Alexis Arguello v Floyd Mayweather Jr @ super-feather

Who wins??

 

Mayweather on points over 12 comfortably, as Arguello had a tendancy to get outboxed early on in fights, especially by the slicksters, and he never faced one like Mayweather. Over 15 it gets a bit more interesting.

 

I'll go with Arguello by late stoppage. Mayweather has the brilliant defense, but I think his tactic of leaning away from punches and on the ropes would result in a body beating from Arguello. I also don't think he has the power at 130 to hurt/repel Arguello. Mayweather doesn't run from guys, but uses upper body movement, and I just don't think it would be enough against Arguello's varied attack. Also, Arguello was probably at his best at 130 and I don't see 130 as Mayweather's best weight.

 

There is absolutely no doubt that Mayweather never faced anyone with anywhere near as effective or potent an attack as Arguello in his career. I think if Arguello could've dragged PBF into exchanges on the ropes like Castillo did in their 1st fight, or even just connected with one good right-hand shot at any point in the fight, he could've stopped Mayweather. I think Arguello would've hunted Mayweather down in a brutal fight, took a lot of punishment on the way in, but eventually got through and stopped PBF around the 9th-10th round.

 

Arguello was a lot more subtle in his approach than a guy like Castillo. He was often outboxed by far lesser fighters than Floyd early on before catching his stride later, which is why I give him a better chance over 15 rounds. However, over 12 his pressure wasn't the kind that would corner Floyd the way someone like Chavez would at LW, it was the kind of pressure that would lead to Arguello himself taking a lot of shots to try and gauge his opponents timing, speed, power, etc. He had a more difficult time at this when faced with movers, or just very good boxers, as he tended to get hit a lot before finding his stride and giving the opponent too much to think about to continue firing. I think Floyd had the perfect style at 130 to win a clear points Decision over Arguello, at least over 12. Much the same way a mover like Fernandez did in Arguello's prime over 10, but more skill-fully.

Not to mention Floyd showed far better movement in his SFW days than at any other point in his career barring the Castillo rematch. He really showed excellent lateral movement against Corrales, even if Corrales wasn't exactly a ring general.

 

I think you are not crediting Arguello with a boxing brain. He may not have been an identical fighter to Castillo in terms of style, but I think the way Castillo pressured Mayweather in their 1st fight was undoubtedly the best way to approach beating him, and I think Arguello would have had the nous to realize that too in the fight. I think Arguello could have gotten to him in the last few rounds and knocked him out.

 

I credit him with one of the best boxing brains, as I do Mayweather. The problem is, they often had to adapt to fighters during fights, which could cost them early rounds. With Mayweather, he may lose a few early ones to figure the opponent out and take the final rounds to pick up a Decision. With Arguello, he'd likely lose even more rounds, but would eventually come back to stop the opponent even if he was behind on the cards.

Against Floyd, he'd definitely be behind on the cards early, and the 130 pound version of Floyd didn't need to adapt like the Floyd at higher weights. As for the Castillo comparison, it just wasn't Arguello's style. You would assume he'd have done it to most of the fighters he fought that posed stylistic problems for him, but he didn't. Just wasn't his style, and Arguello's style was pretty set. Still very effective, but more so over 15, where I've said before it's hard to definitively choose over him at his best.

 

Initially I was thinking Mayweather by decision, but then you reminded me that his body attack would play a huge factor in the outcome of this bout. Someone like Hatton was unable or unwilling to get on the inside of Mayweather, but Alexis are a far greater body puncher than Hatton. He got inside by mixing it to the head with effective meaningful punches and almost naturally would then throw an uppercut or a left hook to the body. Hatton's mistake was that he was doing no meaninful work upstairs, and he didn't hit half as hard as Alexis, even as a natural 140lb. I wouldn't be surprised to see Alexis get the worst of the opening 8 rounds, but still utilizing some body shots that would go unnoticed until later in the fight. I think it all comes down to whether or not Alexis can hurt Mayweather and I don't doubt there's any fighter who' ever fought at 130 that Alexis couldn't hurt.

 

I automatically evaluate these fights at 15 rounds. I guess showing my age a little and preferring the traditional championship distance. I would not rule out Mayweather being able to hang on for a decision at a shorter distance.

 

Arguello late round stoppage.

 

I would probablt cheer myself hoarse for Alexis to either flatten him or cut him to ribbons.

 

Agreed.

 

I personally don't think the body shots would take their toll as you guys do because Mayweather would be too mobile a target, similar to a guy like Fernandez. Normally, when Arguello went off on an opponent utilizing body-head combinations, it would be when he had an opponent hurt, not at just any point of the fight. Normally, when in boxing mode, he'd stick to feeling out an opponent with the jab and occasional rights, uppercuts, body shots, etc when an opponent looked to trade, which Floyd rarely would. Still, the longer the fight goes on the more it favors Arguello, though if he were to win over 15 I doubt it would be by Decision, and I doubt he stops him over 12.

 

I agree that Alexis doesn't win a 12 round fight with Mayweather. Arguello was at his best going into the later championship rounds.

If you watch his fight with Kobayashi, he got through with shots by throwing an uncommited shot to the body and then going to the head in a blur with his right hand. I'm not to sure how Mayweather would plan on blocking both shots all night long, but he sure would have to because Floyd didn't have the power to stop Arguello.

Alexis probably did utilize the body attack when his opponent was on the hook, but not exclusively. If your opponent is in a defence shell, much like Mayweather would be, the common thing to do would be to mix it up downstairs. Arguello never fought anybody at 130 with the arsenal at Arguello had, and to think he had knockout power in both hands.

I think either Mayweather wins on points, or Alexis knocks him out.

 

That's fair. A couple of things though, I don't believe Mayweather at 130 was the same as Mayweather at higher weights in that he relied more on lateral movement than shelling up against the ropes. Therefore I think his lateral movement would give Arguello tougher problems getting set than he would against a guy like Kobayashi. He really was a different fighter at this weight.

But fair enough. I agree that Floyd wins clearly over the 12 round distance, with the chances of Arguello landing a well timed shot to set up his body-head combinations increasing over the 15 round distance, considering Arguello did his best work in the championship rounds, as has been said.