Sinabi ni top-class trainer Joel Diaz na napilitan si WBC at WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr na tanggapin ang hamon ni WBO 147 pounds titlist Manny Pacquiao dahil nasukol na siya at tiyak na masisisi kapag nagretiro nang walang talo pero hindi nilabanan ang Pinoy boxer.
Sa panayam ni Jenna Jay ng On the Ropes Boxing Radio Show, iginiit ni Diaz na kapag hindi hinarap ni Mayweather si Pacquiao ay masisira ang kredibilidad ng Amerikano.
“I’m gonna be very honest with you, if Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather fight, just through my experience and my knowledge, I can tell you that right now Mayweather is between the sword and the wall, he’s cornered,” ani Diaz. “He either has to step it up and fight Manny Pacquiao or he’s gonna lose a lot of credibility because I can hear it and I can see it, Mayweather is already at the point where people are not believing in his ability anymore because he hand picks his opponents.”
Naniniwala si Diaz na kapag natuloy ang Pacquiao-Mayweather megabout ay halos patas ang laban ng dalawang boksingero.
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“I saw Mayweather in his last two fights and he diminished a lot, his ability diminished a lot. You can tell when with (Marcos) Maidana after the third round, Mayweather became a different Mayweather,” diin ni Diaz. “If two years ago that fight had would have happened, I would go Mayweather because Mayweather is very slick, he has great reflexes, he’s a great counter puncher and Mayweather waits for you to make a mistake and makes you pay for it.”
Nilinaw niyang hindi maingat si Pacquiao kaya tiyak na sasamantalahin ito ni Mayweather kapag natuloy ang kanilang megabout.
“On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao is reckless, when he unloads he’s reckless, he opens up a lot and those particular areas Mayweather is real smart at.
Right now if that fight would happen, it’s an even fight, it’s a 50-50 because Mayweather slowed down a lot. I don’t know if age is catching up to him and Manny Pacquiao is at that point where it’s whoever wants it the most,” giit ni Diaz. “Even though Pacquiao is a heavy hitter and he’s strong and fast but Mayweather has fast reflexes, especially with the right hand. Mayweather catches every southpaw with the right hand but like I said, once Manny Pacquiao is in the ring with Mayweather, Mayweather is gonna feel that speed and power and things can change. Right now I have it 50-50, it can go either way.”
Ngunit mas hanga siya kay Pacquiao na nilabanan ang lahat ng pinakamahusay na boksingero sa buong mundo.
“Mayweather because he’s more of a technician, he has less wear and tear on his body because he’s a boxer and Manny Pacquiao is a brawler, he comes to fight. Pacquiao takes a lot of punches before he gives you punches. If I had to give somebody more, it would be Mayweather because he’s more conserved; he doesn’t have that wear and tear like Manny has,” dagdag ni Diaz. “Manny has fought basically everybody at the top, every top fighter in the boxing world, Manny Pacquiao has fought them and Mayweather has not. Mayweather has conserved himself to basically win decisions by using strategy, technique and movement.”
