Stepping into the ring as an underdog will work in Pacquiao’s favor as he will be motivated and challenged to become the first boxer ever to deliver Mayweather his first career defeat
Pacquiao isn’t impressed by opponents with unbeaten career record and he considers his opponent’s undefeated status as more challenging. Timothy Bradley and Chris Algieri were unbeaten fighters when he faced them and he emerged victorious.
Unlike Mayweather, Pacquiao is used to facing different challenges and being an underdog works best for him as it gets him challenged and motivated.
“This is just like any other fight I had before,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News. “I’ve been in this kind of situation many times in my previous fights. It doesn’t scare me. I love being the underdog.”
Las Vegas oddsmakers have Mayweather as 2-1 favorite to win. He said he is banking among others on his size, height and reach to win over Pacquiao.
“To me, it’s just another day. It’s just another fight. I mean, when you just look at the tale of the tape, I have a longer reach, I’m taller, I’m stronger, and I’m more accurate,” said Mayweather, who is set to start formal training on Monday.
Indeed, Mayweather has the advantage in terms of size but he is yet to feel the impact of Pacquiao’s left hand punching power.
Shane Mosley, who fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao said Pacquiao’s punching power is the weirdest thing he has ever experienced.
“He’s got something in his hands where he just, pop, and you can wobble. He can hurt you,” said Mosley, who was knocked down by Pacquiao in 2011.
“I get hit, even now, I get hit by bigger guys all the time and there’s no dazing, I don’t wobble, I don’t do any of that stuff…” With Pacquiao, he just touches you and you’re already wobbling. [But] It’s not like he’s heavy-handed.
Mosley has experienced and actually felt Pacquiao’s power while Mayweather has yet to feel it and as soon as he does, he may either run or test Pacquiao’s power in a toe-to-toe situation.
But if he does, he might regret it later.