Mayweather vs Pacquiao, Odds and Predictions ahead of Saturday's fight

Mayweather vs Pacquiao, All you need to Know about  'The Fight of the Century'

 

One of the most hotly-anticipated boxing bouts of all time, the match-up between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao was six years in the making. The date was finally confirmed early in 2015, with the pair due to do battle on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight which already been billed as The Fight of the Century by many promises to life up to it's billing.

The waiting is almost over - this weekend the biggest fight in a generation will finally happen.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are undergoing their final preparations ahead of going toe-to-toe at the MGM Grand on Saturday evening.

The American goes in with a perfect 47-fight record, but Pacquiao is confident of ending it in style in the fight capital.

Five years of failed negotiations have finally come to an end, and the world's eyes will switch to Vegas come Saturday.

However, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, fears the showdown may not even take place as Mayweather could be a last-minute no-show at the Nevada venue.

 He said: "I really am wondering if he's going to turn up on the night.
"I don't think any fighter is afraid, but I don't think he wanted this fight. He was forced into a fight he didn't want to take.
"I just don't know why Floyd has gone quiet for this fight. His speech is very subdued.”

The duo will finally face off at the MGM Grand this weekend after years of negotiations and are set to share a combined $300million from the bout.

Undefeated Mayweather will enter the ring as firm favourite to claim the win against Pacquiao who has tasted defeat five times during his own glittering career.

 

Mainwhile Manny Pacquiao claims he has rediscovered his 'killer instinct' in time to fight Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night.

Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach had admitted his concern that his fighter had stopped wanting to hurt opponents and the Filipino has not inflicted a stoppage since defeating Miguel Cotto in 2009.

But Pacquiao, 36, claims he has rediscovered the appetite for a KO which earned him his fame a decade ago, in time for the world welterweight unification bout dubbed 'fight of the century'.

He said: “I am so happy because that feeling of the killer instinct – that focus I had from 10 or 11 years ago - it is back.

“In previous fights, a couple of fights, I never felt like this, it's different. I am 100 per cent relaxed and confident of winning.

“I don't have a prediction. I am excited and confident. I have peace of mind.”

Floyd and Pacquiao

From Floyd corner 

Here’s some pugilists who believe Mayweather will win the bout

Nigel Benn: "This fight is going to make Mayweather who he is. I believe that he has not got the recognition."

Amir Khan: Mayweather will be smart and keep moving, and I think he will get a good unanimous win. The fight will be a competition for four or five rounds and then Floyd will take the lead and start pulling away, creating the distance and finishing off with a win."

Kell Brook: "I'm leaning towards Floyd Mayweather. He's never lost before, he knows how to win and it's in Vegas. I think Mayweather is going to control the pace and I think he's too clever for Manny Pacquiao."

Ricky Hatton: "I have always thought Mayweather and although I think Manny has the style to beat him, I'm still going to go with Mayweather."

While from the Pacquiao the following  legends of the sport favors the Phillipines’ finest to emerge victorious come Saturday;

Mike Tyson: " Floyd doesn't throw anywhere near 100 punches a round. He is more of a scientific fighter, he really plots a lot, he poses whereas Pacquiao is feinting and moving around. That's just my opinion, Pacquiao has perpetual motion he's all over the God damn place."

Miguel Cotto: " I'm rooting for Manny Pacquiao. I think the quickness of Manny is going to have a big impact on Floyd's performance."

George Foreman: "I think Pacquiao. He's smart, he's the underdog, and there's nothing like an underdog in a boxing match [and] trying to find a way to win. You get the crowd cheering for you, you feel their strength and they can pull you through. I got a feeling he can win it by one round, on points."

Oscar De La Hoya: "If he can start well in the first two rounds, then the fight can go in his direction."

Sugar Ray Leonard: "All fighters have one last fight in them, if you look at [Muhammad] Ali against George Foreman and Ali won despite being expected to lose. With me it was Hagler, I knew I had one last fight in me. I believe that all applies to Manny Pacquiao."

 

Floyd Mayweather overcame a turbulent home life to become the world's highest-paid athlete and unbeaten fighter.  

He is a professional boxer who is currently undefeated and has won ten world titles. In 2014 he was announced as the highest paid athlete in the world. He will fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd 2015.

Typically, one of the fighters is characterised as the 'face', who plays the part of the crowd favourite, while his opponent is cast as the 'heel', who strives to attract the ire of fight fans and interest among casual observers.

Applying this time-honoured template to the long-overdue bout between the two biggest names in boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, there is no doubt as to which fighter has been cast in which role.

Manny Pacquiao's back story is quite something.

He rose from the streets of Kibawe in the Philippines to becoming the boxer, singer, actor, politician and national icon he is today.

when Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao turned professional in January 1995,(bearly 2 years after running from home at age 14)  he was just 16 years old, stood at 4'11'' and weighed 98 pounds. He was paid a pitiful sum of money - which he used to feed his family - and fought in front of similarly meagre crowd.

As he steps out Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, he will be carrying the hopes of a nation and his fans from across the world on his increasingly-broad shoulders and will also pocket a cheque worth more than $100 million.

The dynamic southpaw, now 36, is among the most popular athletes on the plant, but his in-the-ring achievements only tell part of an extraordinary story which has seen him rise from the poverty-stricken streets of Kibawe in the Philippines to the country's political office.

The former pound-for-pound champion – who’s also an evangelical protestant – has used his notoriety as a fighter to launch a political career in his homeland, where Manny was elected as congressman of the lone district of Sarangani in May 2010. In the last 12 months alone, the Pacman has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Barack Obama and Prince Harry.

 And if you still don't want him to win Saturday's fight, then you have a cold heart.

Also in a related development, Rapper 50 Cent has already promised to bet $1.6million (£1,036,860) on Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao in Sunday's fight, but he's set to make even more money that weekend.

The 38-year-old will reportedly pocket $500,000 (£323,990) for performing at Drai's club in Las Vegas on the Friday before the fight.

It seems 50, real name Curtis James Jackson III, may be hedging his bets considering his lavish backing of Mayweather, who is currently 8/15 favourite.

If Jackson's recent quotes are anything to go by though, the rapper and boxing promoter is certain he'll see a return on his money.

He said: He said: "Champ (is) gonna smoke him. It's gonna look like it was pumped up for no reason."