Tweet
He doesn't look like much but he's done alright by Ricky so far.
-
He doesn't look like much but he's done alright by Ricky so far. -
Floyd is stronger than you think....
Here is the rub:
WHAT IF Hatton finds that Mayweather (by virtue of the experience fighting and sparring MUCH bigger men for two years now) can NOT be pushed around?
WHAT IF Hatton finds that Mayweather is as strong or stronger than he is?
WHAT IF Hatton finds that the Mayweather/Toney old-school style of inside fighting is more effective than his own brawling, swarming style?
Will Ricky have a Plan B that doesn't get him blown out? What will he do then? There is NO DOUBT in my mind that RH is a better fighter than Gatti. But I have seen Gatti box adequately, and I have seen Gatti brawl. Does Ricky have a similar versatility? And what will happen if RH finds that he can't get inside and rough Mayweather up?
I saw 165 pound Oscar and 170 pound Baldomir fail to maul Floyd. I know that Floyd's sparring partners have included Kofi Jantuah and Daniel Edouard. These guys are very solid MIDDLEWEIGHTS.
I believe that Hatton is in store for a very unpleasant surprise regarding Floyd's strength.
The example that I use is Joe Calzaghe. Guys (Lacy Included) always come in thinking that they can outmuscle Slappin' Joe. But, somehow, those "slaps" hurt more than they expected, and they find that they can't push him around.Comment
-
Look man there is a contrast of styles. Oscar does not have the temperment to pressure a fighter. I think that is why he looked so awkward trying to press Mayweather. He has never done so...it's not in his tempermant and make up as a fighter. Take a look at all his fights. He was never a guy that tried to cut off the ring and swarm you, he was methodical in his approach and his main weapon of attack was the left jab. He would pick you apart for a few rounds and then start pressing.
And with Baldomir. The guy was just so slow. Hand and foot. He is much bigger then Hatton but nowhere near the skill level and handspeed. Doesn't have the power Hatton has either. And of course he isn't as dirty.
And with your opinion of Gatti. I am on another side of the fence. Gatti is and has always been a pretty bad boxer. He looked good under Mcgirt because he was fighitng former lightweight's and featherweights. Dorin and Leija...Guys like that. C'mon man. That is why he looked good at 140 for a few years. He has always had trouble with guys that have equal or better skill level. When you added size, he was just outgunned.
And Jantuah and Eduardo he sparred with in training for DelaHoya. Or he has been with these guys for the past few years. If so, that is very impressive. It is different though because he is going to be looking DOWN on his opponent. Ricky is going to come at this guy full steam ahead. ANd I think Floyd is in for a shock.Comment
-
I know Jantuah was being paid by PBF, but...
Sparring partner knows both corners
Jantuah trains with Mayweather Jr. now, De La Hoya in 2002
By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Floyd Mayweather Jr., working out Tuesday for the media, vowed to slug it out with Oscar De La Hoya in their May 5 super welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden.
Photos by John Locher.
Media members huddle around Mayweather before his workout.
Kofi Jantuah, a super welterweight contender, watches Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s workout Tuesday. Jantuah has been Mayweather's primary sparring partner for his May 5 fight with Oscar De La Hoya and was De La Hoya's primary sparring partner for his bout with Fernando Vargas in 2002.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s every move Tuesday at a workout largely designed to hype pay-per-view sales for his May 5 super welterweight title fight with Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden was filmed, recorded and cheered.
A few feet away, Kofi Jantuah sat by himself, bemusedly watching the hysteria that surrounded Mayweather, one of the star attractions in one of the biggest fights of this generation.
Jantuah, a super welterweight contender who has served as Mayweather's primary sparring partner, has been through the scene before.
He was De La Hoya's primary sparring partner when De La Hoya faced longtime nemesis Fernando Vargas in 2002.
Although De La Hoya is the larger man -- he weighed 165 pounds at a WBC-mandated weigh-in May 5 to 152 for Mayweather -- Jantuah said it's irrelevant.
And, Jantuah said, he's not certain De La Hoya is the stronger of the two.
"Size will not be an issue in the fight," Jantuah said. "I guess you could say it's size against skill and speed. Oscar is a big guy now, but Floyd has exceptional speed and skills. Everybody knows that speed kills in boxing.
"And weight doesn't really mean anything. Floyd is a very strong man and he's in such great condition. He can go as hard in the last minute of the last round as he can in the first minute of the first round."
Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe urged Jantuah to speak of his experience working with De La Hoya in 2002. Specifically, Ellerbe wanted Jantuah to tell a reporter what De La Hoya's training staff asked of him as they were sparring.
