Pacquiao vs. Mayweather – Round by Round Forecast

By Derrick Villanueva: (Note: This is purely a figment of my imagination, written after re-watching each fighter’s last two fights in succession.)

Round 1 – The “Feeling Out” round. Pacquiao and Mayweather emerge from their respective corners. Pacquiao approaches but a quick jab from Mayweather surprises Pacquiao. Pacquiao fires off his own loose jabs, trying to find range. Mayweather slips around and fires more jabs, utilizing his reach advantage. Pacquiao attacks aggressively, eating a right on his way in. Mayweather has his back on the ropes. Pacquiao fires off 2 4 punch combos in succession, while Mayweather bobs and weaves and parries. Pacquiao connects with 2/8. Mayweather escapes to the side, fires off a right hand which hits as he catches Manny trying to follow up. Pacquiao turns, taps his fists as if to say “Bring It.” And the Round Ends. Round Winner Prediction: Either.

Round 2 – More of Round 1, with Pacquiao attacking and hitting Mayweather with about 25% of his power shots and Mayweather connecting with 50% of his straights. Nobody is hurt yet. Round Winner Prediction: Either.
Round 3 – Pacquiao lunges at Mayweather on Roach’s command, throwing another couple of 4 punch combos. Mayweather tries to slip away to the side but Manny moves to one of his weird angles and cuts off Mayweather’s escape route. Mayweather bobs and weaves as Manny throws another couple of 4 punch combos. Money finally fires off a left hook and escapes from the ropes, hit with about 30% of Pac’s shots. Pac follows but further attempts to trap Mayweather fails as Mayweather pussies out but uses his jab to keep the Pacman at bay. Round Winner Prediction: Pacquiao.

Round 4 – Mayweather stays out of range, firing his right hand every time Manny steps to attack. Manny moves to a weird angle which gives him an open angle to unleash a combo. Money evades but is forced back towards the ropes. He fights off the ropes hitting Pacman with straights and the occasional left hook while Manny unleashes his “Punch Out” routine on the bending, twisting, slipping, rolling, Mayweather, landing one or two before Mayweather escapes and taunts. The Pacman taunts back. Round Winner Prediction: Either.

Round 5 – Pacquiao moves forward with a different plan of attack on advise from his corner. He eats several jabs and straights until he gets Money onto the ropes or corner. Pacman starts landing body shots on PBF. Floyd hits Manny with a left hook and escapes. Pacquiao does the same thing for the rest of the round, mixing head and body combos. Round Winner Prediction: Pacquiao.

Round 6 – Mayweather keeps Manny at bay with the jab. He is advised to stay off the ropes and the corners by Sr. and to Run and Gun. Mayweather follows the plan until tiring by near the end of the round where Pacman rallies and lands thudding combos to the head and body. Round Winner Prediction: Mayweather.

Round 7 – More running and gunning from Mayweather, cutting Pacquiao. Infuriated, Pacquiao starts reverting to his old devil-may-care style but with one difference: He now knows how to “cut the pie” and prevents Mayweather from escaping. Pacquiao is punished by counter rights and hooks while he continues pounding on Money’s face and body. Round Winner Prediction: Either.

Round 8 – Mayweather is weary this round from the pounding he has received on his body and to his face. He hits and runs, and uses every defensive trick in his book to avoid Pacquiao while hitting the chasing Pacquiao with straights. Pacquiao’s connection rate decreases with the cut on his eye and he doesn’t catch Floyd with any flush shots this round. Round Winner Prediction: Mayweather.

Round 9 – Freddie Roach rallies his prized pupil and Pacquiao bounces towards Money as if it was the opening round. Mayweather, slower because of last round’s running, is cornered and is subjected to non-stop punching from Pacquiao. Mayweather escapes barely. He knows he Might have the Pacman on points so he starts running around. Pacquiao, tired of all the running, stops chasing. Mayweather is forced to attack with an occasional jab. Pacquiao ducks under one of those jabs and lands a hook/uppercut that finally cuts PBF. Round Winner Prediction: Pacquiao.

Rounds 10-12 – Floyd Hits and Runs, now respecting the Pacman’s power and Pacquiao chases and lands occasional blows/combos. Round Winners: Either.

Winner of the bout: Manny Pacquiao by a close, split decision.

Yep, that’s how it played out in my mind. I don’t think Floyd has the power to knock Manny out and I don’t think the Pacman will hit Money enough times to knock him out. I don’t think either one will come out of the fight unscathed either. One thing’s for sure: It’s Gonna Be Good.

Source: