Mike Tyson Talks Strategy of Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao Fight 

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

As excitement about the finally agreed upon bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather crests, an increasing number of former legends are giving their take. Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson added his name to the list Wednesday, warning Mayweather against taking his normally conservative approach.   

"He has to fight. If he's not going to score, he is going to lose the round. Also, if he is laid back, he is going to lose the round," Tyson told SweetScience.com, via Lyle Fitzsimmons of CBS Sports. "Floyd doesn't throw near a hundred punches per round. He is more of a scientific fighter. He sits around and pulls it. I don't think he is going to be able to play that plot. This guy is all over your face. He moves and feints. He is in perpetual motion."

Mayweather, 38, is known as one of the best defensive fighters in boxing history. Calculated with every punch, Mayweather typically wins his rounds by landing a high percentage of quick-strike blows and using his defensive prowess to thwart his opponent's attack.

pacquiao, 36, is one of the most powerful pound-for-pound punchers on the planet. While age has undoubtedly sapped a bit of his power and quickness, Pacquiao was dominant in his win against Chris Algieri in November, at times pulverizing the American into near-submission. Thirty-eight of his 57 career wins have come via knockout, though he's currently on a drought dating to 2009.
Mayweather has long thrived in taking advantage of slower, over-aggressive fighters, biding his time before systematically picking apart his opponent as the fight goes on. Tyson's quote seems to indicate Mayweather would be better off taking a more aggressive game plan this time around or risk dropping early rounds—or becoming Pacquiao's 39th knockout victim. 
As for whether Mayweather agrees, we're now less than two months away from finding out.

 

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