Preview: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao

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Welterweights

Floyd Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) vs. Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 Kos)

After years of rumors, speculation, arguments and failed negotiations, boxing’s biggest fight is finally a reality.

The long-awaited showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao arrives at a time when the sweet science is experiencing something of a renaissance, with a number of interesting and entertaining cards populating network television thus far in 2015. This one, however, trumps them all.

Naysayers will argue that Mayweather-Pacquiao should have happened in 2009, but the fact remains that both men are still the best in the division. While neither is in his physical prime, Mayweather continues to turn back all challengers, and Pacquiao has rebounded strongly from a controversial loss to Timothy Bradley and a devastating knockout defeat against Juan Manuel Marquez to revive his brilliant career.

Mayweather-Pacquiao is a major event, the kind of happening that makes casual sports fans clear their calendars to make sure they see it -- hefty price tag and all. It’s time to sit back and enjoy two masters of their craft at work. Here is a closer look at boxing’s biggest bout in recent memory.

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The matchup: Three titles -- Mayweather’s WBC and WBA belts and Pacquiao’s WBO crown -- will be on the line at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, but there is arguably much more at stake than shiny championship hardware. This is the capstone bout of Mayweather’s professional tenure, against an opponent he was accused of ducking for years. Win this one convincingly, and it isn’t difficult to imagine “Money” riding off into the sunset. Pacquiao, meanwhile, will be looking to cement his own legacy in the sport.

Mayweather is one of the best defensive boxers the game has ever seen, and he has rarely been rocked or hurt in his fights. Even when an opponent is able to stun him, Mayweather has displayed the necessary durability to recover. However, he might be susceptible to the right kind of pressure -- especially early in a fight.

Marcos Maidana gave Mayweather fits in their first meeting last May, as he constantly pressured the champion and trapped him against the ropes to force close-quarters exchanges. It is one of the best examples in recent memory of a foe baiting Mayweather into a brawl, although he adjusted well enough to pull out a majority decision victory. Mayweather’s ability to adapt shone through in their September rematch, as he showcased much better movement, avoided getting stuck on the ropes and cruised to a unanimous verdict.

“Money” is one of the most cerebral fighters out there, and his ability to figure out opponents on the fly is critical to his success. That is why the early rounds are key for Pacquiao. As a southpaw with dangerous hand speed and power, “Pac-Man” has the potential to give his foe trouble in the first few rounds as Mayweather attempts to time him. If he can land something significant and increase the volume of his attacks from there, it could change the complexion of the entire fight.

That, of course, will be much easier said than done. Mayweather is extremely difficult to hit, and he will employ his five-inch reach advantage to keep Pacquiao at a comfortable distance. The longer the fight goes, the more it favors Mayweather, as Pacquiao, like most opponents, will not be able to outbox Mayweather for 12 rounds.

As Mayweather gets a better sense of Pacquiao’s timing, he will be able to disrupt his adversary’s rhythm with well-timed counters. However, Mayweather’s defensive style could work against him if Pacquiao races out to an early lead and continues to move forward as the bout progresses. Even if the Filipino doesn’t land, ringside judges could reward his aggression and movement rather than Mayweather’s willingness to counter.

Pacquiao’s overall advantage in knockout power is evident in more emphatic triumphs over common opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton. That, along with his ability to land with great volume, speed and at different angles, is a large part of what makes him Mayweather’s most dangerous foe. It is worth noting that Pacquiao hasn’t stopped an opponent since scoring a technical knockout victory in the 12th round against Cotto in 2009. He did, however, knock Chris Algieri down six times en route to a lopsided decision victory in his most recent outing this past November.

Since his devastating loss to Marquez, Pacquiao is a more disciplined fighter. While he still favors a brawl and is best when he can consistently beat his man to the punch, he is less likely to over commit and make a mistake than he would have been before that defeat. Pacquiao does a good job creating angles for his various attacks with sound movement and footwork, so it will be interesting to see which fighter is able to gain a better command of the ring.

The Pick: Pacquiao has the stance, power and speed to make Mayweather uncomfortable, but the Filipino struggles when he cannot instigate a brawl. For the most part, Mayweather refuses to engage anyone on anything but his own terms -- and outboxing Mayweather in a technical battle is a tall task. Expect Pacquiao to do his best to make this a fight early, and while he should take some rounds, Mayweather’s technical skills will prevail down the stretch in a close decision triumph.