Does Mayweather Fight Toe-to-Toe Because He WANTS Too or HAS too?

[GrandpaBernard]

I keep hearing Mayweather saying, "you guys don't have to worry about me moving", before each of his fights.

I know Mayweather isn't in his prime, but I can't help but think he's fighting in this new type of style not for the crowd, but because he doesn't really have a choice.

Mayweather has put on a lot of muscle from his earlier days and I can't help but think he doesn't have the ability to fight an entire fight (sticking and moving) like he use too.

If he ever fought a guy like Kirkland, I'm not sure if this new toe to toe style is the right thing to do.

Thoughts?

Moving around isn't always the best option. Mosley and Ortiz couldn't fight backing up. Miguel Cotto is much less effective if forced onto his backfoot.

[F l i c k e r]

Because he wants to. He did it because he was pissed and wanted to hurt people because people said he couldn't stand and ****. He did to Mosley and he even skinned his gloves for Ortiz.

So, it's because he chose to. Not because he has to.

[JmH Reborn]

If Hopkins can move at 47 then Floyd should be able to at 35

Hopkins started late and he's never been as mobile in his prime as Floyd was in his.

Either way, its a combination of the two. His legs aren't what they use to be (the movement in the Ortiz fight was I think bothering him some) and because his defense is so good that he can stand there, right in front of you and you'd still miss. Allows him to be fresh at the end.

[Carpe Diem]

He did a great job of moving around quite well against JMM, but then again that was three years ago.

[lx!!]

When has he fought toe to toe? Pot shot & run…

[kiaba360]

I keep hearing Mayweather saying, "you guys don't have to worry about me moving", before each of his fights.

I know Mayweather isn't in his prime, but I can't help but think he's fighting in this new type of style not for the crowd, but because he doesn't really have a choice.

Mayweather has put on a lot of muscle from his earlier days and I can't help but think he doesn't have the ability to fight an entire fight (sticking and moving) like he use too.

If he ever fought a guy like Kirkland, I'm not sure if this new toe to toe style is the right thing to do.

Thoughts?

Fighters are forced to undergo a metamorphosis as they travel up in weight. However, Floyd is so well-rounded that it hasn't made much of a difference. He does not need to rely on using as much movement because he has enough hand-speed and reflexes (coupled with his supreme defense) to counter-punch and avoid punches effectively against the comparably slower 147-154lbers. I think he also wants to see how hard he can be hit lol, gradually testing his own limits. Can he fight like he used to? probably not. But, it wouldn't be a smart thing to do even if he could. It doesn't matter for what reason he's doing it for, it's good for all of us that his current style can make for entertaining fights.

[LeG00N]

If Hopkins can move at 47 then Floyd should be able to at 35

implying Hopkins isn't special

[BIGBOXINGFAN]

Mayweather fights like that because he is that good.
No need to burn energy moving when you can just stand in the pocket and beat a guy.

[jcpryor]

I've been waiting for one of those lazy Journalists/analysts to ask him about that.

He has been asked that before - It was after the Mosley fight if I'm not mistaken. Someone read him a quote from Freddie Roach saying that he thought Mayweather lost a step because he wasn't moving as much as he usually does, to which Mayweather responded something to the extent of "Before they said I was running in the ring, now when I stand toe to toe they say I'm getting too old...I'm always in a no win situation".

I'm too lazy to find the clip.

[Russian Crushin]

I keep hearing Mayweather saying, "you guys don't have to worry about me moving", before each of his fights.

I know Mayweather isn't in his prime, but I can't help but think he's fighting in this new type of style not for the crowd, but because he doesn't really have a choice.

Mayweather has put on a lot of muscle from his earlier days and I can't help but think he doesn't have the ability to fight an entire fight (sticking and moving) like he use too.

If he ever fought a guy like Kirkland, I'm not sure if this new toe to toe style is the right thing to do.

Thoughts?

Toe-to-toe is not what he does.

He is a pressure fighter that applies intelligent affective pressure. He has always fought like this with the exception of a few fights.