Floyd vs Hatton pre fight analysis

yeah i really hope we get a ref that doesn't by into the "hook and hold hatton" bs and just lets them fight. We need a ref with a good knowledge of the game and its history.....no muppets allowed for this one.

 

A lot of people are really underestimating Floyd's boxing ability here. Seriously, people underestimating Floyd's boxing? Let me explain.

A lot of people here are under the impression that Floyd is only very good at staying far on the outside and boxing, and while it is true that he is very good at this, he is a more complete fighter than that gives him credit for.

Part of Floyd's defensive genius is the fact that he can stand right in front of you, much the same way an in shape James Toney could, and make you miss. He has great upper body movement, hand placement, and shoulder rolling which make blows that would other wise hit clean glance off or miss completely. In the N'dou and De La Hoya fights he shows that he doesn't have to be on the outside to be a defensive master. Right in front of a guy he is very very elusive as well, and saying "If Floyd fights on the inside he loses if he fights on the outside he wins" isn't quite giving Floyd's supreme defense enough credit.

Obviously, his defense will be limited if Hatton gets him into one of his clinch fights, but Mayweather typically keeps his arms tight on his body when he fights, and it doesn't seem like Hatton would be able to clinch him, barring a bearhug type thing, as effectively as he could less skilled opponents.

It is more accurate to say "If Hatton can't get close to Floyd he absolutely can't win, if Hatton can get close to Floyd he has a chance of winning."

 

Mayweather would have to fight an active fight, or else he just might lose the decision because of Hatton's workrate and agressiveness...Oscar almost got the decision for the same reasons only he wasn't active enough (in the later rounds)..so it wasn't relevant enough against Floyd's clean punches and ring generalship.

I think young Hatton can keep the pressure going for the full 12 though, especially if you keep in mind he trains best for the big fights, it obviously motivates him. This means Mayweather would have to show a bit more aggression as well, and have a higher punch output to negate Hatton's scoring on pressure. I can't see Ricky stopping Floyd though.

IF Floyd really goes to work and puts combinations together he could win a late TKO victory. If he tries to put on a defensive masterpiece again and fights the way he did against Oscar, he could win, but he could very well lose the decision too...

Let's just hope he keeps that in mind and shows us a flash of the old Floyd. That way Mayweather/Hatton could be a very entertaining fight.