Pacquiao must seek quick knockout: Hagler

Former middleweight great weighs in on clash between Pacman and Money

Manny Pacquiao needs to knock out unbeaten Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr. in the first six rounds of their May 2 super fight or the Filipino star will lose on points, Marvelous Marvin Hagler predicted in Shanghai on Wednesday.

"Anywhere from one to six, I would go Pacquiao, and then after that I believe that it's got to be Floyd Mayweather because of his boxing techniques," said the former undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

"I don't think Manny can outbox him," said the 60-year-old as he spoke of the $200-million welterweight unification fight the boxing world has been waiting to see for six years. The richest fight in boxing history will take place at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas.

"That's what enabled me to be the guy I am today. Just get rid of these guys early," said Hagler, who carries a paunch but still looks fighting fit.

He does not have the slurred speech of Joe Frazier, before he passed, or the motor-skill problems of Parkinson's-ravaged Muhammad Ali now.

Hagler, who is famous for his epic ring wars with Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, cowed many an opponent during his seven-year reign of terror in the 1980s due to his class-leading knockout rate.

He was visiting Shanghai in his capacity as an ambassador for the Laureus Sports Foundation.

Speaking of the fight that is on everyone's lips, Hagler suggested Pacquiao take a leaf from his epic battle with Hearns in 1985. That three-round, eight-minute affair was bloody and relentless, earning it the nickname "The War".

"I would have to do it the same way as I did with Tommy (against Mayweather)," he said. "I think I would have to put the pressure on him right from the start and basically not give him any time to think. That is the way we trained."

"The only thing that happened with Pacquiao is that he got stopped before. That gives Mayweather the opportunity to look for that same kind of shot. It depends whether he can tag him coming in."

Like most fans, he hopes not to see Mayweather err on the side of caution in his bid to break Rocky Marciano's record, which could make for a boring bout.

Marciano reigned as the heavyweight champion of the world from 1952-56 before he retired unbeaten with a record of 49-0 (43 KOs). Mayweather, who will be fighting as a welterweight, is 47-0 (26 KOs).

"Mayweather is a very crafty, slick, intelligent type of fighter," Hagler said, but he "can send you to sleep by dancing around the ring.

"He really hasn't been tested yet, that's the whole thing. You've got to see if he gets hit with a great shot, can he shake it off and make that move? Nobody's been able to catch him, maybe, more than once, and then he's so fast that he can move away."

"I think that you would have to be able to, yourself, take a punch and walk in there, just like the Hagler and Hearns fight. Just like that. Just don't even think and just go to war. That's the way it's got to be."

Some say Pacquiao, an eight division world champion, is past his prime after recent losses lowered his record to 57-5-2 (38 KOs). He is also 36 and Mayweather is 38, putting them clearly near retirement age.

"If he gets stopped, there's another question of whether he'll give Pacquiao another opportunity, or he might be like Leonard and say 'ciao'," said Hagler, breaking into a deep laugh.

He was referring to his much-debated fight with Sugar Ray in 1987, which Leonard won on a split decision. Hagler, who thought he was robbed, requested a rematch. Leonard declined and then retired, but came out of retirement for a second time after Hagler had hung up his gloves.

"Most of the fighters today, they don't really have all the ingredients which we had in the early years," he said. "Hagler-Hearns, Leonard-Hagler or Duran and Hagler. That was some tough fights.

"The last great fights I've seen was guys like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Those kind of wars, that's what has got to bring back boxing."

Hagler these days divides his time between the US and Italy, where he said he spends more time discussing soccer than boxing. His wife is Italian.

In order to reignite interest in boxing in an era of Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts and other mixed martial arts, the four major boxing organizations need to merge their belts, he said.

"Probably the best thing that could happen is to bring back all the championship (winners) and have a box-off, and have only one champion in the world," he said.

"That's what I believe is what boxing needs, to bring itself back. That is a solution," he said. "There's too many champions."

matthodges@chinadaily.com.cn