Floyd Mayweather's Legs Are Shot, Claims Manny Pacquiao Trainer Freddie Roach

Freddie Roach believes Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s "legs are a little shot" and that Manny Pacquiao is better equipped to win their much-anticipated fight on May 2.

Roach, who recently returned to his Wild Card gym to train Pacquiao after watching Zou Shiming lose to Amnat Ruenroeng on Saturday, continues to speak openly about the upcoming bout. He told Reuters (h/t Boxing Scene) that Pacquiao has reached the latter stage of his career in better shape:

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I don’t think he’s (Mayweather) passed it at all. I think his legs are a little shot, a little worn, and I think Pacquiao has better legs at this moment at this time. I think maybe Pacquiao is a little faster and hits a little bit harder. Mayweather has a little fragile hands and is not the biggest puncher in the world. But I think we have more assets to win the fight I feel.

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These comments follow on from previous quotes given by Roach in which he indicated Mayweather has suffered the affects of ageing "a bit more than Manny," reported by Unus Alladin of the South China Morning Post.

Roach believes both fighters were stronger five years ago—when this bout was first discussed—as noted in Alladin's report. Mayweather's defensive style makes it more difficult to ascertain exactly which attributes have begun to diminish, as he has rarely been put under pressure that could see him fold.

Pacquiao's aggressiveness hasn't flowed so freely in recent battles, and his inability to knock an opponent out since 2009 highlights his match-ending power isn't what it used to be. He needs to enter the Mayweather fight on the front foot and ensure questions are asked of his opposite.

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Money is capable of picking opponents apart when given time to settle into a rhythm, which is yet to be halted along his unbeaten run of 47 fights. It's been nearly four years since Mayweather ended a fight by sending his opponent sprawling to the canvas, but he reportedly knocked out a sparring partner during a recent training session.

"Floyd doing his thing," photographer Chris Robinson told Lyle Fitzsimmons of CBSSports.com. "He dropped one of the guys with a body shot." Mayweather recently released images from his first training session, per MailOnline:

An increasingly aggressive Mayweather could turn the bout on its head. Roach is the type of trainer who will prime Pacquiao for every eventuality, but it's likely the game plan will be designed to entice Mayweather from his defensive shell.

The reputation of both fighters rests on the Las Vegas encounter. Mayweather's record and self-confidence marks him as the favourite, but the raw emotion of the night could play in Pacquiao's favour. If both start swinging, Roach will be hoping his suggestion that Mayweather's legs are going comes to fruition.