Mayweather's Ability to Cut Off the Ring

Judah

 

Judah is his best example.

I'd say he's pretty good at it, but it's not nuanced enough to be something truly special in comparison to other pressure fighters. Ortiz is another good example, it was genius to back him up and exploit the fact Ortiz has no backpedal game whatsoever. Came forward against N'Dou towards the end too. He's efficient at cutting off the exits at either side, but whenever a fighter makes him lead and chase (which is rare), Floyd just seems to follow them around the ring on the front foot. His foot-speed coming forward just doesn't compare with his back-steps and upper body reflexes. His upright defensive stance also doesn't allow him to change levels and go hunting like a shorter pressure fighter would, but it's just not his style.

 

Zab Judah fight is a good example.

 

I rewatched his fight with Marquez, and after he scored the knockdown, there were plenty of times during that fight where he was getting aggressive and coming foward against Marquez.

Marquez actually had some success when Mayweather did that against him.

I suspect with Marquez new, and induced punching power, if he would have tagged Mayweather with the same shots he tagged him with in the first fight, we may have had a different ending.

If Mayweather ever fights Marquez again, I expect Marquez to be more confident, and Mayweather to be more defensive.

I give Marquez a puncher's chance against Mayweather. Mayweather could very well dominate the fight and slip up for one second and find himself knocked out.

If Marquez managed to do that, he would have one incredible legacy. Unfortunately, that will never happen because Mayweather has far too stringent testing protocol and Marquez would be found out as the steriod cheat he is.

 

Floyd is adept at using his forearms to make his opponents stationary.

 

When we use the term 'cutting off the ring' people immediately think of that JCC Sr/Ricky Hatton style of rushing into the space, and forcing opponents into corners where they could savage them with brutal combinations to the head and body.

When we discuss Mayweather and cutting the ring off, we need to look at it through a different microscope.

Floyd doesn't use punishing physical power, nor does he use blitz combination punching or swift footspeed, but subtle ring craft. Efficient would be the word. Mayweather uses subtle steps to shut off the space from his opponents and take away their options to create angles against him.

People are mentioning the Judah fight, but I'd suggest watching the Mosley one. Watch how Floyd uses his feet to out maneuver Mosley and position him for the right hand lead.

The high guard is used by Mayweather to walk forward better protected, giving him a more basic defensive base from which he can employ forward physical pressure.


Really, Mayweather's natrual element is that of a counter puncher, but when he needs to apply pressure, he is both effective and clinical. A true multi dimensional fighter.

 

I think we have to distinguish applying pressure and cutting off the ring though. He comes forward and positions his opponent to walk into his shots really well, but I'm not sure I'd say he actually cut the ring off against Mosley. Particularly because Mosley was staying in or just out of range of his own accord.

 

Cutting off the ring is cutting off the ring. It's just that Mayweather's objective is not to get inside and deliver hooks and uppercuts, it is to keep you on the end of his punches.

If Mayweather would have fought Vernon Forrest for instance, we might have seen a different gameplan and we would see his aggressive defense.

He wouldn't be able to employ the same type of pressure on Vernon Forrest that he did against Marquez in spots, and Mosley.

Forrest prefers to fight on the outside, and counter, and he would have the the taller height and longer reach as well as a style that would mean Mayweather would have to take more risks and get on the inside or fight on the outside and use his footwork, fighting in spurts.

 

Just as a side note buddy, the fight with Cotto was fascinating once Mayweather became the hunter, and Cotto the dancer.

Agree. Forrest had a size and length advantage. It was a different era of Welterweights, as he, DLH and Tito were huge at 147.

As a general observation, people often use the Mosley win as a reason that Forrest should be favoured over Mayweather, but there has always been one huge difference between the two, and that is that Mosley gets discouraged when things aren't going his way, Mayweather doesn't fold so easily.

 

damn I read the first part of your post and was about to bring up the Mosley fight and you already covered it :good

 

*******!!!!!

It's the way he fought in this fight and the way Martinez looked vs Barker that I think Floyd has a chance to beat Sergio. I still would favor Sergio, Floyd can cause him some troubles.

 

The Ortiz fight is also very intriguing in spots.

 

It was Barkers Size that caused Martinez the biggest problem.

 

Barker was 6 foot and change, weighed more than Martinez and had a longer reach.

I don't see how this has any relevance on a Floyd fight.

If Floyd applies pressure against Martinez, it will play right into Martinez' gameplan.

Floyd's best chance against Martinez is to try and outbox him from the outside, but even then, Martinez is too big and he hits too hard.

Martinez is the worst possible matchup for Floyd.