In the previous article, we covered three of the five common opponents that Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, have both faced off against in the squared circle.

Firstly, we accessed the fights against Oscar De La Hoya. I gave Manny Pacquiao the nod over De La Hoya due to the manner in which ‘Pacman’ took ‘Golden Boy’ to the cleaners.

Second, we covered Mayweather and Pacquiao’s fights against ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. I had to edge my thoughts towards Manny Pacquiao against Mosley. Shane Mosley was a year older than he fought Mayweather, but for me, I had to give this contest to ‘Pacman’ due to the fact Mayweather was tagged hard in the second round and rallied to gather his thoughts and march on to a wide points victory on the cards.

Pacquiao dropped Mosley in the third round and ‘Sugar’ did not want to engage any more. Mosley, for me, settled to see the final bell. I can understand people giving it to Mayweather, but the knockdown Pacquiao produced of Shane Mosley, personally, just swung things in Manny Pacquiao’s favor.

And finally, we studied the two mens bouts against Juan Manuel Marquez.
I leaned towards Floyd Mayweather due to the fact he dealt with ‘Dinamita’ in a much easier fashion than Pacquiao ever did in four contests.

With the score currently 2-1 for Pacquiao, we now look at the two remaining pugilists Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have boxed.

Next up we take a look at the way both men got the nod over Ricky ‘Hitman’ Hatton.

Mayweather vs Hatton

The bout took place in December 2008. Hatton competed with Mayweather in the early rounds. In round one, Hatton caught Mayweather with a left jab which knocked ‘Money’ slightly on his heels, but mainly Mayweather, was caught off balance.The constant pressure that Hatton put Mayweather under seemed to unsettle Floyd slightly. This however, didn’t last much longer.

With the history of cuts Hatton was well known for, Mayweather opened a cut over the right eye of Hatton. In round six, referee Joe Cortez deducted a point from Ricky Hatton for throwing punches at the back of Floyd Mayweather’s head, while Mayweather had actually ducked under the ropes. Hatton, was in the fight until the sixth round.

After the sixth, ‘Hitman’ was clearly tired from chasing Mayweather all around the ring, Mayweather then took over after realizing that Hatton was starting to tire. The undefeated Mayweather then started to land an array of stiff counter punches to the head of Hatton. Hatton was getting nailed with everything Mayweather was throwing.

In round ten, Mayweather pulled his signature ‘Check Hook’ on Ricky Hatton, as Hatton charged forward looking to land on the slick Mayweather. The shot worked to perfection and sent Hatton’s head directly into the ring post. Ricky Hatton gamely got to his feet, looking dazed and confused, but he said he was okay to referee Joe Cortez.

A few seconds later, Mayweather knew he had Hatton in deep waters and threw various shots towards Hatton. Hatton’s legs went from under him as he collapsed in a heap, purely out of exhaustion and the accumulation of punches. Joe Cortez waved the fight off before Hatton even hit the canvas.

Scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Judge: Paul Smith 88-82 | Judge: Dave Moretti 89-81 | Judge: Burt A. Clements 89-81.

Pacquiao vs Hatton

The fight took place in May 2009 and it started out at a frantic pace. Most had expected this to happen due to the styles of both fighters. Pacquiao was landing heavy shots right away. Hatton got a few shots in on Manny, but nothing of any substance. Manny Pacquiao dropped Hatton twice in the first round. Hatton seemed okay, but it was to become clear he was certainly anything but.

In the second round, Pacquiao unleashed a left hook to knock Hatton out in the final second of the round. Hatton sprawled helplessly on the canvass after Pacquiao’s left hand, with referee Kenny Bayless saying that “he didn’t have to count.” Hatton lay on the canvass for several minutes before getting up. The knockout, was probably Manny Pacquiao’s best one punch KO of his career.

Things came to the fore, surrounding Hatton’s training camp and his lifestyle leading up to the Pacquiao fight. Hatton, after losing for the first time switched from his long time trainer, Billy Graham, to Floyd Mayweather’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr. as his new coach.

I have read Hatton’s autobiography and Ricky lays everything out for all to know.
Mayweather Sr had Hatton running up mountains with army boots on. Ricky Hatton, said in his book that he was tired of this regimen and he should have said enough is enough, I’m going to run in my trainers as I normally would. Hatton’s brother Matthew, was also in the camp. He stopped using the boots he was told to train in whilst running by Mayweather Sr. Ricky Hatton said he wished he had done the same. He was just too nice to Floyd Sr and let him get away with too much.

Hatton had this to say on the sparring incident two weeks prior facing Pacquiao.
“I had peaked too soon. Everyone in the camp could see I needed a rest. There was one day when one of my sparring partners knocked me on my backside. I came out of the ring, sat on the steps and put a towel over my head and I just started sobbing and crying.” I have heard a rumor that the sparring partner was actually Cuban star, Erislandy Lara. No shame in being dropped by a middleweight in sparring.

The actual peaking too soon was obviously more of a concern for Hatton.

What has came out regarding Hatton’s lifestyle following the defeat to Mayweather (maybe even prior to that) Hatton was clearly a mess emotionally and physically. Drinking huge amounts of alcohol, taking large quantities of cocaine is no way for a boxer to live. Hatton has since admitted suffering from depression following the Mayweather defeat, and contemplated committing suicide in the aftermath of the stunning knockout, delivered by Manny Pacquiao.

With all said and done, Mayweather and Pacquiao’s bouts against Ricky ‘Hitman’ Hatton, yes ‘Pacman’ knocked Ricky out cold in two rounds, but Mayweather fought Hatton at a reasonably solid stage of the Englishman’s career.
Hatton was undefeated when he faced ‘Money.’ The version of Ricky Hatton that Pacquiao faced, was already a beaten man walking into the ring. (Hatton’s words, not mine.)

