Floyd against southpaws.

[El Kabong]

I think he just struggles against quality opposition. Saying southpaws "rocked him" or "gave him trouble" may be true but so did the orthodox fighters. I don't think it has anything to do with stance but more so fighting style. Cotto and Maidana both gave him trouble in recent years, more than any southpaw, and maidana and mosely both rocked him harder than any southpaw has. I think his issue comes with boxers that aren't conventional. WHen he fights awkward fighters he runs into a bit of an adjustment period. On the other hand, when he fights pure boxers (like Canelo) he cruises to a victory.

IMO, Mosley rocked him the hardest (even though he didn't go down) but I place Zab's unscored knockdown as 2nd.
Mayweather seemed to be fighting a more fan friendly style fight against Cotto. That's how I saw it, anyways

Totally agree. Floyd wanted to stop Cotto and took chances he did not against other fighters.

And Cotto nearly won that fight. Had the fight taken place pre-Margarito then maybe Miguel could have done something. But there were so many things that happened after the Margarito fight that changed Cotto. I thought he had a good chance and he did.

De la Hoya also gave Floyd hell but as an orthodox fighter.


We also all have to wonder about Paul Williams....to an extent seeing how he moved up in weight and got sparked out very badly but had Floyd fought him at 147 who knows what would have happened? Would Williams be outboxed to the point where he looked amateurish or would Williams' pressure and stamina eventually get to Floyd? Obviously everyone is just going to assume Floyd wins easy seeing how Floyd has beaten everyone else with relative ease....but 6'1 and a 79" reach is pretty tough for a welterweight to have to deal with.

[IamInuit]

I think he just struggles against quality opposition. Saying southpaws "rocked him" or "gave him trouble" may be true but so did the orthodox fighters. I don't think it has anything to do with stance but more so fighting style. Cotto and Maidana both gave him trouble in recent years, more than any southpaw, and maidana and mosely both rocked him harder than any southpaw has. I think his issue comes with boxers that aren't conventional. WHen he fights awkward fighters he runs into a bit of an adjustment period. On the other hand, when he fights pure boxers (like Canelo) he cruises to a victory.

IMO, Mosley rocked him the hardest (even though he didn't go down) but I place Zab's unscored knockdown as 2nd.
Mayweather seemed to be fighting a more fan friendly style fight against Cotto. That's how I saw it, anyways

Totally agree. Floyd wanted to stop Cotto and took chances he did not against other fighters.

And Cotto nearly won that fight. Had the fight taken place pre-Margarito then maybe Miguel could have done something. But there were so many things that happened after the Margarito fight that changed Cotto. I thought he had a good chance and he did.

De la Hoya also gave Floyd hell but as an orthodox fighter.


We also all have to wonder about Paul Williams....to an extent seeing how he moved up in weight and got sparked out very badly but had Floyd fought him at 147 who knows what would have happened? Would Williams be outboxed to the point where he looked amateurish or would Williams' pressure and stamina eventually get to Floyd? Obviously everyone is just going to assume Floyd wins easy seeing how Floyd has beaten everyone else with relative ease....but 6'1 and a 79" reach is pretty tough for a welterweight to have to deal with.

True enough for the most part but if only Williams fought like Hearns. I've never seen anyone not take advantage of his natural attributes like Paul did. He always fought like he was 5 feet tall with a Marciano reach. I doubt he turns into Hearns of Ezzard Charles for one fight but who knows as you point out.

I think Floyd is at least troubled by left handers because of his own style. His entire operation revolves around his left shoulder. His chances of getting caught with a straight left is greater then a straight right. The style is really developed around facing right hand fighters. The entire Mayweather clan dislike southpaws and have said as much on many occasions. Judah and Chop chop actually had better luck then Manny did as crazy as that sounds. The did because they were more fluid and less rinse and repeat. Manny has been doing the same thing over and over and over again his entire career. He had success with it because he was relentless and just much quicker then everyone else.
Floyd would have done the same thing 5 years ago when they were both still in their prime as he did with both out of their prime.

[Ron Swanson]

I think he just struggles against quality opposition. Saying southpaws "rocked him" or "gave him trouble" may be true but so did the orthodox fighters. I don't think it has anything to do with stance but more so fighting style. Cotto and Maidana both gave him trouble in recent years, more than any southpaw, and maidana and mosely both rocked him harder than any southpaw has. I think his issue comes with boxers that aren't conventional. WHen he fights awkward fighters he runs into a bit of an adjustment period. On the other hand, when he fights pure boxers (like Canelo) he cruises to a victory.

IMO, Mosley rocked him the hardest (even though he didn't go down) but I place Zab's unscored knockdown as 2nd.
Mayweather seemed to be fighting a more fan friendly style fight against Cotto. That's how I saw it, anyways

Totally agree. Floyd wanted to stop Cotto and took chances he did not against other fighters.

