What is Floyd Mayweather's biggest weakness in the ring?

Well judging by the Ohhs and ahhs from the crowd when he's doing his thing, the man has no weakness.


The only thing that the man is missing is one shot ko power, but I prefer him without it. I'm all about the discouraging beat downs he hands out to p4p elites and champions

 

His workrate is his only downside.

 

To beat Mayweather, you have to make it an ugly fight. You have to try and smuther him and bully him around the ring. You also have to be stronger than him. I think that's what Ortiz was trying to do but didn't have the experience, maturity, or smarts to do it.

 

His greatest strength can also become his greatest weakness, IMO. He's best at using his versatility and timing an opponent who's right in front of him: fighting on the outside, check hooks, jabs to the body, and pull-counter right hands before skidding along the perimeter of the ring; defensive counter-punching against the ropes against an aggressive infighter; or coming forward at a steady pace with lead lefts and rights with some body work thrown in. He's never been beaten being able to fight this way, but he's had trouble largely due to the basic principle that applies to all the "modes" within his style: he prefers to fight in straight lines.

Lots of people point to different supposed weaknesses about Floyd; they say he's vulnerable to a strong left jab, vulnerable to fast-paced pressure, vulnerable to feints, vulnerable to head-body combinations, vulnerable to a southpaw straight left or orthodox overhand right, etc. I think these all stem from the tendency he has to want (or need) to see everything in front of him, in terms of what his opponent is doing. His skills are great, his instincts are greatly developed from experience, but he won't get hit with a shot if he can help it, and he won't throw a shot if he doesn't think he can land it. His preferred angle doesn't allow him too much in-range lateral movement to set up additional punches, and while he may exit out the side door sometimes, he rarely if ever comes back with anything from that new angle. His upper-body leans and wide backsteps are the ways he reacts to an opponent's offense when he can't readily see a counter for them, and therein lies the opportunity to take advantage. As a pressure fighter, tall or short, jab and then throw combinations (and probably step out, so you don't get caught in an inside fight where Floyd may surprise you as the superior); as a southpaw, feint and circle out before trying to land the left hand or counter with the right; as a counter-puncher, feint, bait, and circle around him consistently to make him overextend with reaching single shots. All easier said than done, but that's my take on Floyd's weaknesses and moments of vulnerability.

 

best post of the thread

These kind of threads always reveal who actually watches fights.

If you're a good jabber, Floyd *does not* limit your jabbing with right hand counters. Stepping in with the jab makes it difficult to pullcounter.

His primary method to restrict the opponents' jabs then becomes to jab back in return fire. His stick ends up jamming their water wheel.

He should go to the ropes less. I think he's the best boxer right now at fighting off the ropes, but the fact is he's still better in the center of the ring than along the ropes.

Stylishly check hook out or clinch to prevent any prolonged stay at the ropes.

 

Lack of quality sparring partners during those training sessions known as; "his fights"

 

Floyd is almost reaching Rocky marciano's

Total fights 49
Wins 49
Wins by KO 43
Losses 0

 

Father Time at this point.

 

lack of combination punching.

 

I actually think the combination punching would be detrimental to his particular way of fighting. He gets in, gets off, and gets out, all other times he controls the distance and pace of the fight.

To truly understand his style for what it is, is what makes him great

 

Good one

 

Time. It has affected his workrate and speed.

 

Am I the only one thinks Floyd is kind of predictable? I feel like a large reason no one has been able to take advantage of this is his incredible handspeed. Granted yes, he's great at ad******g, but earlier on in the fight I feel like someone with similar reach/handspeed should be able to counter him.

 

That fighter would also need to be of similar skill, and as we know that fighter just doesn't exist at the moment, Berto is fast & explosive but can't box for ****, Bradley is a skilled well rounded guy but he lacks the physical tools IMO.

 

Yeah, I agree. I don't think anyone right now simply has the right set of physical tools and the ability to beat him. If Khan could box better I think he would have a chance. Unfortunately, in technical skills, hes just an inferior manny pacquaio with less of a chin.