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To beat Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao will try to emulate the fighting style of a boxing legend who once ruled the heavyweight ranks.
Pacquiao said he will be doing what Joe Louis used to do against his foes, when the “Brown Bomber” lorded over other heavyweights in the 1930s until the late 1940s.
Louis, ranked No. 1 on The Ring’s list of the 100 Greatest Punchers of All Time, was known for his speed, power and accuracy that baffled even the best defensive fighters of his day.
Pacquiao enjoys the same attributes. The only difference perhaps is that he’s a southpaw.
“There really is no secret in what I’ll be doing. Marami nang gumamit noon and the most successful proponent of that is Joe ‘The Great’ Louis himself,” Pacquiao told Philboxing’s Eddie Alinea in an interview.
The eight-division champion said he has tried that same strategy in the past, but he believes he will need it more now that he will be fighting a defensive virtuoso in Mayweather on May 2.
One important part of that strategy is stamina, the Filipino champ said.
“Stamina to also run the length of the squared ring chasing him and I believe I have that,” he said.
The fighting congressman-playing coach said his cross training with basketball has helped him maintain good condition that it won’t be hard for his to reach his peak in time for the fight.
“Sayang lang ang experience ko paglalaro ng basketball araw-araw kung hindi ko magagamit,” said Pacquiao, adding that it won’t be hard chasing a running Mayweather as he’s already accustomed to the size of a basketball court.
“Maliit lang naman ang sukat ng ring compared to a basketball court na nilalaro ko apat , limang oras, so kayang-kaya natin ‘yun,” the Filipino superstar said.
“He can do all the dodging he wants to do during the fight, but I will be catching him in the long run until there’s no space for him to run.”
This story has been republished with permission from ABS-CBNNews.com.
