Floyd’s Buddies At The WWE Make Their Picks!

Perhaps one of the unique things about a fight as big as this is that it totally transcends the sport of boxing. Everybody has an opinion it would seem.

So close to the fight when it seems every detail has been gone through with a fine tooth comb already (many times) I thought it time for something a little light-hearted.

So to avoid writing about the next time either fighter takes a toilet break, or Manny’s entrance song (which is epic btw!) I thought a tongue-in-cheek look at what the over-the-top grapplers at World Wrestling Entertainment think of Saturday’s fight was in order!

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Calzaghe Says The Pressure Is On Floyd

Calzaghe Says The Pressure Is On Floyd

Once dominant British super middleweight Joe Calzaghe, who himself retired undefeated following his fight with Roy Jones Jr in 2008, has spoken to Sky Sports News this morning ahead of this Saturday’s Vegas mega-fight.

Calzaghe, whose unblemished record also included a marquee Las Vegas fight ( Vs Bernard Hopkins in 2008) ended his own spectacular career with a perfect 46-0 slate.

The Welshman, who has previously spoken about the burden of Floyd protecting his ‘0’ gave his opinion on proceedings following his return from the States where he was guest analyst on last weeks Dirrell – Jack PBC broadcast. He said;

“It’s a fight boxing needs. Two of the world’s best P4P finally fighting each other. For boxing fans it is a tremendous fight”

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Khan Says Manny Can’t Fight On The Inside

Khan Says Manny Can't Fight On The Inside

It looks like Amir Khan couldn’t help knocking the Freddie Roach trained Manny Pacquiao ahead of Saturday night in his most recent Fighthype.com interview.

Khan, who famously left the Wildcard and Roach under something of a cloud following his knockout loss to Danny Garcia in 2012, has cited Roach’s Parkinson’s disease as a factor in leaving in the past, as well as the fact he didn’t want to play second fiddle in Roach’s affections and attention to the P4P Filipino fighter.

Pacquiao, known for his movement and speed of hand AND foot, has had his ability to work inside the pocket called into question in this fight.

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Mayweather v Pacquiao – From A Man Who Faced Both – Ricky Hatton’s Tactical Breakdown

Mayweather v Pacquiao - From A Man Who Faced Both - Ricky Hatton's Tactical Breakdown

There is a small, yet elite club of fighters past and present who have faced off against BOTH Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring.

Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto and Britain’s Ricky Hatton.

Ahead of Saturday’s dust-up Hatton, who boxed Mayweather in 2007 and Pacquiao in 2009 has spoken exclusively to the BBC to offer his tactical analysis of the fight from his insider’s perspective.

His fight with Mayweather, after some initial success, sadly began to become one sided and the “Hitman” was caught walking onto a big Mayweather left-hook in the 10th.

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Malignaggi – “I Miss The Spotlight”

Malignaggi - "I Miss The Spotlight"

Brooklyn welterweight Paul Malignaggi (33-6, 7ko) has spoken to iFLtv ahead of his planned return to the ring against fringe level 147lb fighter Danny O Connor (25-2, 9ko) as chief support to Amir Khan v Chris Algieri on the PBC May 29th card from the Barclays Center.

Malignaggi, who many British fans hold a soft spot for, thanks to his fights with both Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan (as well as his work for BBC radio and now Sky Sports) has not boxed for a year, when we saw him stopped in a four round beat down at the hands of “Showtime” Shawn Porter in Washington.

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Paulie Malignaggi Offers Insight Into Mayweather v Pacquiao

Paulie Malignaggi Offers Insight Into Mayweather v Pacquiao

Paulie Malignaggi, a man we are more used to being behind the mic these days has spoken to iFLtv at the MGM Grand in Vegas ahead of Saturday’s “super-fight”. The Magic Man, who plans on making his own in-ring return later in May on the Khan-Algieri undercard against Danny O’Connor said of the enormity of Saturday’s massive main event;

“It’s the biggest fight of the last 15 years, at least going into it. I think the last time we talked this much about a fight was maybe Tyson vs Lewis, De La Hoya vs Trinidad. Neither of those fights really lived up to the hype so it’s hard to live up to the hype of the BIG events. Hagler/Hearns, you know that lived up to the hype. Some fights do live up to the hype so we’ll see. Hopefully we’ll be talking about how amazing it was once it’s over as opposed to forgetting about it like those other events.”

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Pacquiao Arrives! – ‘Not The Biggest Fight Ever’ Says Bob Arum

YouTube video
Manny Pacquiao has arrived in Las Vegas ahead of Saturday’s clash with Floyd Mayweather to a rapturous welcome, telling his thousands of fans;

“Don’t get nervous. I’m the one fighting, so relax”

“Anytime I am the underdog, I like that. It means my killer instinct and my focus is fully there. This is the moment I believe that he will experience his first loss.”

After the frenzied arrival at the Mandalay Bay, Kugan Cassius of iFLtv caught up with Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum and asked him what had prompted the two arrivals of the fighters at separate hotels. He said;

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Broner (Predictably) Picks Mayweather/Betting $10k On A Stoppage

Broner (Predictably) Picks Mayweather/Betting $10k On A Stoppage

The ever divisive Adrien Broner (30-1, 22ko) has spoken to FightHype.com after a trip to the Mayweather gym to visit his friend and mentor Floyd in sparring.

Broner, who at his worst is a bare-faced Floyd imitator, has said Mayweather is sharp and very focused ahead of Saturday’s fight;

“It’s tunnel vision now. You can tell there’s only one thing on his mind.”

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Carl Froch Breaks Down Mayweather Pacquiao / Hints At Retirement?

Carl Froch Breaks Down Mayweather Pacquiao / Hints At Retirement?

British WBA super-middleweight boss Carl Froch (33-2, 24ko) has this lunchtime (tue) spoken to Sky Sports News and become the latest in a long-line of fighters to wade in with a pick for Saturday night, offering his own tactical insight into what each man must do and also into whether or not his career has wound down to a natural conclusion.

Froch, a year removed from his stadium rematch with George Groves at Wembley, is certainly a fighter used to a big occasion. (Albeit not as big as this!)

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Arum -“Floyd has Megalomania”

Arum -"Floyd has Megalomania"

Manny Pacquiao’s long time promoter and Floyd Mayweather’s friend, (only joking about the last part) Bob Arum, has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s super fight to offer his thoughts on Floyd’s recent statements about being better that Ali and Ray Robinson and his fighter’s chance’s.

The Top Rank chief, who has been at the helm of the organisation for almost 50 years said of Mayweather’s recent claims;

“Floyd Mayweather is an excellent, excellent fighter. He’s a great technician but to compare himself to Muhammad Ali, or Ray Robinson or Ray Leonard is a joke.”

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