Arum thinks Pacquiao will knock Mayweather out

By Jason Kim: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum thinks that his fighter World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao could end up knocking undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. out if the two fighters meet up for a bout in the near future. In an article at the Manila Bulletin, the 78-year-old Arum said “If Mayweather fights the way he did against [Shane] Mosley, Manny will not only win, but he will knock him out.” Arum didn’t say what he saw as a flaw in the way that Mayweather fought Mosley, but one would have to assume he meant by Mayweather fighting flat footed, not moving much and standing in front of Mosley all night long.

However, Mayweather really didn’t need to move a great deal in the fight, because once he got through Mosley’s early storm in the 2nd round, he had him figured out and was able to dominate Mosley for the remainder of the bout without too many problems. Arum could think that Mayweather would be vulnerable against Pacquiao because he was willing to punch with Mosley.

It’s doubtful that Mayweather would elect to fight the same way against Pacquiao, because he’s a totally different fighter than Mosley and throws a lot more punches in every round. There’s no way that Mayweather would be foolish enough to want to stand in front of Pacquiao and try to get the better of him punch for punch. In that case, we’ll likely see Mayweather using the hit and run technique that he sometimes uses against pressure fighters and ones that throw a lot of punches.

Pacquiao saw the Mayweather-Mosley fight as well, and likes his chances against Mayweather, saying “If I can hit Mayweather like that, I will finish him off. I would continue the attack in a way that Mosley did not. I will attack until Mayweather is gone.” Mayweather didn’t need to worry too much about Mosley’s attacks following the 2nd round, because the 38-year-old Mosley seemed to have gassed out completely and was unable to muster the same kind of attacks in the following rounds.

Pacquiao thinks that he would be able to keep fighting at the same level and you have to believe it. Pacquiao was able to throw over 100 punches per round in his recent 12 round decision win over former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey in March. Mayweather would have to either move or try to match Pacquiao’s work rate. If Mayweather stands in front of Pacquiao, he will likely take too much punishment even if he ups his work rate a notch or two. Mayweather has never been able to throw 100 punches per round on a consistent basis and it’s doubtful he’ll be able to start at 33. In that case, Mayweather has really one choice – either move or get run over by Pacquiao.