Two rival trainers choose Mayweather to win over Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Before Gennady Golovkin and Willie Monroe Jr face each other for the middleweight championship on May 16, both boxers’ trainers took time to share their respective thoughts on the much-awaited ring encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in PH).

Abel Sanchez and Tony Morgan unanimously believe that Mayweather would be able to walk out with the victory over Pacquiao in their 12-round welterweight bout, which takes place at the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sanchez, who has been working with Golovkin since 2010, stressed that Mayweather would not struggle in handling Pacquiao’s southpaw stance even if the unbeaten American boxer had troubles battling a left-handed fighter in the past.

“Floyd is not going to have any problems with Manny. Manny makes too many mistakes for a ring smart guy like Floyd,” he said in an interview with FightHype.com.

Mayweather has only crossed paths with eight southpaws in his professional career, including DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah, whom he tapped recently to be his sparring partners for his marquee match-up against Pacquiao.

Corley was able to stun Mayweather by landing a solid right in the fourth round of their May 2004 clash, while Judah took the unbeaten American boxer out of his comfort zone in the first four rounds with his relentless attacks in April 2006.

On the other hand, Monroe’s coach Morgan pointed out that Mayweather could score a stoppage triumph versus Pacquiao.

“I think that Floyd would beat him, maybe even by stoppage. I wouldn’t bet on a knockout, but [you have to] gamble and bet on a knockout,” Morgan stated in a conversation with the same media outlet.

The 38-year-old Mayweather last scored a knockout when he defeated Victor Ortiz in September 2011.

After an intentional head butt by Ortiz in the fourth round, Mayweather took advantage of his opponent not having his hands up by connecting a left hook and followed up with a flush right hand to the face.

However, Morgan did not agree with Sanchez’s assessment that Mayweather would pacify Pacquiao’s style as a lefty and added that he could have chosen Pacquiao to win if the Filipino pugilist had the better jab.

“Left-handers give Floyd problems. Floyd doesn’t like left-handers. If Manny had a better jab, I might lean a little more towards Manny. Manny has this placement jab wherein he throws in his big left hand after it. I don’t think it’s going to work [against Mayweather],” he ended. – Rappler.com