Veteran boxing commentator Ed Tolentino felt that the Filipino superstar wasn’t his usual old fighting self when he squared off against counterpunching Mayweather at the MGM Grand Arena.
“Hindi natin nakita ang vintage Manny Pacquiao,” Tolentino said in an interview on DZMM.
Tolentino said Pacquiao should have pressed the action at the early stages of the fight when Mayweather was still “feeling out,” since the American is notorious for starting slow in his fights.
Pacquiao should have capitalized on that, Tolentino said, and as a result, the Filipino was forced to catch up in the latter rounds when Mayweather gained his confidence.
“’Yung early half alam nating mabagal si Mayweather, dapat nag-impok na ng puntos si Manny. In-allow niya the counterpuncher to take off on offense first; siya ang mukhang naghahabol ngayon,” said Tolentino.
As a taller fighter, Mayweather also wisely used his range against Pacquiao, poking the Filipino boxer with stiff jabs while piling points.
“I though there is no clear cut up plan when Mayweather was fighting like a tall man, flicking the jab. Malaking bagay ang five-inch reach advantage,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino added the American used the amateur style of fighting wherein boxers are preoccupied with scoring points rather than going for the knockout.
“Ang fight ni Mayweather is typical ABAP, puntos. 'Yun ang nangyari, hindi na-overcome eh,” he said.
In the end, Mayweather won by unanimous decision while dealing Pacquiao’s sixth career defeat in 65 fights. It was Mayweather’s 48 win.
Despite the unanimous verdict, Tolentino thought the fight was close.
“Dikit pa ang laban eh. Dikit pa after nine rounds eh. Had there been a knock down or two the fight would have been very interesting,” he said.
SOURCE(VIA)
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