Floyd's decline "Athletically"...does he know it? are opponents seeing him different?

Physically, Floyd's still top notch. We hear about his training habits all the time. But I'm separating the two. Physically, you can still be strong, show some speed, and endurance...but athletically, that agility, that explosive speed, etc. is different...and it's declining faster.

Ex: Ali pre-exile compared to Ali post-exile. Physically, still a beast but no longer had those legs quite like they were. He no longer had that overall athletic "awe"

So....

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I was thinking about this after hearing him refer to watching his earlier fights on ESPN Classics while at home. So I wonder if he is thinking...Damn, I was F****** Great. Look how I moved. Look at how I countered with fast combinations and threw more punches and so on. Why can't I still fight like that??

I was comparing fights back to back. Watched one fight at 130, then right after watched a more recent fight at WW. And then watched another one at 135, and again another at 147 that was relatively new. Then a fight at 140, GATTI, then compared it to the fight he had with Hatton. Then thought; why wasn't Hatton ready for him right after the Gatti fight but a couple of years later, he is ready and feels Floyd is beatable?



Is his athletic decline possibly a reason why he has been a bit reluctant to get in the ring with Pac and has accused Pac of PEDs?
While he has declined over the years, especially after moving up to WW, Pac got better physically moving up and still looked sharp past 30. And even though this may just come down to Pac accepting outside help to make sure he stays sharp and slows down Father time (through "legal" means; scientific/up to date means)...maybe even up his game that he didn't know he had...with the hiring of Ariza and Teri Tom...Floyd stuck by his BFF, Big L.E. and grew stale over the years doing the same old stuff.



Opponents view...Pac and Roach view:
Roach has said that Floyd was great below WW, but he hasn't shown that ability above. He has said that his legs are shot now. That he throws few punches a round...and so on.
Trash talk, yes; but Roach tends to have some truth in his statements on how he feels. Basically: Floyd's not the same and my boy can get him. After all, when Roach signs you up, you better check what you have left.

And opponents out there, who may have watched tape on Floyd and were more in awe of his ability, see Father Time catching up. Fewer punches, not as agile, and is more there for you to see.

Of course, when they get in there they find out that I.Q., Technique, Ring Savy, and still some great athletic qualities still there (especially with his hands)...and they get flustered and decide to head-butt.

 

Yeah, he just figures he will adapt with age. That Smarts and Technique will overcome it.

But I still wonder if he looks at his younger self and still wouldn't mind having that athleticism with him because it makes things a little easier. some style match-ups become harder without it. So even future fights...say against a guy that has that similar athletic ability...may be off the table.

 

I disagree. He wasn't just throwing more for the sake of it. he was throwing with intent. He was confusing them Mentally. he was shooting off pin-point accurate shots in combinations and breaking MFers down Mentally and Physically. And all at the same time, use his legs to maneuverer around the ring like a Mongolian horseman who ran circles around the enemy soldier.

I view it like Hopkins pre-Tito vs. Post-Tito. Just watch Hopkins fight with Glen Johnson for example. Watch his punch-out-put...watch the ability...and pay attention to the aggression all while still focusing on incredible defense/countering.
What Floyd is doing, because of age and decline, like Hopkins, is that he has "decided" that he has to rely more on I.Q., Technique, and countering...to secure a win regardless of "entertainment/excitement,"....then showcasing his complete skill and making things more exciting for the fans.



Floyd always could do what he is doing right now but he chose not to because back then, he was the complete package to go out there and showcase something on a different level...and to excite the crowd. Safety first is more his Father. His Uncle is the one that pushed for him to showcase everything.

It is much harder to do what Floyd was doing back then than what he is doing now. He was throwing Science at you at a much higher level. Now he has slowed it down for you so you think he is greater because you can finally see the equation a little more clearly.

 

He has always had that. Watch any fight below 147. The man was skilled even standing toe to toe.

If anything, he was faster with his upper-body back then.