Floyd's leaping left hook. A thing of the past.

Leaping into with the wide angle he usually throws it at it simply would have left him too exposed to Cotto's left side:

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As for Floyd's right, he landed a looped overhand repeated times, because the straight was landing flush on Cotto's guard most of the time (as people already pointed out.)

I actually found it cool how Cotto negated Floyd's right with certain tricks now and again. Around the 4th, he called Floyd's bluff on a pull counter and jabbed his face as he leaned in to offer his face as a target, and later on, Cotto jabbed and ducked Floyd's return right hand counter after pulling back.

 

Even against Mosley and Ortiz, I thought he looked athletically faded. This isn't to say he's not a brilliant athlete anymore. He is, just not on the level he was from 1998-2007 (which is to be expected, obviously).

 

Decline I see in Floyd is he isn't as sharp as he once was. I think it was in the last 2 rounds of the Cotto(e) fight where he didn't capitalize on some opportunities. One was when he check hooked Cotto(e) and turned him. Miguel's face was wide open for a right.

I noticed this decline starting in the Ortiz fight.

Hopefully, it's not really decline and just ring rust. He should be good know that he's got a full 12 rounds in.

 

and don't get me wrong, Floyd is still quick and athletic, but he's not "Mayweather quick"

just watch a round or 2 of the Baldomir video I posted and you'll see. Too pull off the lead hook anyways, you need supreme athleticism and that's why Roy and Floyd were masters at it

 

Interestingly enough, I thought Clottey landed a lot more straight right hands against Cotto than Mayweather did. I guess that has to do with his bad habits that he developed/hadn't yet corrected during that portion of his career, including his lean-forward loose earmuff guard and tendency to drop his left and go into a weird half shoulder-roll thing when being punched (and also because I tend to think Clottey is damn good when he lets his hands go once every 20 minutes). Most of Mayweather's success with the right was with the looping right hand around the tight defense, somewhat similar to how Mosley looped that shot in there back in 2007.

Cotto did a nice job in defeat. I was very proud of him as a fan.

 

I know exactly what you mean. I was hoping it was rust also and I said he was going to look better in this fight and he did really. Was with a better opponent though. I think the yoga did help him too like I predicted.

What I noticed also with this

is it seemed like Floyd wasn't in position to counter more often than in the past. Kinda reminded me of the difference from Pernell in the Oscar fight to Pernell in his earlier fights.

 

Wow, this does suck, oh well.

 

Great observations there, I agree with all of them. Those right hands were very reminiscent of Mosley's chopping overhands in 2007, and in fact, Floyd said he took that tip from watching clips of Shane's fight with Canelo that afternoon. I was proud too man :good

 

I just have to add something. Looking at Floyds fight vs. Oscar and last nights fight, I don't see a ton of difference other than Oscar not keep Mayweather against the ropes for long periods of time.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjoGuUiodQ&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjoGuUiodQ&feature=related[/ame]

 

He leaped with the hook plenty in that fight. Look at how he feints to fool Oscar then uses the hook here to punctuate the end of the 3rd round. One of the most beautiful punches of the fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISXaq3n84FQ#t=3m17s

 

The bigger 10 oz gloves and weight class didn't hurt Cotto(e)'s cause at all either.

 

Well, that wasn't really the leap of his youth or lower weight classes either, it was really just a step left hook w/ speed. I just feel he's been operating at the same cruise control for a while now.

 

True, there are so many factors. That's why it's hard to say what he can't and can absolutely do anymore. He definitely can't bounce in and out with the angles he once did, but then again he hits harder and more authoritative now.

 

Exactly what I thought. Guys want to believe what they want I guess!:good

 

I think it's too late for FMJ, unless he hires JMM's Angel.