In this exclusive interview done earlier this fall, Ace Freeman spoke with Roger Mayweather and got the top trainer’s thoughts on how a fight between Floyd Jr. and Manny Pacquiao might play out.
FF: What challenges does Pacquiao and his style present for Floyd?
RM: Pacquiao is one of those guys who gets in and gets out… and he throws a lot of punches… but as far as his speed goes he’s not any faster than my nephew. He’s a smaller guy, but he’s not faster.
FF: Do you feel Floyd is the bigger and stronger guy in this fight if it happens?
RM: Not only is Floyd the bigger and stronger guy… he’s the more skilled guy!
FF: FightFan.com here at the Mayweather gym with Roger Mayweather. As alway thanks for having us. Can you tell us your thoughts on a potential 2010 matchup between your nephew and Manny Pacquiao?
RM: Obviously that would be the biggest fight for both my nephew and Pacquiao if they fight at that point in time…
FF: Can you give me some historical perspective on how big a fight you think it would be?
RM: It would probably be one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing. Simply because (Pacquiao) has some wins over the same fighters Floyd has already beat. He’s got wins over De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton… and he goes out and beats Cotto… it’s going to be an even bigger fight than that.
FF: So do you think it will rank up there with the Hagler vs. Leonard’s…
RM: Without question. It’s going to bring in that kind of crowd because they have major wins… Pacquiao has major wins. Pacquiao has won title in what six weight classes? (Editor’s note: It’s now seven)… and my nephew has titles in six weight classes. What else is there to do (for both of them)?
FF: If we’re just talking hypothetically at this point… Who wins that fight? Is it another walk-over for your nephew? Is it a tough fight?
RM: No fight is a walkover… but my nephew will win.
FF: Is this going to be his toughest fight to date?
RM: No, Floyd’s toughest fight already happened. It was against Emanuel Burton (Augustus). That was the toughest fight he’s had.
FF: Tell us a little bit about the style matchup if Floyd fights Manny…
RM: Pacquiao’s been boxing… he’s not a wild man. He’s boxing. If that’s the case, he’s got to out-think my nephew. He’d have to be really sharp. In talking about the fight itself… that’s a boxing match.
FF: What about the speed? Who has the edge in speed in this fight?
RM: Speed ain’t got nothing to do with it….
FF: Right.. it’s skills. You’re always telling me that.
RM: That’s right… and who’s got more skill? You already know who that is. It’s my nephew. Fighting a southpaw ain’t no problem… and Floyd don’t have no problem making 147. He ain’t going in sucking weight like De La Hoya did.
FF: Do you feel Floyd is the bigger and stronger guy in this fight if it happens?
RM: Not only is Floyd the bigger and stronger guy… he’s the more skilled guy!
FF: How does Floyd nullify Pacquiao’s speed?
RM: Speed ain’t got nothing to do with it… I know so.
FF: What challenges does Pacquiao and his style present for Floyd?
RM: Pacquiao is one of those guys who gets in and gets out… and he throws a lot of punches… but as far as his speed goes he’s not any faster than my nephew. He’s a smaller guy, but he’s not faster.
FF: Well an interesting point about the speed factor that I wanted to ask you about is that a lot of people equate speed directly with hand speed… and from watching Floyd you see a lot of reflex and quickness in his movements in general….
RM: See people that dwell on the (hand) speed don’t know a lot about boxing. One of the fastest guys in the world was Meldrick Taylor. Another one was Howard Davis Jr. Who did (Taylor) get beat by? Julio Cesar Chavez. Chavez didn’t have any great speed himself, but he still beat Meldrick. Howard Davis had some of the fastest hands I’ve ever seen… but Jim Watt beat him.
It just goes to show you that speed ain’t shit if you don’t know how to use it. And my nephew knows how to use it!
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