I've noticed that in Floyd's last several fights he's been more stationary and flat-footed than ever. The results have been actually pretty good. When I would watch Mayweather a few years ago I would tell myself that if he stood in the pocket with world class competition for extended periods of time, he would inevitably be whiped out. Boy was I wrong! The question is the reverse, however. How would Floyd do if he was forced to revert to his old style of fighting against Cotto? How would Mayweather look if, against Miguel, he was forced to fight the sort of fight we saw when he faced off against Baldomir? At this stage, can he run? I don't think Miguel will be the one to force this question, but if he did we'll finally get to see exactly what Mayweather has left. I don't think Mayweather's legs are exactly shot as Freddy Roach would have you believe. But I do think that at this point, Mayweather is not suited for track-meet style fights. The guy who puts Mayweather on the run for twelve rounds, in my opinion, will be the guy to beat him.
Age + Added weight = Less movement. I don't think he can move around the ring (constantly moving, I mean) for 12 rounds with a spring in his step anymore. He doesn't need to, but I don't think he can anyway. Although he is always in top shape, I just don't think he can do it anymore.
i think its all bull**** about floyd having "shot legs" he is clearly out of prime though he is always in shape and always has been amazing athletically i believe if anything made him change hes style to fight more toe to toe recently it was the criticism he receives being perceived as a boring fighter, whilst pacquiao gets praised not for hes boxing ability but for the ferocity he brings in the ring (though i haven't seen that since the marg fight)
I’ve always felt that the 2007 version of Miguel (and even this one) had a much better shot against the 2007 version of Floyd – who was more defensively orientated (more inclined to run) and gave you the chance to steal rounds with aggression. This one, however, stands his ground more and has transformed closer to the style that Miguel has always disliked – pressure fighters that punch back. And this thing about Floyd standing his ground more because he no longer wants to be percieved as a boring boxer, is nonsense. He's 35 years old and he knows it. He's a master at conserving energy. His defence (combined with offence) is so good that, most of the time, he can do the job of blocking/evading trouble by standing his ground. It's wasteful to dance around the ring like he used to. He knows he's better off not doing it.
That's what highly skilled athletes do, they're efficient with their movement and move as little as they can get away with. If you see a guy jumping around *cough Pacman* you know they're lacking something.
Its a combination of factors. The last time he really used his legs was the Marquez fight, but his tactics were to counter the counter-puncher. JMM has always been less comfortable leading off & Floyd's gameplan worked perfectly. Against Mosely & Ortiz Floyd wasnt as mobile but he was more aggressive. He walked forward & didnt rely on his legs to get him out of trouble.
He can't do what he used to for 12 rounds anymore. And most say it's actually made him a better boxer.
Legs, his foot placement is perfect, hence why he is almost never off balance.. It's not so much the speed of his legs that important, more the positioning that they are in
