What do you guys think of how these fighters match up both in terms of styles and ability? I believe that Arguello's piston jab, which he can either throw a left hook off of almost instantly, or throw a devastating overhand right, or just pull back and follow up with another 1, 2, or even 3 other jabs, combined with his height, his reach, and his poise in the ring would present Floyd with a stylistic matchup that he can do nothing against. The way Floyd leans back from a jab leaves him open for an immediate left hook (hooking off the jab is a lost art in today's game and IMO Arguello is the best I've ever seen at it). Also, Floyd has shown he can get clipped by the overhand right if he doesn't know its coming behind a jab, which is what happens when someone mixes up his punches that come off his jab like Arguello. Also, Floyd has a hard time getting off first on fighters who can pop a hard piston jab at him and don't come wildly at him. Arguello is one of the most poised fighters I've ever seen. Lastly, Arguello has great stamina and can keep a sustained pace. When these attributes are absent this is something that Floyd likes to take advantage of against his opponents but couldn't in this fight. So that being said, I think Arguello knocks out Floyd at 130, in about 7 or 8 rounds. Floyd is a great fighter at 130. Many people believe he's the best of all time at that weight. Although I personally don't believe he is as good as Arguello, one thing I'm dead convinced is that head to head Floyd doesn't stand a chance because of the style matchup.
Mayweather was aggressive and more of a boxer-puncher than the defensive fighter he is now. Mayweather would force the issue at times. Arguello would time him when he does. Arguello would cath him. Arguello would finish him.
Arguello has a punchers chance vs any 130 lber who ever lived but unless he lands the perfect shot, I see him being too slow to build up enough points to catch Mayweather (especially in a 12 rder) The lateral movement would give Alexis fits & as great as AA truly was, he was incredibly slow at times - he made up for this by having laser accuracy & excellent textbook punches - & his timing gets even better in the latter stages of the fight. I think FMJ wins a clear UD in a 12 rder.... Arguello might pull out a stoppage win in a 15 rder but smart money would say Floyd survives a few scary moments to keep his lead on the cards for a points win there also.
No, it's about as awful a stylistic match-up as one can conceive for Arguello. He's too slow getting off and can't aim at a moving target. Anybody who thinks Arguello wins: Go and watch Arguello vs. Vilomar Fernandez and then tell me with a straight face you think this is a bad match-up for Mayweather.
Like Bill says, Arguello does have that "lights out" power at 130 so there's always the chance Mayweather walks into a left hook while backing out of a clinch at some point. But nine times out of ten Mayweather plays it safe and takes a wide UD.
Also OP: Arguello was not consistent with his jab. He very rarely stepped in with it and also did not use it as a means of applying pressure, unlike, for example DLH who troubled Mayweather. It was a good, solid, accurate weapon, but it's only really useful if your man stands in front of you, and Arguello always favoured combinations anyway. Arguello was basically a puncher, not a boxer.
That is exactly how a jab should be employed versus Mayweather. But I agree with PP that Arguello is to slow in terms of handspeed to really make the neccessary impact, and stylewse it's all Floyd. Something like 8-4 in rounds.
I don't think you think that's what Arguello does with his jab, and your original post says that "he just uses it to apply pressure" which contradicts "so you shouldn't pressure Mayweather with the jab" above.
Yeah. Looking over my post I expressed myself badly. "He very rarely stepped in with it and used it as a means of applying pressure like DLH" was meant to mean "It was not the case that Arguello did any of the following: 1. Step in 2. Apply pressure with it like DLH" So yes, I think Arguello used his jab as a battering ram rather than a tactical weapon, which would not do him any favours against Mayweather.