Manny Pacquiao training 'increasing to high intensity' ahead of Floyd Mayweather fight

Manny Pacquiao has been showing off his stamina with a series of impressive videos as he enters a second week of training for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

The 36-year-old could be seen sprinting up a hill with his entourage as part of his 'road' exercises. 

Pacquiao posted the videos online and said: 'Day 7 [sic] of my road work out increasing to high intensity love it! to God be all the Glory.'

There have been some suggestions from fans that this $300million fight - which will take place in Las Vegas on May 2 - should have been arranged years ago when both men were in their prime.

Pacquiao, though, insisted age would not be a deciding factor and that both men are at the top of their game. 

'It'll be as good of a fight as it would've been five years ago. The same,' Pacquiao told the LA Times. 'Both of us are still at the top.' 

View the videos here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2987876/Manny-Pacquiao-training-increasing-high-intensity-ahead-Floyd-Mayweather-fight.html

Road to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Part 2: Pacquiao outdoes Mayweather and becomes boxing’s king

Floyd Mayweather had been “retired” for a year following his stoppage of popular English brawler Ricky Hatton. Although he had left the sport, the consensus was that this was only a temporary departure. He would be compelled to return in late 2009, but in the short while he was away the sport as we knew it changed.

Check out part 1 of our Road to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao series, exploring the years leading up to the fight of the generation. (Source: http://www.proboxing-fans.com/road-to-mayweather-vs-pacquiao-part-i-mayweather-becomes-a-money-star_022516/)

PART 2 - Pacquiao outdoes Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao had controversially out-pointed Juan Manuel Marquez before moving up to lightweight to beat down David Diaz. He then did the unthinkable and signed to fight Oscar De La Hoya, at welterweight. Most were flummoxed by the news and one could imagine Mayweather barely noticing the Filipino’s ascent. Pacquiao would grab the attention of the boxing world soon though, and Mayweather would have a surprising new rival.

A STAR IS BORN - Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya

When Larry Merchant brought up the possibility most onlookers probably thought the iconic pundit was showing the effects of old age. He and boxing scribe Dan Rafael had been discussing the state of boxing, and Merchant had suggested the fight to make was Pacquiao; who had just settled into the lightweight division, against De La Hoya; who had spent recent years fighting mostly at junior middleweight as he trailed towards the end of his career.

It seemed an outrageous proposition but the promoters and TV networks liked it. Without Mayweather’s presence they were desperate, and Pacquiao and De La Hoya would bring two huge fanbases together. The fight was arranged and would take place almost to the day of the 1 year anniversary of Mayweather’s “retirement”.

The build-up to the fight centered on just how big a feat it was for Pacquiao to hop two weight classes to fight a guy four inches taller and naturally much bigger, but worrying signs suggested the weight was in fact more of an issue for De La Hoya. He was shown undertaking various unique measures to get the weight down. Rumors spread that “The Golden Boy” was struggling to make 147 lbs after not having fought in the division for years.

To the shock of the world, Pacquiao wore down the bigger, older man over eight increasingly one-sided rounds. De La Hoya retired afterwards, while Pacquiao took the retired Mayweather’s place as the bona fide face of boxing. And where Mayweather needed a decision to defeat De La Hoya, Pacquiao scored a far more emphatic win.

THE PACMAN IS HERE TO STAY - Pacquiao vs. Hatton

In the aftermath to Pacquiao’s retirement of De La Hoya, the generally accepted theory was De La Hoya’s age and weight-making difficulties. Although a stunning accomplishment, Pacquiao’s win was taken with a pinch of salt. The boxing world was yet to be fully convinced that “Pacman” was a fully-fledged welterweight, even if he was the pound for pound king.

For his next fight, Pacquiao decided to drop down a division and take on the junior welterweight champion, Ricky Hatton. Hatton had been stopped in ten rounds by Mayweather, but he looked in good form with a late-rounds stoppage of 140 lb top contender, Paulie Malignaggi.

Although a favorite because of his blurring handspeed, junior welterweight was Hatton’s domain, and some felt the Englishman’s strength and willpower would at the very least trouble boxing’s newest star.

The fight barely got going before it was over. A visibly unnerved Hatton showed his hand in the very first round, only to pay the price in the form of two knockdowns. He simply was unable to handle Pacquiao’s blazing fists and relentless assaults. Clearly, Pacquiao was at home in and around welterweight. Any remaining doubt on this matter would be cast asunder in the second round.

Having a better round and seemingly recuperated from the damage of the opener Hatton made it to the final ten seconds of the second round relatively unscathed. With just seconds remaining in the round, he came forward again, only to be met by an explosive and accurate overhand left that detonated on his chin and sent him spiraling to the canvas. He was motionless, and Pacquiao was the new champion at 140 lbs.

If beating De La Hoya in simpler fashion didn’t do the trick, knocking out Hatton in two rounds was a definitive statement aimed in Mayweather’s direction. Anything you can do, I can do better. If Mayweather wasn’t interested before, Pacquiao’s left hand had forced him to sit up and take notice.

Never one to be out-done, however, Mayweather had already announced his return to the ring. His opponent? Juan Manuel Marquez, the man Pacquiao had struggled with over two contests. The lines were drawn between boxing’s biggest names. A rivalry had begun.

Source: http://www.proboxing-fans.com/road-to-mayweather-vs-pacquiao-part-2-pacquiao-outdoes-mayweather-boxing-king_030915/

Road to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Part I: Mayweather becomes a Money star

In the lead-up to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s mammoth May 2nd bout we will be reliving the dramatic moments and specific periods that led them both to this clash. In the first installment of our 10-part exclusive series on ProBoxing-Fans.com, the Road to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, we begin by casting our minds back to a time before Mayweather was the face of boxing.

