Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather Jr. uses old school stuff, but he does it so subtly, he is seldom given proper credit for it. He just might be too good for his own good. His use of shoulder rolls, feints, parrying, upward jabbing, giving angles, counter punching, crossover defense, strategic lateral movement, and deflecting punches is all part of the old school mix. So is his mastery of the basics…the three levels of defense, slipping punches, and fighting off the jab. If a purist is one who appreciates the technical aspects of the Sweet Science, Floyd Mayweather Junior is a purist’s delight. His fight with Phillip N'dou showcased these attributes to a tee.

However, if one definition of “Old School” is that it combines the full book on basics and technical aspects with a violent and malefic dimension (one that reflects a boxer’s propensity to engage in a pier six street brawl), then Floyd still has a way to go.