What is Floyd Mayweather's biggest weakness in the ring?

He lacks killer instinct anyway, not neccessarily a weakness as he's never lost but when he's in complete control put the foot on the gas and finish it!

 

Very good question, I fail to find a definitive answer.

 

IMO Oscar defeated FMJ by 7 rounds to 5 by using the jab early. If he kept it up he would have taken a UD

 

oscar did the best he could at that stage of his career.

He was a part time fighter then and physically declined.

Prime Oscar ahad a perfect style to beat floyd. Especially that verion at 147/154/

Cotto pre margarito i think would have beat the version of foyd he fought last year. However i don't think he'd have beat the prime floyd that was around at that time in 2007/8.

 

can be out worked by a fighter providing they are fit and tough enough and have the chin. Hatton was picking up rounds purely by out working So was Castillo.

A fighter like margarito could have beat floyd just by outworking and constant pressure.

 

Cotto simply doesn't have what it takes to beat Mayweather. He might have had more of a chance back in 2008 before Margarito, when he still had his unbeaten confidence, better stamina, his punch resistance, and more durable skin, but I think Mayweather still beats him. Mayweather himself still had his legs to some degree and could dance around and potshot still. He's more flat-footed and stationary now.

Simply put, Cotto's T-Rex arms and lack of effective head movement would always cost him against Floyd.

As for Oscar, well, that's a different question altogether. Oscar was much taller and longer than Cotto, and had superior movement, chin, handspeed and power in his prime. Was that still the case in 2007? Hardly. That Oscar walked flat-footed straight at Floyd and threw sloppy flurries without any of the speed, power, or technique of his prime.

1998-2000 Welterweight DLH and 2001-2003 Super Welterweight DLH both had the physical attributes, the technical skills, and the right styles to beat the Welterweight/Super Welterweight Floyd. Mayweather was at his best from 130-135 and beat strong, prime opponents at both of those weights. That isn't the case so much at the higher weights. Additionally, Floyd didn't have the same power or movement he did at the lower weights past 140.

Regarding Floyd Mayweather's biggest weakness in the ring? From what I've seen of him, he's vulnerable to the jab in general and the right hand (if the right hand follows body shots or low feints.) He also is less effective if he has to press the fight. The ideal situation for him is somebody coming right at him and attacking, leaving themselves open to get picked apart. He's less comfortable against a laterally-moving, outside-boxing opponent, or a defensive counterpuncher (which is precisely why we never saw him against Forrest or Winky Wright, and probably won't ever see him against Martinez respectively.)

He looked great against Marquez because Marquez is more of an aggressive counterpuncher who looks to counter an opponent in exchanges with combinations rather than potshot with single shots and then get out. Floyd forced Marquez to press the action and attack him first, which a) Marquez isn't comfortable doing anyway, and b) enabled Floyd to counter the hell out of him and impose his size advantage on him.

Anyway, I'd say his greatest weaknesses are a busy jab (shifting between the head and body) and the right hand up top in terms of specific punches. Habitually, he also seems to move straight back to the ropes somewhat frequently, because he appears very confident about his countering abilities off the ropes (and, while he is indeed good at this against wild attacks, a more methodical, strategic aggressor could capitalize on that bad habit.) Stylistically, his biggest weakness would be if he has to be the aggressor (however, he's never fought somebody who'd force him to do that, like a Wright or Martinez.)

Though it's not a HUGE weakness, one extra exploitable flaw I noticed in his fight against Cotto was that he responded to Cotto's high guard with wider left hooks and looping right hands. While Floyd's jab and straight right are both very fast and difficult to counter, those looping punches he was using to get around Cotto's gloves were slower and easier to counter. Cotto's lack of head movement and willingness to try and block the punches with his gloves (maybe to disrupt Floyd's attacking rhythm? It didn't work, at any rate) screwed him, but when Floyd was throwing those hooks and wide right hands, he was vulnerable and open for the straight right or the jab right down the middle while he was throwing those punches.

If Canelo Alvarez gets a shot at Floyd, he'd be very wise to come in with a high guard, look for Floyd to lead with those hooks and wide right hands, and then lunge in behind the jab and straight right. Not only would Floyd get hit solidly, but lunging in would possibly make those looping punches overshoot and miss, while also moving Canelo in close for his favored short-range hooks and uppercuts. He'd have to move his head and upper body a lot while doing that, and even on the ropes, he'd have to stay there and wait for Floyd to lead with his favored counters before responding with his punches, while using his size and strength to keep him there or maneuver him towards one of the corners.

In short, I reckon what I'm saying here is that there are a number of small flaws or weaknesses that he has. The key is finding someone who can put it all together in a plan to exploit them.

 

atsch floyds prime was not 2007/2008. 1999-2001 at 130 was clearly his best

 

The reason why Floyd fights with Cotto/DLH was so close is because they both used they're jab effectively. WTF

 

Look at this dudes post record. He's a mad Floyd Hater and Manny fanatic. Calling Manny the uk p4p king in several different threads he started even though Boxnation the subscription channel is way more profitable. I disregarded his comment immediately. Surprise surpise prime Cotto and De La Hoya would have beaten him ZzzZzzzzZzzzzzzZzzzzzzzz

 

Floyds not a great finisher or a powerful puncher, he's a bit flat-footed these days but thats just age catching up with him.

Has a nice jab to the body otherwise doesnt work the body that well.

 

Very good points. However, I disagree somewhat with the right hands, I think he shoulder rolls and counters this quite well. The jab I do agree with.

Also, I think Canelo lacks the timing to effect the plan you posit he would do well with.

Added to that, Floyd also possess the ring IQ and ability to discern when something is and isn't working for him and summarily implement it. In other words, against Cotto he realized the wider lefts and looping rights were required against the high guard. Had Cotto negated this and countered, Floyd is intelligent and capable enough to cease such a tactic and implement a new one.

Nice post though, and where I do completely agree with you is the stylized perspective. If he has to be the aggressor/attacker and his opponent is capable of boxing and executing well timed pot-shots, Floyd suffers.

 

I said Prime Cotto would beat this version of floyd. THis version of floyd isn't as good as floyd in 2008.

I predicted floyd would beat cotto in 2008. So how is that hating.

I also said a prime oscar would beat the version of floyd he fought @ 154. Again what is wrong wit that, when the old part time oscar only lost by MD.

Seriously, even suggested floyd struggles in a fight on this Forum gets you criticism.


And to answer your boxnation point. I started that thread to take the **** out of People that troll the boards about who sells more PPVS. I couldn't give a crap who sells more PPV's.

 

I disagree. I think when floyd was fighting at 140/147 he was at his complete peak personally.

He was very good at 130 and much more exciting. at 135 he struggled and got hit way too much.
At 140 147 he was technically brilliant, rarely got hit, and still had his athleticism.


I actually think that floyd was better (but not as exciting)