Former four-division champion Roy Jones has taken a rather unpopular opinion about the megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2.
Contrary to the general sentiment that Pacman is the underdog and thus has to pull off a knockout in order to win against the undefeated American boxer, Jones believes it is the other way around.
"I think Floyd will have to knock him out to win. I think if there's a decision, I think Pacquiao wins the decision," he said in a report by boxingscene.com.
Many pundits and boxers, including Juan Manuel Marquez, said that Mayweather would be favored in the score cards in his home turf of Las Vegas and Pacquiao has no choice but to win by stoppage.
Jones, however, said that if Pacquiao outworks Mayweather, then Pretty Boy will be backed into a corner and has to knockout Pacman.
"You don't get Mayweather to engage. Pacquiao's plan should be to outwork Mayweather and try to outpoint him, because he's not going to be able to force Mayweather to engage," he said.
Observers also said that the key to a Pacquiao victory will be his volume punching, but they remain wary that the Filipino ring icon would be unfavored by the judges if Mayweather would hold up his defense.
For Jones, the two boxers are equally hard-pressed to win the fight.
"This is the biggest fight for both of their careers," he said. "Neither guy wants to go home the loser the next day. Fans have been waiting for this fight for five years. The pressure is on both guys."
-
Follow Gary on Twitter: @garyalsmith
Latest Stories
-
The youth must serve the nation with integrity, selflessness – Chief Justice
3 mins -
‘Experience and wisdom are often associated with age’ – Kufuor shades critics over Bawumia endorsement
5 mins -
Election 2024: Youth urged to support security agencies in maintaining peace
11 mins -
Bawumia was instrumental in reviving economy during my presidency – Kufuor
12 mins -
EC suspends directive to limit media access at collation centres
51 mins -
Election 2024: Ketu South stakeholders commit to peace
51 mins -
Energy Commission opens academy to advance training of professionals
56 mins -
Bawumia unveils 100 electric buses for Metro Mass Transit
60 mins -
Police introduce a reward system for elections informants
1 hour -
‘I haven’t seen policies as good as Bawumia’s’ – Kufuor makes bold endorsement
1 hour -
Davido announces fifth album drops early 2025
2 hours -
Speaker on why he declined Majority Leader’s request to recall Parliament
2 hours -
Bole-Bamboi MP excites residents with performance, poised for another term in parliament
2 hours -
‘It’s going to be hard’: US firms race to get ahead of Trump tariffs
2 hours -
Bono East NIB arrests five suspects in connection with seized stolen rice
2 hours