Pacquiao vs Mayweather Fight 2015 Preview, Analysis: Floyd Big Favorite But Pacman Has Style and Speed to Beat Him

Boxing experts, analysts, and almost everyone have started weighing in on who will most likely win what promises to be "The Fight of the Century" between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on May 2, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Initial analyses point to a win by Pacquiao if through KO, but if the fight boils down to the judges' decision, then Mayweather would have the edge.

Touted as the "richest" in history, the highly anticipated bout will unify the WBO and WBC welterweight championships and is expected to set a new record for pay-per-view buys with an early estimate by Forbes magazine of $250-million gross.

MGM Grand announced that within three minutes of the fight confirmation, all the 6,852 rooms in the hotel complex were sold out. Las Vegas bookies have Mayweather as odds-on favorite at 2-1 over Pacquiao, nicknamed the Pacman.

It should be remembered that both Pacquiao and Mayweather went up against Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez beat Pacquiao, but Mayweather beat Marquez. This doesn't mean though that Mayweather will surely beat Pacquiao, analysts said, adding that it is all a matter of style. Marquez and Pacquiao's styles make them the perfect adversaries to each other, while Mayweather's style was what was required to beat Marquez, they added.

The analysts further said that in terms of fighting style, then Pacquiao has the style that can beat Mayweather. Mayweather's strength is his hand speed, and the confidence, calm and comfort he exudes during a fight, they said. He sees very clearly what's coming and it works to his defense, they noted.

However, this style is not going to work on someone as lightning-quick as Pacquiao, they said. Although Mayweather is a good counter-puncher, Pacquiao is an aggressive offensive dynamo, the analysts added.

Mayweather's past ring successes will also play a part in the fight, boxing experts said, noting that the American champion has not been hurt badly in the past, and he has not been known to work too hard to win his bouts.

Many experts are wary that Mayweather's apathy will cost him dearly. Pacquiao has been battered and has been known to last through the worst beating and this will be a big advantage for Pacquiao in his fight with Mayweather, they said, adding that Pacquiao appears to have the strength and endurance to absorb Mayweather's punches in order for him to throw a couple of his own. A lot of his punches might not land, but the ones that do, will hurt Mayweather, the experts said.

Mayweather has been known to have issues with fighting with southpaws, and Pacquiao is one of the greatest southpaw fighters around.

The thinking is that Pacquiao just needs to take the first few rounds and not get knocked out to have a chance to win the fight.

Mayweather can win the fight, obviously, but he would need to use tactics he hasn't shown in the ring in almost a decade, fight experts said. His stubbornness and over-confidence might be his undoing, they cautioned. In order to win, Mayweather will need to work the way he hasn't in a long while since he hand picks his opponents and none are of the caliber of Pacquiao, they said.

Pacquiao is pound for pound the most explosive offensive fighter in recent years and it will be pretty hard to win on scores against Pacquiao for a defensive fighter like Mayweather, the experts pointed out.

Pacquiao may not be a better fighter overall, but his style is what can beat Mayweather if Mayweather doesn't do anything differently, they added.

As boxing fans worldwide count down the days to the fight, there will be more analyses and speculations. What is clear is that whoever wins, this fight will go down in history as one of the greatest and most watched fights ever.