Mayweather to play it safe vs Pacquiao, says Marquez

MANILA, Philippines – Four-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez believes that Floyd Mayweather Jr would not take any chances when he faces Manny Pacquiao on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Marquez, one of the five common boxers whom Pacquiao and Mayweather faced in the past, stressed that the unbeaten American pugilist would stick to his signature style of fighting.

“Floyd’s style and technique have given him 47 wins, so why take a risk in the biggest fight of his career. Floyd is a technical fighter who can make it a boring fight if that suits him,” he said in an interview with ESPN Deportes.

Mayweather is known for dictating the fight’s tempo with his distinctive and effective brand of defensive guile all throughout his career, utilizing his shoulder roll, high-guard and elbow block to get rid of the shots from his foes.

In addition, he is also recognized as a minimal-but-accurate hitter, clobbering his counterparts with a drop jab, leaning right hand and inside slap hook.

The 41-year-old Mexican counterpuncher made a bold prediction that Mayweather would take a decision victory over Pacquiao if the bout goes the distance.

“I think for me, in terms of the fight, if it can be a quiet fight for Floyd, he’s going to take that and look to get a clear decision,” Marquez said.

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Mayweather outpointed Marquez via unanimous decision in his September 2009 return after a brief retirement from prizefighting.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao battled Marquez on four occasions, with the first three matches concluding in controversial fashion.

Even though Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the first round, the May 2004 meeting ended in a split-decision draw.

In their March 2008 rematch, Pacquiao scored a split decision to take away the WBC and lineal super featherweight belts from Marquez.

Marquez was given the opportunity to avenge his divisive loss to Pacquiao when the two bitter rivals met for the third time in November 2011, but the renowned Pinoy southpaw had his hand raised in triumph again via majority decision.

The outcome was different in their December 2012 fourth clash as Marquez turned the bout in his favor when he connected a short right with just a second to go in the sixth round, knocking his arch-nemesis out cold.

READ: Marquez may face Pacquiao again, says coach

Although he is giving his nod to Mayweather, Marquez suggested that Pacquiao should be more dynamic in the ring if he wants to pull off the upset.

“The height difference was noted, but in this kind of fights, height and strength are not a big difference. The most important is who has the better mind in the fight, who launches their attacks better, and uses their defense better, which Floyd Mayweather knows how to do well and Pacquiao must improve on,” he ended. – Rappler.com