How does Mayweather do against good defensive fighters? I was thinking about this recently -- most people have always said that intelligent pressure is the key to beating Floyd, but I've come to believe that Floyd is at his very best when he's on the back foot, using his defence and counterpunching skills to exploit the aggression of his opponent. He loves people coming to him. He's a complete fighter, so he can also walk people down and punish them if he needs to, but I think he's more comfortable boxing from range and picking people apart as they attempt to attack him. With this in mind, what good defensive fighters has Floyd fought in his career, and how did he do against them? If I look at his recent opponents, Marquez is one of the most technical, and a superb counterpuncher, but in terms of general defence he seems to get hit a fair amount. (That's mainly because he throws in combinations and leaves himself more open as a result.)
Off the top of my head, Corely and Genaro Hernandez were good defensive fighters. Both of them got smoked.
Not to ruin your thread but does everyone here think jmm gets schooled that badly vs floyd at any weight? or does he do better at 130/135.
JMM gets beat down at any weight. Weight didn't matter in that fight. At 130 Floyd knocks his ass out and really lets his hands go. :deal
I think it's a whole different fight at another weight. Anyways, most people say that hypothetically good defensive fighters are key to beating Floyd as it nullifies his style advantage, but I think that theory only works if you make Floyd lead, reach, and can effetively counter better than he can responsibly apply pressure, which is no easy task. You can also be defensively sound while being aggressive.
I think you need a good defense to be beat Floyd, Not necessarily a good defensive fighter. But most importantly you need to have a good jab and be patient, don't get frustrated but at the same time don't settle into his rythm.
Oscar put up some very good defense in the beggining and middle of his fight with Floyd. At one point, Floyd was hitting his mits and only his mits.
This sounds like what Judah was doing in the early rounds against Floyd. Of course, he ended up getting broken down, but it was interesting to see someone actually making Floyd lead and countering him here and there, particularly in round 2.