Kevin Iole: Mayweather friendly journalist clarifies the 'weight' myth around Pacquiao

Interesting article, and mailbag, from the Yahoo journo who's usually one of the more Floyd friendly writers online. It's interesting becuase he pulls Mayweather (and many 'experts' on 606) up on the whole Pacman movement through the weight classes, by comparing Floyd and Manny's careers at the same age.

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-iole_mayweather_pacquiao_careers092011

Getting tired of the same rubbish being spouted by unknowledgable posters and journos buying into the Mayweather muck spreading on the roid issue.

What it doesn't touch on is how Floyd hasn't carried his power he obviously had at super featherweight upto welterweight in such a short space of time. In a time when many were questionning if Manny was slowing down because of the wars he'd been in (most notably prior to the Diaz fight).

Just shows the stupidity of some of Floyd's comments, but we have come to expect that to a degree, I guess. It is the people with a few brain cells that also jump on Floyd's anti-Pacquaio band wagon which winds me up.

You don't think Floyd has carried power? Tell that to Mosely who was running away. Mayweather is often portrayed as a light punching defensive specialist, but he still has a fair bit of pop.

Britndub

I did say he hasn't carried his super featherweight power when he was knocking out guys regularly. Heard somewhere he's got something like an 11% stoppage ratio since moving to welterweight.

And Mosley wasn't running, he was still there right infront of him.. he just didn't have a clue as to how to unlock his defence after FMJ closed the gap he left in the 2nd round. If you want running please go look at about R5 onwards in the Mosley vs Pacman fight.

Point is that Pacquiao has carried (and arguably increased his power substantially) since moving up the weights quickly. Floyd hasn't got the same power he had at WW, Pacquiao you could argue has more power than he had when facing the likes of Morales etc, Marquez who he couldn't get out of there but will probably take his head off inside 3 @ WW etc.

Weight isn't the issue for me, it's the punching power which has surprised me most and does give me a horrible inkling it's not just from a few protein shakes. But then again i'm suspicious and somewhat pessimistic about most things.

As for Pac slowing down. Hey, ever fighter goes through patches. It's only the rumours that get people looking at everything from a negative perspective. Hell, I even saw some pointing towards a supposed enlarged head since he moved up, saying that's steroids steroids steroids. Come on. Mayweather uses Pac's movement through weight classes as an example of steroids, yet he did the same.

And though Pac still has great power (maybe helped by improved technique, rather than oft used steroid explanation. There's a novel thought), apart from Hatton he doesn't have the same one punch power. Another myth. He was basically malnourished street kid when he started at Fly, his natural weight is likely lightweight or light welter.

Both their natural weights are very similar, Floyd states he walks around at around 153 or so and Manny is late 140s.

You don't seem to be listening to what i'm saying. The weights i don't give 2 ****s about, it's the power issue.

And do you really think a pro of 40+ fights is suddenly changing the way he punches? Improving his technique? Lets not forget he stopped guys at the lower weights who hadn't been stopped before.

Fact is he has power at WW and is troubling guys with said power. People are well within their right to question where the power comes from. And don't mention weight, Floyd bangs harder than he was doing at SFW (if you took a reading), but not enough to really trouble anyone @ WW - Manny punches infinately harder than he did at SFW and is giving big WWs serious trouble.

Look, i'm allowed to question why in the space of 3 years he's turned into a WW smashing beast with his power. I'm not talking about weight, so there's zero point in mentioning it to me again.

Haven't read the article but is this to do with them both being about 106 lbs at about 16/17, the difference being Pac went pro and Floyd stayed in the amateurs for several years honing his skills?

And, on the carrying up power point, Manny hasn't had one-punch ko power up at the higher weights, he's been stopping opponents through punch accumulation. Further invalidating Floyd's libelous claims.

It isn't one punch power Coxy...it is the fact that they're being hit in the face 400 times.

If he fought Mayweather the same power wouldn't be evident, simply because he wouldn't connect anywhere near as much.

How many times has Mosley been knocked down then refused to fight? He said himself he wasn't gonna engage as he had a silly amount of power in his fists.

I haven't seen big big WWs like Cotto/Clottey/Mosley all running away/covering up from FMJ because of the power he carries.

When they open up they get put on their arse. Badly. They open up against FMJ and he fires that right down the shute and not alot happens.

I would put it down to the angles that he hits at, coxy.

Floyd's they see coming, whereas Manny's I'm not so sure. Some of the angles are bizarre.

I have more of an issue with Pacquiao's manipulation of weight divisions to suit his needs. He's too small for full 154 & 147, but big enough for 147 when it suits him and too big for 140 or 135 when it's been stated by Ariza that he pretty much has to force-feed Pacquiao to keep his weight up.

Am just going to leave it that i'm suspicious and within my right to be so. I'm not going to outright say he's on something, but i do find it bizarre that he is making big WWs struggle with his power.

If only there was some way the two of them could settle which one of them was the best. Will set my mind to the problem.

Wasn't there a thread on here once discussing what generates punch power? And how it has as much (arguably) to do with technique as outright strength? Therefore is there not an argument to say (which I think Fists alludes to) that it's as much Manny's technique, compared to Floyd's, that generates a different outcome? Floyd opened up in uncharacteristic manner on a big WW at the weekend and his power seemed fine.

Had to go off an actually do some work there for a while...

Thanks for the responses.

Coxy, I get your point but I do think a combo of speed, angles, technique etc is the killer against Manny as well as his power. I don't think he's a one punch second coming of Hearns at WW as is often suggested. It's the sheer volume that he gets through with in combination with decent pop.

http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content10826.html

Read this fists...How can anyone give any rounds to Ortiz when he is not even landing and being countered at will.

Hi 'The genius...etc'. Hmm, thanks for that. And the point of putting this link on this thread is what??? Irrespective of your views on the whole Oritz thing, it has nothing to with this thread.