Floyd Mayweather will go down as one of boxing’s greatest fighters, says former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno. The American outclassed Filipino rival Manny Pacquiao with a unanimous points decision in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The boxing world was unanimous in praise of Mayweather, 38, following his victory at the MGM Grand and Bruno said he could fight on until he is 50. according to Bruno: “As a boxer you’ve got to admire him, he’s got to go down as one of the greats.
And former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson hailed him “invincible” after his 48th career win. Tyson believes Mayweather stands alone at the forefront of boxing: “He controlled the fight, he has great endurance, he did a really good job.
“It’s his era, his time. He is in invincible mode now – no-one can stand with him at this particular moment.”
Amir Khan, who hopes to be Mayweather’s next opponent, told Sportsweek: “It was a classy fight. The mistake Manny made was drop to Mayweather’s pace.
“To fight Mayweather you have to stick to your own pace, and that’s something a young fighter would do.”
Four-time world champion Carl Froch was disappointed with the Filipino: “Was Pacquiao that poor or Mayweather that good?”
“Mayweather was sharp, accurate. I wanted to see more from Pacquiao, I am disappointed,” the Nottingham fighter told Sky Box Office.
…As Pacquiao Blames Injury For Defeat
Manny Pacquiao blamed a shoulder injury for his defeat by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, claiming it stopped him from using his right hand.
American Mayweather, 38, outclassed his Philippine rival at the MGM Grand and was awarded a wide unanimous decision.
Pacquiao, 36, said he thought he did enough to win the fight, despite most observers agreeing with the verdict.
“Three weeks before the fight I got a tear in my right shoulder,” he said. “It got better but it wasn’t 100 per cent.”
Mayweather started the brighter of the two and rocked Pacquiao with a number of right hand counter punches in the early exchanges.
The Filipino came back at the American in the fourth round, stunning Mayweather with a left hand and again in the sixth round but was never able to back it up and Mayweather ran out a comfortable winner on the judges’ scorecards.
Pacquiao said he wanted to have an injection in the shoulder before the fight but the Nevada Athletic Commission refused.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, claimed he informed the Commission of the injury five days ago and defended the decision not to cancel the fight, the most lucrative in boxing history.
“Athletes always fight hurt and we felt the work that was done on the shoulder during training would enable him to use his right hand,” said Arum.
Mayweather To Give Out Belts
Floyd Mayweather says he intends to give up his three welterweight title belts to give other boxers a chance to win them.
The American, who comfortably beat Manny Pacquiao on points with a technical masterclass in their hugely anticipated mega-fight in Las Vegas, confirmed that he would fight once more, in September, but that it may not be a world title bout.
Mayweather holds the WBA, WBC and WBO titles but he says he is going to give them all up, potentially in the next two weeks.
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