I disagree. I think Floyd often leaves his body there to be hit in order to protect his head/face better. Because he trusts his body resilience, he doesn't seem to mind taking shots there when against the ropes. I really don't know how you can think what you're saying, as that just isn't what I see at all when I watch Floyd. I think his defence is other-worldly brilliant when it comes to avoiding head shots, but his body is always there to be hit and does get hit, as I see it. He has taken a lot of clean punches there in a lot of fights, yet never gets hurt by them, which is very impressive IMO. I think Cotto won 4 or 5 rounds, and the reason he didn't win more was nothing to do with bodyshots being blocked, it's because he kept putting his turtle shell on in front of Floyd and allowing Floyd to throw clusters of quick shots at and through his guard. The punches didn't seem to hurt Cotto in any serious way, but he was allowing them to pepper his guard and face, and he lost points/rounds because of it IMO. I don't know whether he was conserving energy or trying to lull Floyd into a mistake, but again and again he allowed this to happen. (the punch stats support this btw - Floyd threw a lot of punches, but landed a lot less than usual)
It's becoming a bit of a pattern here I think - I disagree. For me Pea was as impressive as offensive fighter as ever I did see, he just didn't have the power to earn recognition as such. The way he threw bodyshots and flowing combos was really beautiful I think. If he had more power he'd have been the second coming of SRR.
We just have to agree to disagree over this. Well, I agree that Pea could have been the second coming of SRR if he had his power. But as a technician he constantly gets overrated on this forum IMO. He had many very good technical qualities, but was just as much a natural in my book who could away with technical flaws because of his natural ability. It looks impressive when he runs away from his opponent with his back to him. But if one really watches those sequences it's clear that it happens because Pea isn't in proper balance when turning his back. If he was he'd stay where he was and counter instead. But because he's so ahead of his opponent in terms of what's happening, he has the ability to make flaws seem like artistry.
LMAO. Floyd got one of the greatest resume in the sport of boxing. You obviously don't know what ur talking about. Floyd resume > Whitaker.
Mayweather the most overestimated punch slipper of the past 50 years for me. He is pretty complete though, but i've never liked the way he gives up the mid-distance so easily when he tries to use his footwork.Good glove and arm work means it's not been too much of an issue for him against who he has fought, but it made for tougher fights than needed against the leaden footed pressure of Castillo and old bloated Hoya.
One aspect of defense that Mayweather is better than Whitaker and pretty much everyone else is defending himself when trapped against the ropes. A lot of those punchs don't land. This includes against Castillio and Cotto.
I think they are both in the same class defensively, but I voted for Mayweather because I think he has more variety to his defense.
No, he doesn't. He's undefeated, but that's not one of the greatest resume in boxing, and is not better than Whitaker's either.
Pea's defense is overrated a lot. He got hit clean quite a bit(mostly because he was flat footed) Floyd's a better defender because he controls range better and is less aggressive.
Whitaker was a bit more imaginative and instinctive, Mayweather (though only by comparison) is more rigid and relies on the defensive techniques that have been instilled into him by his father and uncle. His defense sometimes relies on the opponent's lack of creativity with their work as it does on his own ability to anticipate the punches coming. You largely see the same moves from him in every match and they've worked every time so far, nobody has found an answer yet. I have a feeling that he would look less amazing against an opponent with the skill to mix it up a little bit, but he hasn't really fought one, has he? I find it difficult to count Marquez. I always remain impressed by boxers who can put themselves in the line of fire while being able to slip the truly telling punches, Whitaker being one of them. Whenever Mayweather presses forward though, he is bound to get hit a little more than usual. The likes of Judah, Corley, even Augustus were able to get to him. That's why he rarely takes the chance. As far as the average boxer should rather wish to emulate as far as the techniques go, that's Mayweather. I don't think what Whitaker had could be taught. Not that Mayweather is easy to imitate either but you couldn't tell that to half the prospects today trying to shoulder roll their way to the top.
Fact: Whittaker never beat a guy as Canadian as Gatti! Fact: Whittaker lost 4 fights and had one draw- Mayweather undefeated; therefore Mayweather is better! Fact: Roger Mayweather dropped prime Pernell hard; Floyd >>>> Roger; therefore, sillygism complet Floyd KO 9 pea!!!!!! Fact: Pea ducked Roy Jones Jr to see who was the best fighter of the '90's, ego you can't hold his not fogging Manny against Money! Truth!!!