“He has never really been tested,” Tyson said in a report from New York. “Whatever happens in this fight, I really think that Floyd is going to be hit and hurt
more than he has ever been before. We’re going to see how tough he is.”
The massive amount of interest in the showdown, Tyson said, “proves that boxing has never been dead and that it does not depend on the heavyweights.” As for the fight itself, the former heavyweight champion believes—unlike a lot of boxing experts—that Pacquiao’s cocktail of aggression and elusiveness might prove poisonous to the undefeated Mayweather.
“You need to put constant pressure on Floyd,” Tyson said. “Be in front of him all the time, but moving side to side and punching from angles. Manny is going to feint Floyd out of position a lot and make him throw more punches than he is used to, and that will open Floyd up.”
In Los Angeles, Pacquiao enjoyed a strong first day of sparring on March 17 in preparation for his May 2 showdown with the unbeaten Mayweather. Pacquiao’s workout at the Wild Card Gym included five hard rounds with a pair of sparring partners. It pleased trainer Freddie Roach as well as the Asian legend, who was anxious to start swinging his fists at foes following nearly two weeks of other training.
“After 13 days of strength and conditioning and boxing drills at Wild Card plus weeks more of working out in the Philippines in February, it was great to
finally put on the headgear and spar,” Pacquiao said.
“My sparring partners gave me good work today. They were perfect for testing the strategy Freddie and I have developed to beat Floyd Mayweather. I was very happy with my stamina and speed.”
Roach was especially pleased with Pacquiao’s form considering he had not been inside the ropes since defeating Chris Algieri last November in Macau.
“Manny looked so fresh today. I’m very happy with what he showed me,” Roach said. “You couldn’t tell he had been away from the ring since the Algieri fight in November. Manny is on fire in gym.”
Pacquiao, a two-term Congressman from Sarangani province in the Philippines, is 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts while Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 knockouts entering their Las Vegas matchup, a fight fans have been wanting to see for more than five years.
The much-anticipated showdown for the pound-for-pound global bragging rights is expected to break boxing revenue records. Roach noted Pacquiao’s sparring started on St Patrick’s Day while US baseball teams were involved in pre-season spring training, making his confidence for the big fight clear.
“When Manny threw out the first punch it felt like opening day of Irish Spring Training,” Roach joked. “I am confident May 2 will be celebrated for years to come as St Manny’s Day — the day he drove Mayweather out of boxing.
” Meanwhile, Pacquiao has reportedly purchased a mansion in Beverly Hills, California previously owned by international superstar Jennifer Lopez. According to a report, the eight-division boxing champion has already acquired the 10,000 square-feet property located in a gated community in Beverly Hills.
The fighting congressman has already given a down payment for the mansion, which was estimated to be worth $12 million or over P500 million.
