Micky Ward: Floyd Mayweather the best but Manny Pacquiao has nothing to lose
One in a series of interviews with great boxers, past and present, to discuss the May 2 mega fight between the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in what is sure to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.
Previously:Geroge Foreman, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Bernard Hopkins,
Today: "Irish" Micky Ward
It's hard to believe Ward will turn 50 in October. It wasn't that long ago that he and the late Arturo "Thunder" Gatti engaged in one of the greatest trilogies in boxing history. Thirty rounds of some of the most courageous, bloody, gut-wrenching fighting you will ever see. Ward won the first in 2002 by majority decision, and Gatti won the last two, the finale coming in 2003. As HBO's Jim Lampley said of Ward during the first fight, "If Micky Ward wants to come to you, he will walk through a hailstorm of punishment to do it." They were the last three fights of Ward's career. The the subject of a movie about his life, starring Mark Wahlberg as The Fighter, Ward still loves the sport and watches when he can. And he says he will definitely be watching the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao mega fight on May 2. Ward talked to Paste BN Sports about that fight this week.
Give me your thoughts on the fight.
"I think it's going to be an intriguing fight. I'm not really sure how it's going to play out. It depends on who makes the move, or if someone makes the move. I feel as though with the two best fighters fighting each other you never know what's going to happen because anything can happen. But one of them has to set the tone, and Floyd may sit back and wait and try to counter him and stuff like that. Manny Pacquiao's a great fighter, but Floyd Mayweather - I'm not saying he's going to win the fight or lose the fight, I'm just saying he's a different breed. For all the money he has, and all the Bugattis, and all the cars he has, he trains as hard as anyone has trained, probably harder than anyone in boxing. All the time. Some people say he's arrogant, they say he's rude, but he earned it and he backs it up every time. He has the right to do whatever he wants in the ring, and how to talk about fights. He can talk any way he wants because he's proven it, and backs it up every fight."
"He's a defensive wizard, and when he wants to get on the offense, he can fight. Floyd has a good chin, too. He's been hit, he's never really been hurt, he might have been stunned a few times, but he's never wobbled bad or anything, so he's got a good chin. He rolls with punches, he takes a punch, he is a great counterpuncher, and Manny throws so many fast punches at you, he's all over the place, so I can't wait to see it and see how it plays out. I don't have a prediction because every time I predict, something crazy happens and so I don't do that anymore."
Can Manny coax Floyd into an offensive-type fight?
"I think he can probably get him into one, if he gets up on Floyd and starts to hurt him. If he gets a lead, then Floyd might get into a fight, a drag-out fight. I don't know. Honestly, Manny has nothing to lose. He's been knocked out, he's one of the greatest fighters of our time, he's an eight-division world champ, so he has nothing to lose. And he's making, what? $70-80 million? Floyd's got pride, and an undefeated record, so all the pressure is on Floyd. But Floyd handles pressure good, y'know?"
Is Pacquiao's trainer, seven time trainer of the year Freddie Roach, that good?
Freddie's my buddy, I grew up with Freddie. He's from Dedham, Mass, about 30-35 minutes away from me. I think Freddie's a great trainer, look what he's done in the game. He was a student of the game and he's still like learning. Manny has a lot of respect for Freddie, he listens to everything he says, and Manny's a great fighter. He throws punches in bunches, he's all over the place, he's got those strong legs, and he's got speed. And I think Manny's got a good chin. I don't care if he got knocked out by Marquez, because Marquez, with that punch, the way they both came in together, he would have knocked anybody out. It was like two trains colliding, and they were both coming in, and he got caught on the button. It could've happened to me, anybody. He got caught cold right in the right spot."
Will Pacquiao's style give Mayweather fits?
"It may give Floyd trouble, but Floyd is a student of the game more than anyone. Anyone can have an off-night. But Floyd really hasn't had a close fight outside of (De La Hoya). And (Shane) Mosley gave him a little bit of trouble. But with Floyd, if one thing doesn't work, he always has something in his back pocket. And Manny, too. I think Manny's got a great chin, to be honest with you. Yeah, he went down a few times, but that knockout, that could've happened to anyone. That punch. And Manny has fought everyone, he's never ducked nobody. commend both of them for taking the fight finally and getting it done."
Is this fight good for the sport?
"I think it's great for the sport. I don't care if it's five years too late, six years too late Of course, boxing fans will watch it but I believe those who ain't boxing fans will also pay the $100, y'know, because the fight is that big, It's the biggest thing in sports right now. Look at the numbers. As long as you get the best fighting the best and an intriguing matchup, (they are) fights people want to see."
Is Floyd is the best fighter of this generation?
"Oh yeah, and Manny's right up there, too, but by far I think Floyd Mayweather . . . outside of Manny, I think Floyd's fought everybody pretty much. And he beat everybody else. He's never been down. He's the best of this era."