Hit and don't get hit...fair enough but it's not like Mayweather ever did a lot of hitting. Yes he was the "big man" against lesser opponents but every time he fought a great or close to great opponent, he became overly negative and won based on throwing a few, accurate punches that barely dented his opponents. He was very good at making the other guy miss and that frustrated his opponents. It wasn't as if he was peppering them with same time counters or 5-6 punch combinations.
The true purveyors of the art of boxing are the likes of Ali, Moore, Leonard, Duran, Pacquiao, Hagler, Robinson and so on. Guys who could make you miss (the don't get hit part) and then make you pay (the hit part).
Whitaker, possibly the most famed defensive fighter of all time, though not a personal favourite of mine, could stand in front of an opponent...great opponents not just c level sluggers or smaller men and actually fire back. He had rapid combinations. Heck, he ot only out thought but also out worked one of the most proactive fighters in boxing history: Chavez Sr.
Let's not act like Mayweather being boring is a result of boxing fans not understanding boxing, heck there weren't many true fight fans in attendance in the May fight anyway or in most of his recent bouts. The problem is, he is boring. It's as simple as that. People tune into see action, a fight, it's called the fight game for a reason. Yes there are defensive and offensive fighters, different styles but they have to entertain people who tune in or pay money. Sports is entertainment. Boxing is not independent of that.
Robinson, quite possibly the most all rounded fighter ever had tonnes of great fights...how many boring, tap tap, dance, poke, clinch, fights did he have?
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