MANILA, Philippines - Legendary Mexican trainer Nacho Beristain is picking Manny Pacquiao over Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their May 2 clash at the MGM Grand.
Beristain knows Pacquiao too well, having been in the opposite corner four times with Juan Manuel Marquez and once with Oscar dela Hoya.
In 2012, Marquez scored a stunning knockout win over Pacquiao. It’s one of the most unforgettable moments in boxing history.
But Beristain told www.boxingscene.com Pacquiao’s loss to Marquez after three close shaves won’t have any effect on the coming fight.
“Not likely,” said Beristain, who’s looking at the fight going the distance.
The 36-year-old Pacquiao, according to the crafty trainer, has the “mentality of a natural winner.”
Mayweather has the defensive skills no other boxer has. But sometimes, if not most of the times, this leads to unattractive fights, Berestain said.
“I think Floyd Mayweather will win. But my heart is with Manny Pacquiao. Manny is a spectacular fighter who people pay to watch with delight,” he said.
“Floyd is truly excellent. But his style is defensive, which isn’t attractive to many people. Manny’s strategy must be pure, concentrated pressure.”
Pacquiao must be the old Pacquiao in this fight, throwing punches from all angles and doing it every second of the way.
Mayweather is used to setting traps for his opponents and, according to Beristain, will do the same this time.
“Floyd must entice Manny to come into range of his very effective counter punching,” Beristain said.
And there’s only one way to neutralize this.
“Manny must fight like a wildcat,” Beristain said.