Reigning WBA and IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins believe that Floyd Mayweather will win convincingly against Manny Pacquiao if the two boxers decide to collide soon.
In an interview with On The Ropes Boxing Radio, Hopkins said that while Mayweather had a hard time against Marcos Maidana during their fight more than a week ago, he is still convinced that the reigning pound-for-pound king can dispatch Pacquiao easily.
"I believe that if Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao fight tomorrow, I think it would be easy money for Floyd Mayweather," Hopkins said.
Hopkins added that he would not have the same opinion if he was asked about his thoughts five years ago, saying that Pacquiao's physical abilities declined further than Mayweather over the last several years.
The 49-year-old champion said that Pacquiao has lost his grit and became slower even before absorbing a humiliating sixth-round knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez during their fourth fight in December 2012.
"I didn't think totally that way four or five years ago when the hype was at the highest. I think that Pacquiao took three notches back. That's my opinion - and that was before the knockout from Marquez," Hopkins added.
Fight fans and boxing aficionados are still hoping that Mayweather and Pacquiao will eventually set aside their respective egos and finally agree to face each other.
But while many are still convinced that the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight could break all boxing records in terms of revenue, Hopkins believe that the fight fans are not as excited as they were four years ago.
Hopkins reiterated that boxing fans have lost the opportunity of witnessing what could have been the biggest super bowl in boxing when Pacquiao and Mayweather decided not to give into each other's demands to make the fight happen.
"The buzz of the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight compared to four years ago or longer is not the same because things have happened since then - and I'm not just talking about the knockout," Hopkins said. "I don't agree with anybody that thinks that Pacquiao-Mayweather is the big fight per say of the perception of who would win and who would lose like it was before. I think we lost that opportunity, I think we lost the biggest super bowl in boxing."