PART I - Mayweather Becomes a Star

There was a halcyon time before the glitz, before the gargantuan paydays and the Vegas lights. Back then, Floyd Mayweather wasn’t known as “Money”. Instead, people called him the “Pretty Boy”. Back then, Mayweather was of course already a fighter of repute, but he wasn’t the globally renowned star we see before us today. That is until he signed to fight Oscar De La Hoya.

Wins over Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah had propelled Mayweather through the weight classes from super featherweight to welterweight, earning him the status of pound-for-pound number one.

In facing De La Hoya he stepped up once again. The “Pretty Boy” would fight the “Golden Boy” at junior middleweight.

THE BIRTH OF "MONEY" - Mayweather vs. De La Hoya

As part of the build-up to Mayweather’s challenge to De La Hoya, HBO introduced a new series called 24/7, which was specifically designed to give life to the fighters involved. With greater access to behind-the-scenes footage now more widely available than ever before, the fight, which was already huge, took on a new dimension. The 24/7 series was Mayweather’s idea, and he capitalized on the platform to begin building his brand in front of the massive audience which De La Hoya provided.

The contest itself proved to be a fairly competitive affair. De La Hoya’s long jab visibly troubled Mayweather at times during the bout, though the smaller, younger man adapted well to take home a split decision which should have been unanimous.

The nature of the win was not the most important thing here, however. The result alone marked a shift in boxing, beckoning in a new era that Mayweather would be the face of. His nickname had not yet changed, but by now Mayweather’s persona was on an irreversible collision course with fame and wealth unprecedented in the sport’s history. It was in beating De La Hoya, boxing’s old icon, that “Pretty Boy” Floyd would transmogrify into Floyd “Money” Mayweather.

SENDOFF INTO "RETIREMENT" - Mayweather vs. Hatton

Hordes of Brits surrounded the streets of Las Vegas. Some were drunk, all were rapturous. Their favorite fighter, Ricky Hatton, was due to fight Mayweather in a clash that garnered vast attention on both sides of the Atlantic.

Hatton was a classic brawler. He relished being on the inside, thrived amidst the violence and had no intention of backing down from his American opposite. Hatton fought to retain an image as one of the people. By contrast, Mayweather fought to separate himself from his fellow mortals.

This fight was less competitive than Mayweather’s win over De La Hoya, but it was just as definitive. If there was any doubt about Mayweather’s status, beating the undefeated junior welterweight kingpin certified his position as boxing’s best. Hatton was stopped in the penultimate round and thousands of Brits returned home sobered and broken hearted.

Subsequently Mayweather announced his retirement, though he did so with full intention of returning. He would turn 32 in the months following his win over Hatton, and he had been involved in few harrowing fights.

The Pretty Boy moniker was still applicable as boxing’s best slunk into “retirement” but new challenges would welcome him on the horizon. His time atop boxing had barely begun. His “retirement” another carefully orchestrated move to build his brand.

Source: 

http://www.proboxing-fans.com/road-to-mayweather-vs-pacquiao-part-i-mayweather-becomes-a-money-star_022516/

Pacquiao 'a little bit faster, hits a little bit harder' than Mayweather — Roach

Freddie Roach's biggest challenge will be when his protégé Manny Pacquiao faces off with Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on May 2 in a long awaited mega bout. 

A duel between the defence-minded Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao, the biggest drawcards of their generation, has been savoured by boxing fans, if only to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter. 

Showtime and HBO will jointly broadcast the bout, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated in boxing since the classic 1975 'Thrilla in Manila' between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. 

However, both Mayweather, 37, and Pacquiao, 36, are in the twilight of their respective careers and most pundits say they have lost some of their skills in the ring. 

"I don't think he's (Mayweather) passed it at all. I think his legs are a little shot, a little worn, and I think Pacquiao has better legs at this moment at this time. I think maybe Pacquiao is a little faster and hits a little bit harder. Mayweather has a little fragile hands and is not the biggest puncher in the world. But I think we have more assets to win the fight I feel," Roach told Reuters. 

"I think Pacquiao is going to win the fight but it's not an easy fight believe me. We have to fight the perfect fight to win, that I know. This is our best opponent by far. This is the biggest challenge of my life and I love a challenge. And studying this guy he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He doesn't have any bad habits. He is a very difficult fighter to beat but I think we can beat him yes," he added. 

The fight has been five years in the making and Roach is confident it will live up to the hype. 

"I do believe it will live up to the hype at this point. I think it will be a better fight now because Mayweather doesn't move as much as he used to so he has to exchange a little bit more so it does make it more exciting. But five years ago I would have probably favoured Mayweather, now I favour Pacquiao," said Roach. 

Pacquiao lost much of his appeal after successive defeats to American Timothy Bradley and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, prompting talk of his possible retirement, though he has since bounced back with three impressive wins. 

The welterweight showdown in Vegas is projected to be the most lucrative ever in boxing history with Mayweather expected to have a 60-40 split advantage on revenues, earning a minimum of $120 million and Pacquiao at least $80 million.

Five-division world champion Mayweather, who is known for his shrewd business acumen, had been expected to meet Pacquiao in 2010 until negotiations collapsed over the American's demand for random drug testing. 

Mayweather has hinted at illegal methods by often questioning how Pacquiao could have won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight classes. 

Mayweather announced last September, after he scored a dominant win over Argentine Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas in his most recent bout, that he would retire in late 2015 when his Showtime contract ends, after two more fights. 

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/449481/sports/boxing/pacquiao-a-little-bit-faster-hits-a-little-bit-harder-than-mayweather-roach