Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Predictions: Latest Projections for Main Event Fight

Floyd Mayweather arguably has more to lose than Manny Pacquiao in Saturday's superfight between the pair at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Money's 47-0 professional record is on the line, as are his WBA (Super), WBC and The Ring welterweight titles. Pac-Man has lost in the past—his record stands at 57-5-2—and he currently holds only the WBO welterweight title.

However, after all the hype and cheap talk, both fighters will be at their very best when they step into the ring on Saturday, and it is hard to predict the outcome.

They are the two fighters who have defined the sport of boxing for an entire generation, and they are finally set to meet.

Many have suggested that Saturday's fight comes too late in the pair's respective careers, and that a 2010 bout would have been a better spectacle. But CompuBox's Bob Canobbio begs to differ, per Bleacher Report: 

Indeed, as noted by Canobbio, the American's famous defence is potentially not as solid as it once was, perhaps opening the door to the perennially aggressive Pac-Man.

The 36-year-old Filipino is arguably the toughest test Mayweather has faced since Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, and Money will have to up his game as a result.

While Floyd may have convincingly beaten Marcos Maidana in his most recent visit to the ring, the Argentine ran him close in the preceding fight, as did Saul Alvarez in September 2013.

Expect Pacquiao to trouble Mayweather early on, his aggression and pace set to be better than anything Floyd has faced in some time.

Pac-Man is clearly desperate to win, to prove himself as a better fighter than Mayweather, and to take the American down a few notches.

It is clear from pre-fight comments from Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach that his charge is fully focused on claiming the victory, per boxing writer Michael Woods:

However, simple desire does not win a fight, and certainly not against the undefeated Mayweather.

If the 38-year-old's defence is slightly more vulnerable than it once was, it is only by fine margins, and Mayweather is still more than capable of winning on Saturday. Indeed, he is the favourite.

Pacquiao needs to knock Mayweather out if he is to win, but that is very unlikely to happen. Such is Mayweather's ring savvy that it is hard to land one telling punch on him, let alone a decent combination.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Furthermore, Pacquiao has not won a fight by a knockout since 2009 against Miguel Cotto.

If, as expected, Manny dominates the opening few rounds, Mayweather will certainly come into the fight if and when it goes the distance.

This should hand Mayweather the win. He won't be reckless, he will not go for the knockout, but he will dominate the latter rounds, and he will win by decision.

It will be close, a majority or split decision win for Mayweather is certainly a possibility. But either way, it will be 48-0 for Floyd come the end of the fight.