Two of the major knocks on FMJ were that he; backed up in straight lines and he would tell when he would throw his right based off his backfoot positioning. So; did he ever, in your opinion ever fix these ? If so, how? If not, how come (with the exception of Maidana) was it never exposed? Serious boxing discussion only
Mayweather backs up in straight lines but it is done to set up positioning for his shoulder roll as well as his check hooks. His backing up in a straight line entices you to attack in which he immediately throws the check hook.or if he is defensive minded, puts him in great position to use his "go to"defense which is the shoulder roll. Plus when he is backing up, he isnt really taking small steps that's going to keep you in range to punch. He is moving. When he does take those smalls steps, he is usually still in punching range but the opponent isnt. Mayweather does lift his right heel telegraphing a pull counter set up or right hand (moreso pull cntr) that is definitely an easily seen giveaway ON TV. In the ring it's different. Boxer isn't sitting there trying to look for Mayweather's heel to be in the air. You look at his foot you are going to get popped w a jab. You don't bite on the pull counter, you are going to get popped w a jab. Mayweather has dogs trademark things that sets his opponents up but I wonder how many people no this is his contingency plans if they don't bite on what he's trying to set you up for. Plus another reason people don't capitalize on it is because in the ring the tempo is a lot faster than TV. Those are the short answers in my opinion to help get this conversation started
FMJ sometimes lifted his heel off the ground because his whole body is moving forward behind the trajectory of the straight right into his opponents. This allows him to clinch, slow the pace, spoil/negate counters on the inside and to physically push the opponent back. Not to mention that you can also lead with your head as well when doing that. Bernard Hopkins uses a similar tactic.
Yes typically backing up in straight lines is a big no-no. But when you have the reflexes and counter punching style of Floyd it works. He will pick off punches with that shoulder-roll and look to counter. See the Hatton fight. It's a way of engaging a fighter but without the risks of leading or being super aggressive. Its one of Floyds best ring generalship moves. Look at the Cotto fight, Cotto never stops coming forward so Floyd backs up picking his shots but the action is actually being fought on Floyds terms and where he wants it.
Thats a good point...he fights well off the back foot so it entices you to engage but also sets you up for his strength which is countering. Otherwise you wouldnt be able to engage and floyd would just be defensive which would also affect him winning rds
I always thought that floyd moving to fighting almost exclusively out of the modified shell masked his right foot tell. When you jab from the shell you need to lift your right to get any pop on it. Always thought the backing up in straight lines was exaggerated due to the deceptive jab. **** Maidana was the only one to 'expose' it and that was for 5 rds out of 24?
Also always thought moves like this http://i.imgur.com/3VFJNd2.gif stopped a lot of guys from getting to mays 'flaws' Edit idk how to post gifs on this forum any helop?
The thing is, when floyd is in a shell posture he flicks his jab out. Floyd rarely puts power behind his jabs... if he is looking for power he can project that snap or power while on the move or if he's going to the body. Other than that he usually just uses his jab to occupy and disrupt your timing. I don't know about the "lifting your right foot to get power" for a jab
Whatever he was doing wrong in round 2 during the Mosley fight was fixed before that very same round ended. I thought Shane would beat Floyd, and actually wrote some lengthy BS prediction where I picked Shane to win by KO2 (and I believed every word of it). So nobody would have been happier than me to have seen that come to fruition. But Floyd survived, bid his time, and made proper adjustments promptly.
Also I don't know if I'd what call what he does a flaw because he is obviously doing it intentionally... It may be a perceived wall or a no no to teach the average person, but if you are doing it to exploit your opponent you can't necessarily called out of flaw. For example, I see Floyd backing up in a straight line against an overly aggressive opponent which to you is a flower, but in my mind I'm saying he's about to throw a left hook as soon as his back touches the rope because the opponent is going to charge in, and sure enough it happens... That's not a flaw that's a setup
I phrased it wrong. To get solid pop on the jab you need to pull your shoulder and right hip. Floyd does the same when he throws his right.
I'm not saying it's a flaw at all. I posted that GIF to show what one may call a flaw floyd uses to a benefit...dropping the lead hand against a southpaw
I wasn't speaking specifically about that gif but moreso when people label what he does as flaws, but I get what u are saying
