The time for talk is done. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0-0, 26 KO) will finally step in the ring tonight against Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KO) after more than a half decade of wrangling and insults. This is how Sports World News sees the "Fight of the Century" playing out.
Pacquiao is the premier offensive fighter of this generation, whirling around huge opponents and felling them in such a way few have ever done it before. Pacquiao hasn't earned a knockout since 2009, but he still has the blazing hand speed that confounded his previous foes, and he knocked down Chris Algieri six times (four legitimately) in his most recent fight.
He will likely come out quick, trying to land on Mayweather early to throw off his timing. Unlike Pacquiao, Mayweather is a master of defense and timing. He rarely stops his opponents anymore because he prefers to avoid risk altogether, hanging back and picking them off on their attacks until their will is broken.
Pacquiao will start fast, and will likely take the first two or three rounds even if he doesn't land anything significant. His activity will carry the early part of the fight. Landing clean shots will determine the rest of the bout. Some believe Mayweather has problems with southpaws, but even the most famous example, his fight with Zab Judah, was a fairly decisive win for "Money."
I do not expect Pacquiao to catch Mayweather too cleanly in those opening rounds, and I do expect Mayweather to begin timing Pacquiao's forays. Plan on witnessing jabs to Pacquiao's midsection mixed in with jabs to his chin. The body jabs will slow Pacquiao down a bit-he's a warrior, but still a human being-and by Round 6 or 7 Mayweather will be controlling the fight with his right hand.
There will be no stoppage in this fight unless Pacquiao completely sells out for a knockout and gets rocked like he did in 2012 vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. Prediction: Mayweather def. Pacquiao by unanimous decision.
Undercard
Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Gamalier Rodriguez
Lomachenko put on a clinic his last time out against previously unbeaten fighter Gary Russell Jr. Lomachenko's pro record of 3-1-0 is misleading-he has an extensive amateur background and is already inching his way into the Top 10 pound-for-pound rankings. Rodriguez is mostly unknown, and will most likely stay that way in this Lomachenko showcase. Prediction: Lomachenko def. Rodriguez by KO (Round 6)
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Jose Cayetano
Santa Cruz is an entertaining, undefeated fighter who was added to this card late. He is not a fighter that will wow audiences with his skill, and he's not a big-time puncher. He is a come-forward, pressure fighter that wears his opponents down. Cayetano is being fed to Santa Cruz to build up his name even more than it is now. Prediction: Santa Cruz def. Cayetano by TKO (Round 9)
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