Pacquiao, Roach already preparing for Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao punches Chris Algieri during the WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday. Pacquiao says he wants Floyd Mayweather next.(Photo: Chris Hyde, Getty Images)

MACAU -- Manny Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach revealed they are already preparing for the fight boxing craves more than any other a mouthwatering showdown against pound-for-pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather.

After dismantling out-matched opponent Chris Algieri with a unanimous points decision that included six knockdowns at the Venetian Macao's Cotai Arena in the early hours of Sunday, the Pacquiao camp made their strongest statements yet on the matter, all aimed directly in Mayweather's direction.

"People can prepare for (a fight) early next year," Pacquiao said. "It is a fight that I want. It is a fight the fans deserve."

Less than an hour after Pacquiao's resounding victory over Algieri, the Filipino 35-year-old and his advisers revealed a series of fresh pieces of information that painted the picture that a Mayweather fight is closer than the public had dared to imagine.

Roach, the mercurial trainer who has played a major role in masterminding his ascent to the top of the sport, also seems to have played a surprising role on the promotional side that could make the difference in the previously-doomed super fight happening.

Around four months ago, Roach was a central figure in setting up a meeting between Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum and CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves, who controls the Showtime network, with whom Mayweather is four fights into a six-bout deal worth $250 million.

Since then, Arum and Moonves, who had had previously frosty relations for several years, have held advanced discussions about Pacquiao and Mayweather squaring off.

Asked if he trusted Mayweather, Arum replied, "No", before adding "but I trust Les Moonves. For the head of CBS to spend that much time on something would be counter-productive if it was (nonsense)."

According to Roach, Arum has told him that a deal will get done, prompting the trainer to have already starting watching tape on Mayweather in order to get ready for a fight with the 37-year-old American. Roach originally analyzed Mayweather back in 2009, when it appeared the pair would meet before talks collapsed.

Mayweather has been steadfastly reluctant to fight Pacquiao and the biggest stumbling block remaining will be to convince him to sign on the line. However, Moonves may be the deciding factor, with the political weight in the fight game and the financial power he carries.

If this proves to be yet another false dawn ahead of another contractual collapse it would be a devastating blow for boxing. Mayweather and Pacquiao are the two dominant fighters of their generation and even if both are slightly past their peak, the matchup would still be hugely anticipated.

"If boxing is to be considered a major sport the fight has to happen," Arum said. "All the nonsense has to cease. Everyone should work together to make that fight happen. There are no excuses any more. I will be at the phone. We are ready."

Arum says the fight would gross in excess of $200 million, meaning Mayweather could pocket more than $80 million, far above his previous high of $41.5 million for fighting Canelo Alvarez.

"It would be a very challenging fight. He would be the best we have ever faced. I will really have to do my homework. I love Manny (to win) that fight and I look forward to getting him ready for it."

Roach, even with his own preparations underway, still feels Mayweather could need a nudge in the right direction, prompting him to kick the trash-talking into gear already.

"It will haunt them forever if it doesn't happen," Roach added. "They will always be in a conversation and someone will say 'why didn't you fight him?' Maybe calling (Mayweather) out, calling him chicken, we will embarrass him into it."

PHOTOS: Pacquiao defeats Algieri

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last SlideNext Slide

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2014/11/23/manny-pacquiao-floyd-mayweather-future-fight/19438533/

Continue Reading ..

How Pacquiao Might Be Vulnerable Against Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Chris Algieri in Macau, China, early Sunday afternoon local time.

Prior to the blowout victory, Pacquiaos trainer, Freddie Roach, was emphatic that he wanted to see a knockout. After all, the Pacman has not registered a KO since his 2009 stoppage of Miguel Cotto. Against Algieri, Pacquiao scored six knockdowns and yet was unable to halt the tenacious but overmatched fighter from Long Island, N.Y.

What is next for Pacquiao?

Possible future opponents include Danny Garcia, Diego Chaves, Keith Thurman, and Juan Manuel Marquez. But it is, of course, the mega-matchup with Floyd Mayweather that the world has been patiently awaiting.

Early this month, boxing commentator Larry Merchant said, There is a lot of pressure on Pacquiao in this fight, because if he wins and looks dominant it will put public pressure on Mayweather to fight him.

Pacquiaos promoter, Bob Arum, sees things differently. He said, Floyd is immune to public pressure and makes his own decisions about who he will fight. Arum continued, I really think that Mayweather is afraid of Pacquiao and he wont fight him unless he detects some serious deterioration in Mannys skills.

If Arum is right, is there anything that Mayweather might have seen in this weekends fight to embolden him to make the fight with Pacquiao?

While Pacquiaos speed and reflexes were intact, he was largely unable to cut off the ring on the fleet but relatively inept Algieri. Against orthodox fighters like Algieri (Mayweather is orthodox), Pacquiao comes in behind a double right jab and then fires a highly concussive straight left. In the past, that sequence has driven opponents to the ropes and often into a shell, at which point Pacquiao explodes with another salvo of hooks and uppercuts.

Every time Pacquiao stunned Algieri, and that was frequent enough, Algieri was able to spin out to his left and move the tussle back into the center of the ring, and the center of the ring is where Mayweather is an absolute monarch.

The one-punch knockout at the right hand of Marquez in 2012 has made the Pacman wary of being overly aggressive. After his victory against Algieri, Pacquiao acknowledged that he was going for the knockout but didnt want to get careless and overconfident. Nevertheless, the willingness to apply heat with reckless abandon has always been the Pacmans recipe for success.

Throughout the contest, Pacquiao lammed Algieri with lead lefts. Still, Pacquiao has always had the dangerous habit of squaring his shoulders when he comes in and gets tagged with right hands. Though not very potent, Algieri was able to touch Pacquiao with his right and Mayweathers quick and chopping right is of a much higher magnitude than Algieri.

Before the bout Roach said, My biggest fear is that Manny looks so good against Algieri that it will send Floyd over the bend and away from fighting us forever.

Perhaps, Roach need not worry too much.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2014/11/23/how-pacquiao-could-be-vulnerable-against-mayweather/

Continue Reading ..