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Kaynan once made a thread in Classic about Mayweather, and here was the analysis of these matchups I gave in reply:
Originally posted by kayjay
His interior defense is amazing (more on this in a second). His patience and concentration are perfect. His lead right is lightning, both fast and powerful. He has an extra sense for punches as they're coming; he reads shoulders instinctively like no one else. He can alter the trajectory of his punches in the middle of his delivery, so he's amazingly accurate. He can fight many styles.
That said, there's a reason he fights so cautiously.
There's no one on the horizon that could beat him, though Cotto could push him similar to how DLH did. Williams, Marg., etc., are just not on his level.
But if we can be historical:
Today I watched Duran-Leonard I with him in mind (it's still semester break, mind you), and I came to the conclusion that he couldn't compete with either guy.
Duran (this is easier, b/c you can simply watch while picturing Floyd in Leonard's position, with the example of Hatton to help):
1. RD's interior defense is on par with Floyd's. In fact this fight is one of the best defensive displays (on Duran's part) by anyone. Floyd wouldn't land anything at all in clinches.
2. Floyd wouldn't think of stepping left to throw a hook. That was in response to a weakness specific to Hatton.
3. Floyd couldn't land lead rights in Duran's approach. Hatton could slip by sometimes, but other times he was open. Too much of his strength is in his legs. Duran on the other hand had core strength and flexibilty at the waist, moved from the head and waist much better.
4. Hatton controled parts of the fight in clinches, though without throwing enough punches. Duran could be more creative in picking openings. Could punch around FM's right elbow (there were openings for Hatton to do this early, but he can't do that without getting his feet around.
5. Leonard often clinched with his arms on the outside so he could flurry (amazingly, Duran rolls or blocks almost everything anyway). Floyd would be unwilling to do this. He wouldn't bring his elbows away from his ribs. Therefore he wouldn't even get a good number of punches off.
6. Floyd could only jab and potshot from a crouch. But he would end up leaning in as he does so and he would get caught. (Floyd does lean in awkwardly when he jabs from outside, and he has been caught before doing this, though certainly not by Hatton.
I don't see how anyone could study these fights and argue that FM could make it to 15 rounds with that Duran.
Now Leonard:
Has every intangible Floyd has. He always won, even when he wasn't the better guy. Matches Floyd for speed, has way more power, better reflexes, throws better combinations, is bigger, stringer, faster on his feet. He's not as tight defensively, but he doesn't need to protect himself as much as Floyd does. Leonard beats Floyd like he beat Floyd's daddy. Can you even see Floyd fighting like that? Nah, Leonard decisions an inactive Floyd. I think he'd go into a real shell.
How about p4p? Say, compared to a young Roy? Roy had much more confidence, better handspeed, better punch vareity, and exponentially better power, p4p.
So yea, he's unbreatable right now. Because all the guys out there are flatfooted, and he can't lose to a guy like that.
That said, there's a reason he fights so cautiously.
There's no one on the horizon that could beat him, though Cotto could push him similar to how DLH did. Williams, Marg., etc., are just not on his level.
But if we can be historical:
Today I watched Duran-Leonard I with him in mind (it's still semester break, mind you), and I came to the conclusion that he couldn't compete with either guy.
Duran (this is easier, b/c you can simply watch while picturing Floyd in Leonard's position, with the example of Hatton to help):
1. RD's interior defense is on par with Floyd's. In fact this fight is one of the best defensive displays (on Duran's part) by anyone. Floyd wouldn't land anything at all in clinches.
2. Floyd wouldn't think of stepping left to throw a hook. That was in response to a weakness specific to Hatton.
3. Floyd couldn't land lead rights in Duran's approach. Hatton could slip by sometimes, but other times he was open. Too much of his strength is in his legs. Duran on the other hand had core strength and flexibilty at the waist, moved from the head and waist much better.
4. Hatton controled parts of the fight in clinches, though without throwing enough punches. Duran could be more creative in picking openings. Could punch around FM's right elbow (there were openings for Hatton to do this early, but he can't do that without getting his feet around.
5. Leonard often clinched with his arms on the outside so he could flurry (amazingly, Duran rolls or blocks almost everything anyway). Floyd would be unwilling to do this. He wouldn't bring his elbows away from his ribs. Therefore he wouldn't even get a good number of punches off.
6. Floyd could only jab and potshot from a crouch. But he would end up leaning in as he does so and he would get caught. (Floyd does lean in awkwardly when he jabs from outside, and he has been caught before doing this, though certainly not by Hatton.
I don't see how anyone could study these fights and argue that FM could make it to 15 rounds with that Duran.
Now Leonard:
Has every intangible Floyd has. He always won, even when he wasn't the better guy. Matches Floyd for speed, has way more power, better reflexes, throws better combinations, is bigger, stringer, faster on his feet. He's not as tight defensively, but he doesn't need to protect himself as much as Floyd does. Leonard beats Floyd like he beat Floyd's daddy. Can you even see Floyd fighting like that? Nah, Leonard decisions an inactive Floyd. I think he'd go into a real shell.
How about p4p? Say, compared to a young Roy? Roy had much more confidence, better handspeed, better punch vareity, and exponentially better power, p4p.
So yea, he's unbreatable right now. Because all the guys out there are flatfooted, and he can't lose to a guy like that.
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