also struggled with quick southpaws in the past, most notably against Zab Judah, who has been sparring with Mayweather leading up to this fight, per The Independent's James Orr:
Pacquiao has the hand speed to rival Judah, and a tendency to throw lengthy combinations. He attacks from unorthodox angles and keeps moving forward at all times. And like Mayweather, he often does most of his damage in the latter rounds.
We've gotten so used to Mayweather's brilliant defensive techniques, it's difficult to imagine Pacquiao actually landing plenty of power shots. But if Floyd struggles to move, like he has done in recent years, those punches will connect.
It would be a massive surprise to see Mayweather get hit routinely, but via The Guardian, Sugar Ray Leonard is expecting the unexpected:
Mayweather should be considered the favourite entering the fight by virtue of his undefeated record and his brilliant defensive techniques. But unless he can move like the Mayweather of old, don't be shocked if Pac-Man lands more punches of consequence than you were expecting.
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