I remember (while watching the Hatton fight) how Mayweather was actually dropping his guard COMPLETELY at certain points while within punching range, so that his hands were at his waist, ala Roy Jones Jr. I assumed this was because he was so confident in his reflexes and speed that he thought he could get away with it against Hatton, which, to be fair, he did. He also may have done it to bait a punch and then counter with the right straight, the punch he loves to throw. I think I remember him doing it in the Baldo fight too, come to think of it. However, won't this sort of thing get him into real trouble when his speed starts fading? He's not exactly a young guy in boxing terms, so his decline can't be very far away. I don't think it's wise to pull these kind of stunts, let alone at the point he's at in his career.
Yes, but Floyd seems to be pretty intent on retiring from boxing himself, and "not letting boxing retire him". I reckon he's got ONE more fight left in him, if that. Then he's out. In which case, the problem you mentioned wouldn't be so much of a problem (unless it caught up to him for this one fight). But yes, if Floyd were to continue, and eventually lose his speed and reflexes, the whole low guard thing could catch up to him. Ala Roy Jones.
you do make a valid point however thats not the basis of his defense as he has probally the best defense period in the game right now.....i mean the way he positions his body to a fighter...the philly shell...the shoulder rolls...blocking shots...RJJ didnt do none of this he simple used athletisim and father time caught him with floyd he still has all of the mentioned above ya know
I noticed that as well when watching the replay. Mayweather has the reflexes and timing to drop his hands when he is in punching range. Roy Jones did it and so did Pernell Whitaker. When he would completely drop his hands, he would back straight up and time Hatton coming in with either a straight right hand or a jab. At one point, he backed up with his hands down into the ropes. Hatton came after him and Floyd went under the hook, and moved off the ropes into the center of the ring. An absolute boxing genius... I believe this would get him into a lot of trouble once he gets older and his reflexes start to decline. This could also leave him open to well-timed jabs from the outside. Hatton had little success overall, but when he did have a little success, he would lead with a jab. To be fair, Floyd is a great adjuster. His technical defense (not textbook defense) is great too - and I see him relying on it more once he ages. His mastery of the shoulder roll, turning away from punches, and angling himself away from punches should allow him to still be a very good defense fighter if he did fight into his mid-late 30s (which is doubtful). His chin is very good, so I can't see him getting stopped with a single shot like Roy Jones.
pbf rolls his shoulders so his hands are down alot..and he has good eyes and seems to be able to anticipate when his opponent is about to throw a punch...the angles he gives his opponent allow him to rarely get hit flush
i think its relative to the opponent, and after he studies them beyond the first 3 rounds. Did he drop his hands against Oscar? He didn't dare. Hatton and Baldo were predictable to him, and he was timing a counter they hopefully didn't see coming.
the dropping of the left is incorporated with the shoulder roll, which Floyd uses frequently, also seeing that Hatton did not offer much of a jab which would be the first offensive weapon used to set up other punches Floyd was more relaxed about his own left not being high to defend against Hattons's jab And final a low left invites the opponent to take a shot, but if the other is good at timing he can execute and launch before the oponent is able to land
It wasn't just a low left, it was a low right too. It was both hands at waist level. And Hatton did use the jab, but his own lunging version of the punch -- at one point it snapped Mayweather's head back in the first round, and I'm not talking about the slip. I agree that a low guard invites the other to punch and thus opens up a counter chance, however this is obviously quite a risky tactic even for someone as fast and skilled as Mayweather, and quite frankly, he doesn't even need to do it. He could easily outbox Hatton without lowering his guard, and when his reflexes start to decline it's going to get him into trouble, most likely.
Floyd gets away with it against a shorter opponent. Floyd always dips down low when he does this though too, and his feet are kept wide to keep his body VERY low. Floyd knows when the guy isn't set to punch yet. When Floyd opens up to throw punches though, his guard is still up.
He dropped his hands because he was trying to bait Hatton into throwing so he could counter him and it worked beautifully in the 10th with that check hook.
