Originally Posted by
Taeth
I think there is are more subtle differences between Floyd at these other guys. Sure he changes his guard, and can roll around punches, but it's his ability to move and roll that really separates him from a guy like James Toney. Even Hopkins who isn't as slick as Toney, nor as athletic is harder to hit because he learned to move while rolling that front shoulder. Mayweather also likes to have one punch that dictates the range, he really uses his jab against orthodox fighters to keep his opponent on the defensive and to control space, while he uses his right hand vs southpaws and it was especially evident against Judah. Floyd doesn't try to outspeed fast opponents, he simply tries to bottle them up. He puts enough pressure that they feel pressed, but that he is still defensively in tact.
As for his punching power, I think Floyd has actually been hitting harder as of late. Recently he stunned a much larger Oscar on multiple occasions, he stopped Hatton before anyone else did, he knocked down Marquez and took his heart away, and he also stunned iron chinned Mosley multiple times. A few reasons why Floyd isn't going to stop guys regularly at welterweight.
1. He isn't a real welterweight, he is still much smaller than a real welterweight, Victor Ortiz is evidence of this. Floyd barely weighs over 150 pounds when he steps in the ring at this point in his career. He roughly had the same weight disadvantage against OScar that Pacquiao had against MArgarito. For a guy that isn't a huge puncher, that is big factor.
2. He doesn't have flowing combinations. Sure they are quick, but every punch he throws has specific intent on it. Even in combinations every punch is thrown with the same technique as if it was by itself. This takes a little speed off his combinations, and it doesn't allow for the same power transfer from one punch to another. It also gives the opponent a split second more to adjust to the next punch coming. THey may not block it, but they can prepare for it. Whereas a Pacquiao is punching so fluidily and always changing angles that many of his punches catch opponents blind, while Floyd uses strategic angles, he doesn't often throw punches that an opponent won't see coming.
3. He falls in behind his right hand. I really wish he would find a way to follow up after the right hand, but Floyd kind of leaps in, to a) close a larger gap b) fall into the opponent and stop them from throwing back. Now that works in terms of winning a fight and not getting it, but if he stepped in a little more confidently then pushed off his back foot for counter balance while twisting to his left hip, he would stay in balance and still be able to get shots off after he landed a big right hand. Against De La Hoya he kind of pot shotted because Oscar jab was stuffing his cross lane, but against Marquez and Mosley he couldn't follow up his rights hand because he falls into the opponent and he needs to regain balance with his right foot. Guys like Andre Ward and Pacquiao in particular have learned how to throw their jab after the right hand, further propelling that back leg forward, also allowing them to continue closing the distance on opponents while still throwing pnches. Now there are much better ways of doign this, but it's a start and would allow Floyd to keep his combinations going, while staying in better balance. Against Mosley he was commiting so well to his cross that he didn't need to worry about immediate retaliation, if he throws the cross through his opponent enough, they won't be able to get out of its way and counter over it, but that doesn't mean he should continue to fall in. He needs to step in more in the first place.
Anyways, there are so many pros and cons to his style like anyone elses, All in all he is the a best fighter I've ever seen, but there are a lot of things he could learn from other fighters who mix things up a little more offensively. He will have a very hard time trying to stand and time Pacquiao or Amir Khan, their styles are built to counter that specifically. They commit like I was saying with everything and that doesn't allow you the time to counter or set up because of they are in such good condition they just come in continual waves.
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