In celebration of the shoulder roll and its significance in tonight's fight

[IamInuit]

That's the way it is supposed to be done. Get the left hand out of the way so you can counter with it; bring the jab up and in. Block/catch/parry with the right glove, use your left shoulder.

Much harder than it seems. Most fighters are better off with earmuffs. That being said, if a fighter can pull of a shoulder roll he is much better off.

It really isn't, honestly. "Earmuffs" are a pretty recent invention. I wasn't taught that, and I started in 1974, and I have never taught the 'high-guard' and never would. Edwin L Haislet wrote the best 'how to...' boxing book ever, and he said that 'covering up' has no place in the tool box of the skillful boxer.
If you can see the punches coming, you can deliberately avoid them. If you deliberately avoid them, then you can punch back, and that is the basis of good boxing. Mayweather will always beat guys that wait, cover and hope he doesn't hit them. Got to punch when he is punching.

Yup the high guard in many cases is used by those who either cant get out of the way or they choose not to in order to get their shots off. Obviously there are situations where even the best pugilist has to use it. Even Floyd at times has that right hand right on his ear. What you so eloquently defined in paraphrasing Haislet is the art of the science. After all the name of the game is to hit and not be hit.
Just look at some of Bentons pupils. McCallum, Toney, Whittaker. Eddie Futch also plays a key roll in all of this. It was a sad day when George got shot but boxing got one of the best trainers in history as a result. I must admit that I shed a tear or two when he passed now about 2 years ago.