Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao

Mayweather must come out swinging, says Tyson

ESPN staff

March 13, 2015

Mayweather and Pacquiao camps exchange verbal blows

Mike Tyson says Floyd Mayweather is facing defeat to Manny Pacquiao unless he abandons his usual conservative style.

Mayweather and Pacquiao came face-to-face for a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, ahead of their $350 million mega-fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

"I thought from the start that Paquiao is going to win," said former undisputed world heavyweight champion Tyson.

"This guy is perpetual motion. He comes from every angle. He's all energy. Always throwing punches. Never stops.

"Floyd tucks in and picks his shots and he is more accurate. But he doesn't throw anything like Manny's hundred punches a round.

"It's unlikely he can knock Manny out so if he wants to win he's got to change. Unless he throws more punches he can't win the rounds."

Undefeated Mayweather made it clear on Wednesday that he intends to stick to his usual game-plan against Pacquiao, though.

"We've started training real well," he said. "Continuing to do what we always do. Doing what has won all our 47 fights."

But Tyson believes his compatriot will be in trouble unless he shakes things up. "Not enough," said Tyson. "He's gotta do something different.

"He needs to take a look at how the only opponents who have given Pacquiao trouble are Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, who also throw a hundred a round."