Mayweather has to trade punches with Pacquiao to win, says Tyson

MANILA, Philippines – Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson believes that if Floyd Mayweather aims to keep his unblemished record intact against Manny Pacquiao, he has to trade leathers with the Filipino boxing icon in order to win.

Like any other competitor in the sport of boxing, the 48-year-old Tyson also had a share opinion about the long-awaited ring encounter, which takes place at the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2 (May 3 in PH).

Tyson, who has knocked out 44 of his 58 opponents in his professional career that ran from 1985 to 2005, stressed that Mayweather should go toe-to-toe with Pacquiao in the early rounds of the bout.

“Floyd got to fight in the first couple of rounds. He has to fight. If he’s not going to score, he is going to lose the round. Also, if he is laid back, he is going to lose the round,” he said in a video posted by The Sweet Science on Facebook.

Similar to in-ring tacticians such as Willie Pep, Wilfredo Benitez and Pernell Whitaker, Mayweather is also known for his distinctive and effective brand of defensive guile, utilizing his shoulder roll, high-guard and elbow block to get rid of the shots from his foes.

However, the unbeaten American boxer is also recognized as a minimal-but-accurate hitter, clobbering his counterparts with a drop jab, leaning right hand, and inside slap hook.

The 5-foot-10 slugger from Brooklyn, New York argued that Mayweather’s customary style of fighting would not work versus Pacquiao, who is branded to be a pressure and volume puncher.

“Floyd doesn’t throw near a hundred punches per round. He is more of a scientific fighter. He sits around and pulls it. I don’t think he is going to be able to play that plot [against Pacquiao],” he shared.

Although he suggested that Mayweather should keep the distance and consistently throw the jabs, Tyson asserted that Pacquiao has the skill-set to get the job done and hand boxing’s current pound-for-pound king his first-ever defeat.

“This guy is all over your face. He moves and feints. He is in perpetual motion,” Tyson stated. – Rappler.com