Paquiao or Mayweather: Who Is the Better Strategist? Part I

Who, between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., is the better Strategist?

First, let us lay down the venue of such battles of strategies. Are we talking here of strategy inside the ring or outside the ring? Inside the ring, if ever such fight shall ever materialized.

These are two different strategies that are obviously connected with one another by logic and reason and practical considerations.

Let us discuss strategy outside the ring, as the same has already begun by all intensive purposes, when Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao gave Oscar De la Hoya his worst beating in the latter's illustrious career.

Mayweather saw the Pacquiao challenge coming, and the former pound for pound king buckled down to work. 

He does his assignments well in studying the Pacman's fighting style and how he could adopt his own fighting style vis-a-vis that of Pacquiao to ensure a convincing victory.

And as always, he continues to maintain his body well by religious training and a self-imposed healthy lifestyle.    

Additionally, Mayweather knows his own limitations, and an outright encounter against Pacquiao is not advisable. As Larry Merchant commented, Mayweather, Jr. has the perspicacity ( acute mental vision or discernment) to chose his opponents well.

Thus, a day before the Pacquiao-Hatton encounter, he announced his comeback and his coming fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. And of course, this fight will not only serve as his tune-up fight for the eventual clash with Pacquiao, he hopes.  But it will also effectively raise his ante (somehow). He needs this facade (illusion), so as not to be accuse of being afraid to fight Pacquiao outright. 

But the curious part of this Mayweather-Marquez fight is that the catch weight is still to be agreed upon. Obviously, the timing of the announcement was to beat the result of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.

The announcement simply stated that it will be a welterweight fight. But would it be at 147 lbs, 145 lbs, or 144 lbs? Remember, Marquez has just come in at 135 lbs from 130 lbs, and fighting at 147 lbs is definitely a big disadvantage for him.

Mayweather, Jr. knows that Marquez, at 36 years of age, is already in his last years of active boxing. And the opportunity to fight Mayweather, at this time, is his last opportunity for a mega-buck fight.

Thus, Mayweather believes that he should insist on having that inside track in this negotiations because Marquez will eventually give in. And as a result, Mayweather will have that distinct advantage comes fight night. Mr. Merchant, you are so perceptive! And our pound for pound, king is such a born strategist!

Meantime, Pacquiao demolished Hatton convincingly in two punishing rounds. Thus, supporting his claim that he is the true pound for pound king. And Bob Arum announced the distinct possibility of a Cotto fight for his ward. But isn't Cotto under his management too? Well, business interests really make boxing matchups so interesting!

Yes, Team Pacquiao is suddenly not that keen on meeting Mayweather too soon.  This is because Pacquiao has just fortified his status as the "boxer to beat" after his destruction of Hatton, and Mayweather might just as well give his all too important time to the other contenders to his "crown."

For Pacquiao, the boxer, he does not care who will be his next opponent, as long as the price and the prize are right.

They are two world class boxers with contrasting strategies for the Ultimate Fight of the decade. Two boxers whose paths are bound to cross and explode right before our very eyes! Will this Dream Fight ever materialized, or will the fight we are all waiting for remain just that, a dream.

Let us discuss strategies of both Pacquiao and Mayweather inside the ring, next time. If ever this fight should materialize. That will make a very interesting topic.