If you were to approach a random fight fan, point to a Mayweather vs Pacquiao poster, and ask “which one has good defense?” there’s no question that they’d answer “Mayweather,” without missing a beat. And while it is true that Floyd is known for his superb defense, Manny Pacquiao has a subtly effective defense all his own, one which can be traced back to Marlon Starling, a superb technician who ruled the welterweight division for one brief but beautiful year in 1989.
Starling was known for his airtight defense, all based around a tight but flexible high guard like that of Winky Wright. When Starling achieved the height of his success, a young Freddie Roach was working in his corner. And as it turns out, there’s a lot more of Starling in Pacquiao than you might expect.
If the player above gives you trouble, feel free to head over to Youtube and watch there.
Links to the other videos in this series can be found below.
Secret Weapons: Manny Pacquiao’s Right Hook
About the author
