I was rewatching Mayweather vs Hatton and Judah and, without wanting to be a Pretty Boy nuthugger, was impressed by the intelligence and pacing Mayweather showed. He really seems to think, assess his opponents styles and adapt. Above all his other assets I think it is his ability to take his time and improvise that makes him a great fighter. It made me think about other champions where their ability to out think the opposition has been a defining feature of their talent. Most obviously Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard but also the "other" Leonard, Benny. I have heard some interesting stories about how Benny leonard would kid his way out of difficult moments in fights. Are there any other interesting examples of a fighter out thinking or kidding his way to victory you can think of?
Arguello, Hopkins, DeLaHoya/Vargas, Jimmy Young (although I havent seen much of him). Arguello examples?
-. I suppose you could include the Leonard victory over Hagler as an example, i thought he won the fight, but he certainly seemed to use a fair bit of Kidology along the way, Kidding he was in trouble when he wasnt, so his comeback bursts made a bigger impression, when not much was happening Ray looked in charge, and that it was part of HIS.plan...and in the last few rounds Kidding he had more in the tank than he actually did, Both had substance..but Ray added that little bit of Stylish Vaneer to his work....
I realise i am setting myself up to be shot at but thats life. Tyson instilled fear and invincibility by busting few heads on way up, giving the stare, talked the tough guy talk, which on top of being a front foot bullying wrecking ball he won, once a certain Mr Douglas did not get affected by the stare, the words and was intent on giving Tyson a tough night, Iron Mike capitulated, lot will say life events affected Tyson which no doubt they did, but if Tyson had met the for one night only well prepared Buster Douglas who fought in Tokyo on February 11, 1990, at any stage in Tysons career, the lack of testicular fortitude of Tyson would have been exposed, only time when a rescue might have occurred was when Cus D'amato was alive. So in my opinion Tyson boxed clever for a long period.
The fact he really had to think to outbox Judah and Hatton is exactly why I don't rate him all that much.
And Hatton was totally careless in the moment of the first KD....seriously, Hatton´s offensive footwork was awful (generally wasn´t really awful, but vs Floyd, it was)......Floyd already had tried that left a couple of times, Hatton just wanted that to happen...
A point about the thread. It's a tribute to Mayweather that he took the time to learn the science of Boxing, when he had the physical gifts to be succesful soley via that method, much like the aformention Zab Judah. It's a point in his plus collum. Anyone who cares to argue differently, feel free.
I loved watching Floyd figure Judah out cold. Say what you will, and other fighters have dominated Zab, but Floyd had it to the point where he was barely able to land a shot. Against every other fighter, Judah went down still landing big shots.