Manny Pacquiao 'Not The Same Anymore' According To Trainer Robert Garcia, Wants Marcos Maidana To Have A Shot Against the Filipino Boxer
With the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao super fight still not in stone, it’s only expected that other fighters are positioning themselves for a a shot against either fighter. Put Marcos Maidana as one of the suitors chasing a Pacquiao fight in 2015 as per his trainer, Robert Garcia, who stated that he wants his Argentine ward to be pitted against the Filipino. Garcia even had the gall to call Pacquiao out saying, in effect, that the eight-division world champion is already past his prime.
“For me, if I was to pick, I’d rather get guy in the ring with [Manny] Pacquiao. You know, that’s a big fight. It’s a fight that’s also makeable. There’s been a talk of that fight already. I would love that fight.” the world-renowned trainer stated via Fight Hype. Garcia also observed that Pacquiao’s skills is not as good as before although he remains a worthy contender.
“It’s not the same Pacquiao anymore as four or five years ago. Mayweather is not the same Mayweather anymore as four-five years ago. But he’s still very fast, very strong, very powerful. So he’s still a very dangerous fighter. Pacquiao has been one of the best in the last 10 years and probably one of the best in boxing history. So we can’t underestimate him.”
READ ALSO: Manny Pacquiao’s Adviser Mike Koncz Gives End of January Deadline For Floyd Mayweather Jr. To Accept Fight
Garcia’s point of Pacquiao not being the same as before could have its merits. After all the Filipino has not had a knockout victory since 2009, when the Filipino retired Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao has since gone 7-2-0 in his last nine fights including the embarrassing knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez and the controversial defeat to Timothy Bradley in 2012. Maidana is also known as an opportunistic slugger with knockout power— sending opponents to the canvass for good in 31 of 35 wins or an 88.6 per cent KO rate on victories. As style makes fights, pitting two aggressive fighters like Maidana and Pacquiao on top of the ring would most likely produce an exciting and unpredictable fight.
READ ALSO: Boxing Trainer Stephen Edwards Says Mayweather-Pacquiao Impasse Is Bad For The Sport
Garcia also mentioned other fighters which could be paired with Maidana (35-5-0, 31 KOs) in 2015 naming the likes of Adrian Broner (29-1-0, 22 KOs), Amir Khan (30-3-0, 19 KOs) and Devon Alexander (26-3-0, 14 KOs) among the fight possibilities for the 31-year-old Argentine. Watch the full interview here:
(YouTube/FightHype.com)
Maidana has already fought Broner, Khan and Alexander in the past. He lost to Khan and Alexander via decisions in December 2011 and February 2012, respectively, but won via decision against Broner in December 2012. Maidana, who is from Margarita, Santa Fe in Argentina, has lost two of his last two bouts both against Floyd Mayweather Jr. both in 2014 and via decisions.
