The Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight may not last nearly as long as many people think.

Mayweather, the current WBA Welterweight Champion of the world, believes he can beat Pacquiao with an early knockout.

"Look, if Marquez knocked Pacquiao out like that in the sixth, then I guarantee I’ll have him out by the fifth because I beat Marquez like a slave."

Mayweather is referring to Pacquiao's loss to Juan Manuel Márquez in December of 2012. The Mexican veteran defeated Pacquiao by knocking him out in the sixth round at the MGM Grand. Now, Pacquiao returns to the scene of the crime. As for Mayweather, he defeated Márquez in 2009.

While boxing fans are used to trash talking, this statement by Mayweather may have some flaws. One, Pacquiao did lose to Márquez in 2012, but he also beat Márquez in 2008 and 2011. Márquez and Pacquiao also went the full 12 rounds in 2004 resulting in a draw. Two, Mayweather has proven he can defeat Márquez, but he didn't knockout him out "like a slave" in their only match in 2009. In Mayweather's bout against Márquez, the two clashed for 12 rounds, where the judges awarded Mayweather the victor by unanimous decision.

Obviously both Mayweather and Pacquiao are beyond the prime of their Hall of Fame careers. Mayweather hasn't recorded a knockout victory since the infamous "Victor Ortiz not looking" fight back in 2011. Prior to that, his last knockout win was against Ricky Hatton in 2007. As for Pac-man, he may have a higher knockout rate than Money Mayweather, but he hasn't recorded a knockout win since his victory against Miguel Cotto in 2009.

In all likelihood, this fight will not end by way of knockout.

Pacquiao has a slight edge in power, experience and offense. Mayweather has an advantage in defense, speed and athleticism. With both fighters now past the age of 35, endurance may be the deciding key to a May 2 victory. The scorecard is expected to be close throughout, but the fighter who can last the longest and showcase the best endurance and stamina should out on top.

Excluding the Ortiz knockout in 2011, the last time Mayweather knocked out an opponent in the fifth round or lower was 1998, when he floored Angel Manfredy in the second round. Mayweather's best attribute is his escapability and speed. Trying to knockout Pacquiao could be a mistake, because he's playing a different game than he's set to thrive in. Pacquiao has a shorter reach, so he would welcome Mayweather coming in close and trading blows.

Pacquiao hasn't hid one bit. He has called out Mayweather constantly over the last six years, and he has appeared on multiple ESPN television shows, most notably "First Take." There, Pacquiao told Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith that Mayweather won't even be his toughest opponent.

"I know in my heart and my mind I can beat him. I was more worried when I fought Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto than this fight. That's in my heart," Pacquiao said. The WBO Welterweight Champion will has his hands full against a Mayweather who not only hasn't lost in his career, but hasn't even been knocked down.

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