People saying Mayweather was exposed or overrated are off the mark
Firstly, let me begin with a quote George Foreman has used a few times. “I’d like to find my words, so I can eat them.” I personally expected Floyd to stop Chino, so was very wrong with that prediction. Like many posters pointed out Maidana’s awkward style gave Floyd problems. Well done to Maidana and the posters that predicted trouble for Floyd. I thought Floyd won, but that’s because I like “cleaner” work. Scores were too wide for my liking, but I haven’t re watched it yet.
In saying that I thought Floyd’s start was just horrendous. He looked slow with his hands and his feet. He snapped out of it by the middle of the fight, but he looked just terrible early. His strategy was also nonsensical. It’s fine to stay in the pocket against the style Maidana brings, but not in the pocket against the ropes. He couldn’t move to create distance, whereas if he fought in the pocket centre ring he would have been able to turn Maidana and move more, thus avoiding the chopping right. In short he fought the wrong fight. Forget about his rhetoric about “I chose to fight toe to toe.” That’s bullsh*t. His lateral movement was shockingly poor. I thought his poor showing was exacerbated because of his lack of movement. He simply cannot move the way he used to, for example against Baldomir, where he avoided and awkward fighter for the full 12.
Now to the crux of my argument. To me it’s ridiculous to suggest he was “exposed” or is “overrated.” Many of history’s greatest fighters have had real problems against awkward fighters. To say he is overrated or exposed because Maidana gave him fits isn’t a fair or objective viewpoint imo. Consider, would Maidana be able to beat Cotto @ 54, Canelo @ 52, Oscar @ 54, SSM @ 47 that Floyd fought, Hatton @ 47? I don’t think so. Chino wouldn’t even beat many of the active WW today. Cotto, Canelo and Oscar would KO him.
Asserting that Floyd is overrated and was exposed (particularly at this late stage of his career) you are basically stating that JMM, Canelo, Cotto, SSM, ODLH, Hatton, Hernandez, Judah, Corrales, Castillo, Gatti etc are or were garbage fighters. How else would one explain how Floyd was able to dominate them (easily) if he is overrated? To me the argument is almost the equivalent of saying JMM is GREATER than MP all time. He is certainly BETTER than MP head to head, but would he beat the likes of Cotto, AM, Clottey that MP beat? No way! He also lost to Bradley. One fight does not make or break a legacy. A poorer than expected showing does not make or break a fighters reputation.
Anyway, well done to Chino. He deserves a rematch, and Floyd better give it to him!!!