Straight Up & Down, No Special Effects

Floyd Mayweather Jr

 

There's a subset of boxing fans who are obsessed with the "hit and not get hit" style to the point that they discount all other boxing styles as lesser-than. They turn virtues into sins, make being able to take a shot a flaw (since they should just never get hit cleanly), and discount power (not a skill? Lol).

I respect the Mayweather's and Pernell's and Willie peps of the sport but I sure am glad not everyone can fight like that. Watching Haney fight kombosos was absolutely boring to me.

I also think it's worth remembering that sometimes the sound "no frills" style will upset the flashy fighter. A la Barrera vs Hamed.

 

Mayweather Jr did basic fundamentals boxing. this is good thing. he box very orthodoxy style. he use the manual book styles defend & counter with chin tuck tight defend behind in shoulder & roll with punch & lead with left. follow or counter with right. all of the correct manual styles. not much else. but takes it to greatness levels

he is not flash & special effects boxer example Roy Jones Jr or special phenomenon defend dancing style example Willie Of the Wisp Pep.

 

Mikkel Kessler
Glen Johnson

 

Don't forget his ability to change the outcome of a fight by using his heart and will power to change his fate in the last Canelo fight. This is an attribute. He upped the ante so much and put together a higher work rate later on because he was apparently slightly behind, and all that lead to him being winded/ gasping for air/ just like an asthmatic. He literally changed the outcome of the fight. Like max Kellerman said "the great ones know how to make changes on the fly." So yeah his intestinal fortitude is high I would say.

 

There are people on the opposite end of the spectrum as well -- those who discount fighters who use speed, defense and movement to win instead of brute force. You constantly hear the flawed argument of "____ WON BECAUSE HE WAS THE AGRESSOR!" when it comes to hotly-debated fights.

 

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Well, aggressiveness is one of the major components of boxing judging along with clean, effective punching and ring generalship.

I got no problem with ring saavy, evasiveness, or good defense. But I think it still needs to add up to beating up your opponent (aka "brute force"). Yes, a fighter can game the scoring system by shutting their opponent down and landing non-committal shots. But the fact is the sport of boxing was conceived with the intention to see two men fight each other for entertainment. Mayweather himself is actually a great example of someone using a great skillset to visibly beat up most of his opponents. There are exceptions, esp. later in his career, but his destructions of Gatti and Corrales are good examples.

 

Kosta Tyszu

 

I wonder if he thinks he can beat Carlos Monzon for similar reasons…

 

According to Floyd's criteria, Danny Garcia is a painfully straightforward fighter with no outstanding qualities outside of his chin. He's a decent counter puncher at times, but otherwise fights at a fairly pedestrian pace and rarely changes gears or switches up his momentum. This has arguably cost him some of his biggest fights. Despite his nick name "Swift", he can move pretty slowly and nobody rubs their eyes wondering what happened.

Hasim Rahman... pretty straightforward fighter. Basic boxer puncher with a good 1-2. Never really stood out other than his 30 seconds of fame against Lewis.

 

Chavez is the poster boy for this imo.

 

There are two ways to learn most skills.

GGG and a lot of Eurasians follow the philosophy of mastering a narrow skill set and learning how to apply it to all situations.

Floyd (especially early) and a lot of American and British fighters take the approach of learning all skills and then deploying the perfect skill for the situation.

Wait what other way is there to view either of those guys?

 

Paula Abdul has the answer:

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Floyd sounds like he is trying to frame the most favourable perception toward his own style.

Ironic that Floyd would use the term “Special Effects” = impressive, pleasing to the eye but not actually real, illusory, lacking material substance.

Zab Judah pulled off some “special effects” - but KT got bored quickly, said “fook that, let’s get real…”….a cue for the Funky Chicken Dance performance shortly thereafter….very real, very funny…hahah!