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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.
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.
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