Pernell Whitakker had far better footwork than any version of Floyd Mayweather.

[fighter1234]

Floyd had the top three plus minus in boxing HISTORY. Pernell's plus minus is nothing to brag about. Pernell is a flashy, bob n weave, showboat for the audience, defensive specialist. While Floyd is a full blown tactician.

Notice when Floyd faced JMM he slipped punches from every angle known to man. Pernell always does that flashy bob n weave trash which got his azz whipped in some of his fights.

After the JMM fight, Floyd completely changed his defense and started walking bigger guys down while rolling and going forward. Toney threw more shots than Floyd, but Floyd used the shoulder roll in very versitile ways.

This. people have to face the fact that as good as Pernell was, he got hit way more than Floyd does. Floyd's defense is more effective thus you can argue that Floyd's footwork is "better".

[Doctor_Tenma]

This. people have to face the fact that as good as Pernell was, he got hit way more than Floyd does. Floyd's defense is more effective thus you can argue that Floyd's footwork is "better".

Whitaker's defense allowed him to transition back to offense quicker than Mayweather, this is why he was able to slip shots in the pocket and get more leverage/ work combinations in ways that Mayweather couldn't. As for the bold, way more is a stretch, although he may have gotten hit more it's only logical considering he was more offensive minded.

As for footwork, look at how easily Whitaker was able to slide out of the corner, he was remarkable at doing that, it's not to say Mayweather's footwork isn't superb but Whitaker has him bested there. Absolutely no shame in that, it's hard to rate anyone higher than Whitaker in that department.

[Foreign Soil]

Whitaker's defense allowed him to transition back to offense quicker than Mayweather, this is why he was able to slip shots in the pocket and get more leverage/ work combinations in ways that Mayweather couldn't. As for the bold, way more is a stretch, although he may have gotten hit more it's only logical considering he was more offensive minded.

As for footwork, look at how easily Whitaker was able to slide out of the corner, he was remarkable at doing that, it's not to say Mayweather's footwork isn't superb but Whitaker has him bested there. Absolutely no shame in that, it's hard to rate anyone higher than Whitaker in that department.

Exactly. It's much harder to avoid getting hit if you're in the pocket, being offensive minded, switching from offense to defense to offense, on the fly. It's also harder to avoid getting hit when you're facing better competition.

[StefanTosic]

Whitaker's defense allowed him to transition back to offense quicker than Mayweather, this is why he was able to slip shots in the pocket and get more leverage/ work combinations in ways that Mayweather couldn't. As for the bold, way more is a stretch, although he may have gotten hit more it's only logical considering he was more offensive minded.

As for footwork, look at how easily Whitaker was able to slide out of the corner, he was remarkable at doing that, it's not to say Mayweather's footwork isn't superb but Whitaker has him bested there. Absolutely no shame in that, it's hard to rate anyone higher than Whitaker in that department.

Great post! I'd green k you if I didn't already have given too much of them today, anyway.... first of all Mayweather feet used to be incredible, one of the very best, but Whitaker, along with Pep and Roy Jones are just a bit above all of them and there isn't no shame in that...
Mayweather prefer just to use the latteral movements to escape to the empty, free part of the ring and that's where his mission stops. His defense and offense are not that connected, while Whitaker loved the transition from defence to offense and was a master at angles, so instead of leaving his opponent feets/meters behind him with his latteral movements, he moved just a step or two to create an angle and attack them back.
Mayweather knows how to control the distance, and Whitaker was master at it too. He did it that well that he could do with ease the things the boxers aren't supposed to do in the gym today. He reminded me of Locche, who loved to circle to his left, to the power arm of his ortodox-stance opponents and never be touched by it because of how well he controlled the distance... well Whitakercould do the similar thing, only that being a southpaw, he circled to his left, the power hand of his ortodox-stance opponents and coudln't be caught... off course, he hasn't done it all the time but he could do it often.

[Luilun]

Recently watched some Pernell fights and I came to realize that his footwork was arguably at GOAT level. Literally tiers above the likes of Floyd's, Hopkins or Ward's.


Hopkins(Prime version)/Ward/Floyd often makes their opponents miss by miles by keeping miles between them, or smothering them entirely.

Whitaker, however, was at his creative best staying just in and out of range, reading an opponents body language, setting his traps, and creating the art upon the canvas that was the ring. Whitaker more often played a game of inches, and played it well.


Just look at the opening performance against Roger Mayweather. Although Whitaker is praised so highly for his upper body movement, it was his subtle footwork that facilitated his upper body to move with such precision. Sliding backwards while pulling his head slightly, ducking out at a side-angle with a full pivot, and even effortlessly intimidating a stalking opponent into backing up momentarily to maintain control of the center (such as against Roger Mayweather, a well-rounded boxer-puncher) by stepping forward-these are all subtle tricks that allowed Whitaker to maintain complete offensive and defensive control of an opponent in a way that guys like Hopkins and Floyd rarely demonstrated.


This brings us to our next elements: Lateral Movement and Stepping With/Into Punches.