But Jantuah clearly didn't want to say anything disparaging about De La Hoya and raised his hands and smiled.
"I'll tell you, then, because Kofi's told us," Ellerbe said, as Jantuah sat listening. "They asked him to back off a little, because he was going too hard on Oscar."
Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr., was training De La Hoya at the time and confirmed the account. Ironically, though, it was the elder Mayweather who cautioned his son to be wary of De La Hoya's power.
Mayweather Sr. is not training his son, though he is in the camp as an adviser. He said his son is the more skilled of the two and that he thought it would be a mistake to try to engage De La Hoya in a shootout, as Mayweather Jr. on Tuesday vowed to do.
"That would be a big mistake," Mayweather Sr. said. "A big mistake. He's the bigger man and he's got a punch. Anyone who disrespects De La Hoya's punching power is going to be in for a long night. Floyd's the better fighter, the smarter fighter and the more skillful fighter.
"All he has to do is make sure he neutralizes Oscar's left hook. But he can't be foolish and try to prove something and get caught, because there could be problems."
But Jantuah, who agreed that De La Hoya hits hard, said he has been amazed by Mayweather Jr.'s chin. Jantuah, 31-3 with 20 knockouts, is a hard puncher whose most notable knockout victory came in 1999 over Daniel Santos. Santos went on to win a super welterweight title.
"He can take it," Jantuah said when asked if Mayweather could withstand De La Hoya's best left hook. "I'm one of the hardest punchers in the division, or even at middleweight. I hit him with some good shots, shots I know would hurt most guys. But he can take it. He's a tough kid. Oscar shouldn't underestimate that. He's a tough, tough kid."Comment
-
Thanks for that read. But that is an article. Im sure Jantuah is coached by Ellerbe a little bit on what to say. Good read though.Comment
-
Haha, anyway I just read from Kerry Kayes (Hattons nutrionalist) and said He got in the ring at 153lb against Castillo. He was 156 against Tszyu. He said Hatton did everything right. Usually he has a fried breakfest the day of the fight, but against Castillo he didnt. Maybe this is why he looked so sharp (somewhat of a mental boost anyway). Anyway here is a quote from Kerry Kayes that i just read.
kk - Thank you fo the compliments, yes we all believe Ricky was in the shape of his life but if you look at the dates of his last couple of fights over the last few years he was out of the gym probably only 6 weeks, I consider Ricky snakes and ladders, he climb all the way up the ladder and gets in shape then immediately after the fight, jumps down the snake. After the Urango fight, we managed to catch him half way down, I also believe the pace and intensity Ricky sets will completely throw Mayweathers rythym out, in the middle rounds, Mayweather will think he is surrounded.
Here's too hoping Ricky has a long training camp again!!Comment
-
[QUOTE=EMPOROAR;2561361]Haha, anyway I just read from Kerry Kayes (Hattons nutrionalist) and said He got in the ring at 153lb against Castillo. He was 156 against Tszyu. He said Hatton did everything right. Usually he has a fried breakfest the day of the fight, but against Castillo he didnt. Maybe this is why he looked so sharp (somewhat of a mental boost anyway). Anyway here is a quote from Kerry Kayes that i just read.
kk - Thank you fo the compliments, yes we all believe Ricky was in the shape of his life but if you look at the dates of his last couple of fights over the last few years he was out of the gym probably only 6 weeks, I consider Ricky snakes and ladders, he climb all the way up the ladder and gets in shape then immediately after the fight, jumps down the snake. After the Urango fight, we managed to catch him half way down, I also believe the pace and intensity Ricky sets will completely throw Mayweathers rythym out, in the middle rounds, Mayweather will think he is surrounded.
When have you ever seen Mayweather either flustered, confused, or fatigued in the ring?Comment
-
[QUOTE=EMPOROAR;2561406]MMMMmmmm dunno.
Mayweather said he was less than his best moving up in weight vs Castillo the first go 'round. Some people said that he got a controversial decision, so he rematched Castillo immediately to prove who was the better man.
Hatton said that he was less than his best moving up in weight vs Collazo. Some people said that he got a controversial decison, so he, umm, err, never mind. Hatton went back to the lower weight.
I saw the Chavez fight. Didn't see flustered. Saw somebody who decided to ****. "Flustered" was in round two vs Judah. Notice that his corner had to pep Floyd a bit. I think he was getting very concerned about the game plan. But then he won round three, and Judah took round four. Uncle Rog said to stick with the plan. He did, and it was smooth sailing after that.
Chavez fight: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fco0PmJX8bwComment
Comment