Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Fight: ‘Money’ Needs Knockout to Win on May 2, Says Roy Jones Jr.
Former world champion Roy Jones Jr. believes Floyd Mayweather Jr. needs a knockout in order to defeat Manny Pacquiao in their upcoming showdown on May 2 at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jones said in an interview with CBS Sports on Thursday that Mayweather is a more dangerous opponent, even if he is not as fast as he was before. He knows Mayweather is best known for his boxing skills and tactical approach in fights, but Jones believe the reigning pound-for-pound king's power will be on full display against Pacquiao.
"The fact that he can't do things at 38 that he did at 28 makes him more dangerous," Jones said. "He's always been a great puncher, but he's never had to use it because he was so much better than everyone skillfully, and he had so much athleticism that he hasn't had to depend on his punching power."
Mayweather holds a perfect 47-0 record, but only has 26 knockout victories with the last one coming against Victor Ortiz during their World Boxing Council welterweight title fight in September 2011.
Jones thinks Pacquiao and his camp are underestimating the punching power of Mayweather, which could eventually backfire because he is convinced the Grand Rapids native will rely on it more often because the unbeaten champion knows that he needs a knockout in order to win against Pacquiao.
"Pacquiao may think he'll be able to outwork him and not worry about Mayweather's power because he hasn't had to use it," Jones said. "Now that he's gotten older he will use his power, and that's going to be a bigger problem for Pacquiao. Because, to me, the only way for him to beat Pacquiao is to get him out of there."
Responding to the statement of Jones, Floyd Mayweather Sr. told Fighthype on Thursday that boxing greats like Jones should stop thinking that his son will lose to Pacquiao. Mayweather Sr. also reacted to the statement of Mike Tyson, who recently said that Pacquiao will hit and hurt his nemesis like never before.
Mayweather Sr. took a swipe at Jones and Tyson, saying that the former world champions are just jealous of Floyd Jr. because his son has not been knocked off atop the rankings.
"I see Mike Tyson saying some things. He predicting Pacman to win, but I'ma tell you, man, I think people like Mike Tyson and Roy Jones say certain things because they done been at the top where my son at, but at some point, whether late or early, they got knocked off of the top," Mayweather Sr. said.
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