Garcia pointed to the different ways both fighters have spent recent years. Pacquiao returned to the ring in July 2025 for a draw against Mario Barrios and continues to train intensely, often showing roadwork and camp footage publicly.
Garcia suggested that the level of work at 47 can come at a cost.
“Manny takes training camps very seriously,” Garcia said. “At 47, that’s not easy.”
He also noted that Pacquiao’s sparring sessions are likely competitive because younger fighters brought in to work with him will want to impress.
Garcia contrasted that with Mayweather, who has stayed active through exhibitions and regular conditioning without the same demands of full professional camps.
“Mayweather is doing this without even showing it to the world,” Garcia said. “I think he’ll be the fresher man.”
Their first meeting in 2015 ended in a clear decision win for Mayweather. The debate around that fight never fully disappeared, and talk of a second meeting has revived interest.
Pacquiao has insisted the planned September event will be a sanctioned professional contest, while Mayweather has publicly described it as an exhibition at different times.
If you look at his exhibitions over the last couple of years, the “Pretty Boy” reflexes have clearly slowed, and the legs don’t have that same effortless glide. At 49, he is fighting a version of himself that relies almost entirely on ring IQ because the physical tools are fading.
Compare that to Pacquiao’s recent performance against Mario Barrios in July 2025. Even at 47, Manny looked remarkably sharp, earning a majority draw against a world-class, much younger champion.
Most observers actually felt Pacquiao deserved the win. He still has those explosive bursts and the high-volume engine that Floyd has always found difficult to time.
Mayweather’s trademark potshot requires elite twitch speed. In his recent exhibitions, he’s been much more stationary, which suggests he no longer trusts his ability to zip in and out without getting countered.
To negate Pacquiao’s volume, an older Mayweather will almost certainly rely on holding. Since he can’t skip away from the ropes as easily, expect him to tie Manny up the second he gets into range.
Without the speed to throw combinations, Floyd’s best path to victory is a flicking jab to disrupt Manny’s rhythm, followed by immediate clinching. It’s effective, but it definitely isn’t pretty.
The real factor here is the sanctioned status. Pacquiao’s camp is currently pushing for this to be a professional 12-round bout, while Mayweather has been backpedaling, recently calling it an exhibition.
Pacquiao’s conditioning and activity give him a massive edge. Over 12 rounds, Floyd’s low work rate could see him fall behind on the cards significantly.
The shorter rounds and lack of official scoring favor Mayweather’s “survive and move” approach in an exhibition.
A fresher Floyd might have less wear and tear, as Robert Garcia suggested, but fresh doesn’t necessarily mean fast. Against a guy like Pacquiao, who is still training for championship-level fights, being well-rested might not be enough to overcome the massive gap in activity and hand speed.