And Cotto nearly won that fight. Had the fight taken place pre-Margarito then maybe Miguel could have done something. But there were so many things that happened after the Margarito fight that changed Cotto. I thought he had a good chance and he did.

De la Hoya also gave Floyd hell but as an orthodox fighter.


We also all have to wonder about Paul Williams....to an extent seeing how he moved up in weight and got sparked out very badly but had Floyd fought him at 147 who knows what would have happened? Would Williams be outboxed to the point where he looked amateurish or would Williams' pressure and stamina eventually get to Floyd? Obviously everyone is just going to assume Floyd wins easy seeing how Floyd has beaten everyone else with relative ease....but 6'1 and a 79" reach is pretty tough for a welterweight to have to deal with.

True enough for the most part but if only Williams fought like Hearns. I've never seen anyone not take advantage of his natural attributes like Paul did. He always fought like he was 5 feet tall with a Marciano reach. I doubt he turns into Hearns of Ezzard Charles for one fight but who knows as you point out.

I think Floyd is at least troubled by left handers because of his own style. His entire operation revolves around his left shoulder. His chances of getting caught with a straight left is greater then a straight right. The style is really developed around facing right hand fighters. The entire Mayweather clan dislike southpaws and have said as much on many occasions. Judah and Chop chop actually had better luck then Manny did as crazy as that sounds. The did because they were more fluid and less rinse and repeat. Manny has been doing the same thing over and over and over again his entire career. He had success with it because he was relentless and just much quicker then everyone else.
Floyd would have done the same thing 5 years ago when they were both still in their prime as he did with both out of their prime.

We have years of evidence Emanuel is not a nuanced fighter. Like most offensive juggernauts, they get so used to what they do working that when it isn't working they are clueless. Fans want to say "just open up" but when you are hitting air and getting punched in the face you think. If you aren't a thinker thinking is the last thing you want to do.

[mikeeod]

I think he just struggles against quality opposition. Saying southpaws "rocked him" or "gave him trouble" may be true but so did the orthodox fighters. I don't think it has anything to do with stance but more so fighting style. Cotto and Maidana both gave him trouble in recent years, more than any southpaw, and maidana and mosely both rocked him harder than any southpaw has. I think his issue comes with boxers that aren't conventional. WHen he fights awkward fighters he runs into a bit of an adjustment period. On the other hand, when he fights pure boxers (like Canelo) he cruises to a victory.

IMO, Mosley rocked him the hardest (even though he didn't go down) but I place Zab's unscored knockdown as 2nd.
Mayweather seemed to be fighting a more fan friendly style fight against Cotto. That's how I saw it, anyways

Totally agree. Floyd wanted to stop Cotto and took chances he did not against other fighters.

And Cotto nearly won that fight. Had the fight taken place pre-Margarito then maybe Miguel could have done something. But there were so many things that happened after the Margarito fight that changed Cotto. I thought he had a good chance and he did.

De la Hoya also gave Floyd hell but as an orthodox fighter.


We also all have to wonder about Paul Williams....to an extent seeing how he moved up in weight and got sparked out very badly but had Floyd fought him at 147 who knows what would have happened? Would Williams be outboxed to the point where he looked amateurish or would Williams' pressure and stamina eventually get to Floyd? Obviously everyone is just going to assume Floyd wins easy seeing how Floyd has beaten everyone else with relative ease....but 6'1 and a 79" reach is pretty tough for a welterweight to have to deal with.

True enough for the most part but if only Williams fought like Hearns. I've never seen anyone not take advantage of his natural attributes like Paul did. He always fought like he was 5 feet tall with a Marciano reach. I doubt he turns into Hearns of Ezzard Charles for one fight but who knows as you point out.

I think Floyd is at least troubled by left handers because of his own style. His entire operation revolves around his left shoulder. His chances of getting caught with a straight left is greater then a straight right. The style is really developed around facing right hand fighters. The entire Mayweather clan dislike southpaws and have said as much on many occasions. Judah and Chop chop actually had better luck then Manny did as crazy as that sounds. The did because they were more fluid and less rinse and repeat. Manny has been doing the same thing over and over and over again his entire career. He had success with it because he was relentless and just much quicker then everyone else.
Floyd would have done the same thing 5 years ago when they were both still in their prime as he did with both out of their prime.

I agree with pretty much everything you posted (great post!), but wanted to bring up up Paul Williams' fight vs (past his prime) Winky Wright. In that fight Paul used his height and reach very well, fought disciplined, and forced Winky out of position by making lunge and try to counter from an uncomfortable distance/position. Floyd would have been faster than Winky and used angles/jab to the body more, and would've been interesting to see if that could've overcome Paul's height and reach advantages mixed with a southpaw style.