By Vitali Shaposhnikov: While this is not a boxing news update or article, I feel that this is especially relevant to current boxing news surrounding Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
What I have noticed in the comments section of the many pieces on this topic, is that there is an obvious division of the fans and why they believe their favorite fighter will win the proposed dream match. I assure you, despite what some of my readers may think, I am a fanatic of neither fighter, and love to watch both of them go to work in the ring.
Still, having said that, I believe that there are many points of view that make very little sense. Right now, I would like to talk about and open up a discussion on why so many Pacquiao fans insist that because Pacquiao sent people out with a knockout, he is better and is likely to beat Mayweather Jr. in the same fashion? Does a knockout rate specify the boxing ability of any given fighter?
Many people talk about Pacquiao’s monstrous power, which I also think he has, but where is the overwhelming evidence that he is a knockout artist?
The following are knockout percentage rates of a few different fighters as per Boxrec.com:
Manny Pacquiao: 64.41%
Evander Holyfield: 50.88%
Floyd Patterson: 62.5%
Muhammad Ali: 60.66%
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: 61.9%
Juan Manuel Marquez: 65%
I am aware that different fighters fought various amount of fights, still, their knockout percentages are based on a very easy mathematical principle. So, looking at the numbers above, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not at all far behind or in some cases above any of the above stated legends as far as knockout rate goes.
If that’s the case, where do all the accusations and wild assumptions come from, dear Pacquiao fans?
Some compare Pacquiao’s win over Hatton versus that of Mayweather Jr., but is that something that can in fact predict a win or a loss for a boxer? Shall I compare facial damage sustained by Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr. in their careers? I think it is clear what I am trying to hint at; styles make fighters win their fights. Some boxers such as Pacquiao, don’t mind trading shots and using their own physical power as an advantage, while others like Mayweather Jr. don’t want to get hit at all, using a completely different, safer and for some a more boring approach. Both are very effective, and win fights.
Overall, I personally don’t think that looking back at how fighters performed in their previous fights is of colossal value, it is what they can do now that matters. Fighters decline in a matter of months, while others (ex. Bernard Hopkins), can look better and better with experience/age.
Manny Pacquiao is a tremendous fighter, but was unable to use his knockout power to penetrate Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, and Juan Manuel Marquez. He is a quick fighter, but Marquez’s ring IQ gave Manny a run for his money.
Mayweather Jr. is definitely a great fighter, but has not faced a formidable opponent in a very long time now. He knockout out Ortiz in a completely skill-absent fashion. He dominated a much smaller and clearly disadvantaged Marquez. He also beat a much older and skill-degraded Shane Mosley. As elusive as Mayweather Jr. is, Shane Mosley was able to catch him with a pretty simple shot, which almost sent Floyd to the canvas.
There are a ton of great things to say about both, as there is also enough to doubt. I expect a very healthy sum of negative comments about this article and about my personal opinions, and I am very excited to see them all!