Prime Floyd has superb lateral movement.But Whitakers was superior.Floyd's lateral movement was to take away a punching angle and set up an ambush, but Whitaker's lateral movement was fixed into his offense. It is difficult for a southpaw to consistently land a jab without turning into it, and none has ever done it better than Whitaker. Whitaker's default was to circle while jabbing, constantly circling his opponent and inviting his offense while scoring with his own, elegantly dancing around his opponent without wastefully or skittishly running from him (most of the time, anyway).


And while Floyd is a master of befuddling an opponent when cornered and escaping the ropes, Whitaker is not one who was rushed there quite as often. No other fighter since 1965 has been able to circle an opponent so completely while still maintaining their offense. While Whitaker is almost or just as capable of disengaging and ambushing an opponent as Floyd is, he unquestionably trumps Floyd's ability to maintain control in range while side-stepping and pivoting into his punches and recovering position after throwing without ever leaving the center of the ring.


I never seen footwork like Pernell's and just felt like posting my opinions. I'm not saying Pernell will beat Floyd H2H, in terms of overall skills they are in the same tier. But in terms of footwork and movement? Floyd falls far short of Sweet Pea.

Whitaker would win 8 of 12 rounds against Floyd it would be a boring fight but Floyd is no where near in the skills department to Whitaker. If Whitaker hand pick opponents like Floyd he would have retired undefeated

[junior gong]

It wasnt just footwork. Pernell was better than floyd in every single area.....apart from ducking. Floyd is the GOAT at that.

[bluebeam]

Whitaker would win 8 of 12 rounds against Floyd it would be a boring fight but Floyd is no where near in the skills department to Whitaker. If Whitaker hand pick opponents like Floyd he would have retired undefeated

Floyd would beat sweet pea in my opinion. depending on what weight they fought at.


Floyd's kryptonite is a rangy fighter with a good jab and good power.

[MurkaMan]

Exactly. It's much harder to avoid getting hit if you're in the pocket, being offensive minded, switching from offense to defense to offense, on the fly. It's also harder to avoid getting hit when you're facing better competition.

You just described Floyd to a Tee! He can do all of those things. Whitaker could NEVER walk down Canelo without getting hissed. It will NEVER happen.

[SterlingStained]

floyd is the poor man's version of pernell.

old, fat, coked out past prime whitaker outboxed and outclassed prime de lahoya. not a single scratch on his face.

prime floyd split decisioned a fat, out of shape, past prime coked out, fight once a year de la hoya and his faced was worse for the wear.

think about that.

pernell's higher punch output, greater athleticism, and worlds apart heart and courage would decision floyd in any division.

[Unseen]

Recently watched some Pernell fights and I came to realize that his footwork was arguably at GOAT level. Literally tiers above the likes of Floyd's, Hopkins or Ward's.


Hopkins(Prime version)/Ward/Floyd often makes their opponents miss by miles by keeping miles between them, or smothering them entirely.

Whitaker, however, was at his creative best staying just in and out of range, reading an opponents body language, setting his traps, and creating the art upon the canvas that was the ring. Whitaker more often played a game of inches, and played it well.


Just look at the opening performance against Roger Mayweather. Although Whitaker is praised so highly for his upper body movement, it was his subtle footwork that facilitated his upper body to move with such precision. Sliding backwards while pulling his head slightly, ducking out at a side-angle with a full pivot, and even effortlessly intimidating a stalking opponent into backing up momentarily to maintain control of the center (such as against Roger Mayweather, a well-rounded boxer-puncher) by stepping forward-these are all subtle tricks that allowed Whitaker to maintain complete offensive and defensive control of an opponent in a way that guys like Hopkins and Floyd rarely demonstrated.


This brings us to our next elements: Lateral Movement and Stepping With/Into Punches.

Prime Floyd has superb lateral movement.But Whitakers was superior.Floyd's lateral movement was to take away a punching angle and set up an ambush, but Whitaker's lateral movement was fixed into his offense. It is difficult for a southpaw to consistently land a jab without turning into it, and none has ever done it better than Whitaker. Whitaker's default was to circle while jabbing, constantly circling his opponent and inviting his offense while scoring with his own, elegantly dancing around his opponent without wastefully or skittishly running from him (most of the time, anyway).


And while Floyd is a master of befuddling an opponent when cornered and escaping the ropes, Whitaker is not one who was rushed there quite as often. No other fighter since 1965 has been able to circle an opponent so completely while still maintaining their offense. While Whitaker is almost or just as capable of disengaging and ambushing an opponent as Floyd is, he unquestionably trumps Floyd's ability to maintain control in range while side-stepping and pivoting into his punches and recovering position after throwing without ever leaving the center of the ring.


I never seen footwork like Pernell's and just felt like posting my opinions. I'm not saying Pernell will beat Floyd H2H, in terms of overall skills they are in the same tier. But in terms of footwork and movement? Floyd falls far short of Sweet Pea.

Good analysis. Can you give any video examples to back your claim please.

I'd like to look into this myself because I often do not look at footwork in such details. I should though because footwork is essential in boxing, even more so than punches in many cases. The body is one fighting unit, but the legs and feet is the foundation.