I agree with Mcgrain when it comes to retreating in straight lines. When you look at a guy like Pea who was a master at the "tight circle" he would circle you while staying close to you at the same allowing him to go on the offensive at any moment. Floyd tends to stay on the retreat backing himself into the ropes without returning fire something I never understood till this day. But to answer the question yes, he is a wonderful technician but innovates with his great speed and reflexes. These innovations allow him to get away with some of the flaws Mcgrain stated.
I'd like to say a few things in Floyd's favour on defense. I said to myself a couple of years ago "he does just about everything defensively possible". I've seen him go into a defensive posture in an orthodox fashion many times. Thats both hands up high, orthodox stance, and simply blocking punches with his gloves. Old saying "keep your hands up" and he does it at times. He's showed that he's got swift movement around the ring to avoid his opponents punches. He blocks punches to the body well with his elbows. He also ducks under punches very well; head and waist movement. I can mind I seen him duck under a punch from Corrales and his head went right down to the height of his waist. Very flexible.
He is a technical genius, but often too conservative and defensive. Too much so to beat most of the greatest fighters to have boxed in his general weight range IMO (though he'd beat a fair few as well). Yes, he's unorthodox, but he is very conscious and aware of what he's able to do almost every step of the way. His technical and reflexive instincts are remarkable.
My favorite thing is how he turns defense into offense. The way he parries and punches back, almost in one motion.
If boxing used a belt measurement, as in martial arts, Floyd would have his black with some stripes. Mayweather is not lacking in any technical respect. Mayweather could use his legs, and make the fight boring as against Baldomir. Mayweather can rip an opponent with counters as in his fight with Gatti. Mayweather can step up the pressure when being outboxed, as in his fight with Judah. Mayweather does not have the resume of the best of the best, but his technique is deficient to no one. All fighters have flaws, but his are as few as any's.
Wow!!! that just seems a bit harsh??? After fighting 39 fights in 11 years, you are going to base his technical soundness on a fight after he had 39 fights in 11 years, and has now had a 19 month lay off prior to steeping in the ring against marquez??? I am no Floyd fan, and personally do not like him or his style, but he has been brilliant in the ring thus far. I still believe he will beat marquez and probably Pac (although I will hold the option of changing my mind based on his performance against Marquez), in spite of the layoff, but 19 months of is a long time for a 32 y/o man to be out of the ring... Personally I believe we have seen enough of him to make a decision. I think although his style is not always pleasing for me to watch, he is very sound and adept at changing styles...He might be one of the best at making in fight adjustments that I have seen in quite some time as well!
FMJ's technique is sound enough but is very well complemented by his fast hands and reflexes. If a lesser fighter used exactly the same technique with the same confidence (arrogance really) demonstrated by FMJ he would not fair anywhere near as well. As we all know, speed and overall superiority are great gap fillers in a fighter's technique. If FMJ hangs around long enough to slow down a bit, it'll be easier to evaluate his technique - that's when any deficiencies will become more evident.
good points but these are effective for Floyd also i wouldnt say the stuff in bold is not technically sound great post, any fighter who has been boxing from 3 or 4 does know the technical side of the game real well and Floyd was an accomplished amatuer dont forget. :good defensivly he is a master i rate him very highly in that respect. He can do abit of everything and he can even use his feet to get out of the way aswell if you watch his fights at SFW
Well sound technical boxing should be affective regardless of physical gifts. Boxing for defence on the ropes is somethng that only a superb talent should attempt for me. As for feinting a punch and then throwing that punch - you need to be exceedlingly fast of punch and thought. You feint to induce a counter, if you feint with a jab and induce a right hand to the body and then jab anyway your vulnerable to the punch you've induced.
good points there but its ok to feint with a punch then throw it. You can feint to see the reaction the punch will have on your opponent and you can think what to throw after the punch so you feint they move there hand you throw the jab then follow it up with an appropraite punch