Scorecards at the time of the knockout.
Judge: Paul Smith 88-82 | Judge: Dave Moretti 89-81 | Judge: Burt A. Clements 89-81

I have to give this one to Mayweather, for beating the better, more solid, more mentally stable and true version of Ricky ‘Hitman’ Hatton.

2-2 EVEN

Having covered four fighters Mayweather and Pacquiao have both boxed, we are all tied up and now we turn things to the final shared opponent, Miguel Cotto.

Floyd Mayweather vs Miguel Cotto

Mayweather faced Cotto in May 2012. ‘Money’ Mayweather, found himself in the ring with a very live opponent in Miguel Cotto. Cotto would certainly be there all night and he would not wilt, nor quit. Mayweather pretty much dominated the main part of the fight, but that wasn’t without anything coming in return from Cotto.

Cotto had his moments but was largely outclassed by the shrewd ring IQ of Mayweather.Mayweather did however, have a bloodied nose for the first time in his career. Fifteen or so years in the pro game without a bloody nose tells you a lot about Mayweather and his defensive skills.

The damage to the Mayweather nose clearly tells all viewing that Cotto, did indeed get through to the face of Mayweather on more than one occasion. Not many have done that.

As The fight wore on, Mayweather began to seriously dominate Cotto and at the late stages of the twelfth and final round, Mayweather even looked like he could get Cotto out of there when he rocked the Puerto Rican star.
I don’t think Mayweather was particularly looking for the stoppage, it was more an accumulation of shots, landed on Miguel Cotto.

Floyd Mayweather won by a unanimous points victory on the cards, once more.
After the fight Mayweather said to Cotto: “You’re a hell of a champion.”
Floyd continued “You’re the toughest guy I ever fought.”

Scorecards for the bout were.
Judge: Robert Hoyle 118-110 | Judge: Patricia Morse Jarman 117-111 | Judge: Dave Moretti 117-111.

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto

The bout between Pacquiao and Cotto took place in Novermber 2009.
The fight was at a catchweight of 145 lbs.

Pacquiao floored Cotto with a right hand, early doors in the third round.
As Cotto advanced forward looking to get inside on Pacquiao, ‘Pacman’ unleashed a huge left hand that once more had Miguel Cotto on the canvas in round four.

The referee eventually stopped the fight in the twelfth and final round after Pacquiao, had bludgeoned Miguel Cotto around the ring, and enough was finally enough for the Puerto Rican, who was battered and bruised by the Filipino slugger. Cotto revealed he wanted to quit after the eleventh round, but his corner told him to continue.

Scorecards at the time of the TKO.
judge: Adalaide Byrd 99-109 | Judge: Duane Ford 99-108 | Judge: Dave Moretti 100-108.

Clearly the fifth and final bout has to be awarded to Manny Pacquiao, in this contest the two adversaries had against Miguel Cotto. Manny Pacquiao, dismantled the Puerto Rican slugger.

Final score – 3-2 Manny Pacquiao

You can weigh everything up until the cows come home regarding Mayweather and Pacquiao’s common opposition – when they fought them, what weight they fought them at, if they were coming of the back of a good win, all of that and so many other factors. Will any of that actually produce a YES moment?

The seeming decisive factor here is the way Mayweather dealt with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Yes, the weight jump for Marquez is a point, but even so Mayweather had been out of the sport for two years.
That too, is a huge factor.

Yes, Mayweather’s legs have slowed down quite noticeably in the two Maidaina bouts and yes, Pacquiao’s power no longer seems to be what it once was. These two factors just seem to have levelled things up possibly in the favour of ‘Pacman.’ We wont know until the two men meet in the ring.

Mayweather looked sublime against a young up and comer in Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Floyd’s two performances against Marcos Maidaina were hardly anywhere near the display Mayweather gave us all when he faced ‘Canelo.’ That was a real master class of boxing. Does that mean Mayweather wont be able to perform at the level he did against Saul Alvarez in his next bout? Who knows?

Remember the way everyone thought Floyd was on the way out after the Cotto performance.
We were then dazzled by the Mayweather skill set against a younger, hungrier ‘Canelo’ in Floyd’s next fight, only to see the performance level dip against Maidaina. Maybe Floyd thought Canelo was more of a threat and he had to make sure that Alvarez never got close enough to him to cause any real damage?

Pacquiao looked excellent against Chris Algieri recently.
I think Manny looks a little cautios in his approach after being knocked out by Marquez.
Let’s be honest here, who wouldn’t after such a devastating defeat.

Just how much does Manny have left in the tank against a high calibre opponent?
Will the power be there as it used to be? Will it return?
Can Manny Pacquiao roll back the years and stop Floyd Mayweather or possibly outbox the slowing, ageing Mayweather?

If the power doesn’t exist any longer for ‘Pacman’ can he outbox this version of Mayweather?
What if the version of Mayweather who faced Saul Alvarez turns up? Can this version of Manny Pacquiao beat that Mayweather?

The questions can seriously go on all day, all night.

I believe that if the version of Mayweather turns up like he did against Saul Alvarez, then Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao decisively.

If the version of ‘Money’ turns up like he has done for the past two bouts Floyd had against Marcos Maidaina, then Mayweather could be in trouble.

Manny Pacquiao HAS to turn up. The REAL Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao.
The all guns blazing version, the version with power in both hands and power at welterweight.
A true 147 lbs with no catchweights involved.

For the sanity of everyone, lets just hope they do finally get in the ring and prove what will happen!
It’s already years overdue, lets not wait any longer.