Oh, don't get me wrong. Mayweather can't out-bully a dry flea on the inside, but he doesn't have too. What he's strong enough to do, is to keep you from getting him into really bad positions. Basically, he won't bully you, but you'll use a ton of energy up trying to bully him. Meanwhile, while trying to get him into position, he's punching you. Everyone seems to fall for it.
I just don't see Floyd engaging there. It's going to be a chess match. Floyd will feint, and counter the **** out of Martinez. He's not going to exploit Martinez on the inside. Despite Floyd being less open on the inside, it's more of a risk because Martinez will have no reluctance to let his hands go, or shift and get into a middle range to out-maneuver Floyd. You are right, Martinez is rather open defensively. He's not as meticulous and as skillful as Mayweather. He doesn't choice risk-adverse when works with his legs, activity, and counter-punching ability as his best assets. His style allows him to be a little more open and to afford being a little more open as well, though. Can you give me extensive examples of your last point?
Floyd's legs have really slowed down. That's the biggest factor in this fight imo. Floyd of 2009 wins via ud as he still had explosive legs and cat like reflexes. How many leaping left hooks did we see him throw against Cotto? I can't recall one. That along with his lead right was his bread and butter. Floyd has been a much more stationary fight for years. I think sometimes by choice but sometimes it's because his legs have really slowed. Sergio will have about 15 lbs on Floyd. Floyd can't hurt Sergio and we all know Sergio can seriously hurt Floyd. With Floyd being a lot more stationary, i just envision a fight with a lot of exchanges and it's not in Floyd's best interest to do so. In some respects, he will be a sitting duck, no longer able to quickly dart out of danger. But this fight isn't happening cause Floyd would get ktfo.
Martinez would get hit. Chavez did not do what Roach insisted for 11 pounds "Punch in between the punches." When he did, and when Sergio got over-confident, he dropped him. Chavez didn't take the risk so he didn't earn the reward to win. He covered up far too often. But when he did exchange, Martinez straighter puncher got the better of it. That's what made Chavez reluctant for the majority of the fight. I get your point, and I'd agree. Just what exactly does Floyd do to boss opponents on the inside? Enlighten me. Don't show me some defensive display. If Floyd wants to make things anymore gritty or dangerous then he has to he's going to pay a risk getting in between the multiples straight shots from various angles before Floyd can do anything offensively on the inside. Again, he is not Ward. Not even James Toney when it comes to in-fighting.
That's why I think what makes Martinez dangerous in comparison to most Floyd opponents is his conditioning. Martinez is going to have out-work Mayweather more than having to out-box really. He won't and can't purely do the latter.
I could really imagine Martinez gettin in Maynever's ass (yes homo) :roll:during the hbo face off :smoke
This content is protected Look at the way Cotto is holding his right to his temple. Left hooks weren't going to help in this fight. Diaz did his homework and tried to negate a lot of what Floyd naturally does. Hence the adjustment on Mayweather's end, looping the right and going with lead uppercuts. I'd have to see Floyd fight again to know if it's actual slippage.
skills pay the bills. Sergio's size will most definitely an issue in this fight and it's what made coming up with a gameplan so difficult along with Sergio's skill and athleticism. The one thing about Sergio's size is style won't make it impose itself on Floyd. I think Chavez is a tougher fight for Floyd than Sergio is. styles make fights.
At 154, this is a winnable fight for Floyd. At 16o, probably not. Martinez would have too much power and Floyd too little chin at the MW limit, and the slight speed advantage Floyd enjoys at 154 would be gone. I think Floyd could probably beat any other current MW though, including junior.
yeah I get what you're saying. Floyd may not make it his mission to take the fight there, but I think he'll get the better of it as long as he doesn't get tagged too much. And Floyd outfought Shane up close and did it with Cotto at times (though Cotto had his most success there I must admit). He prepares for his fights by sparring in the pocker with middleweights. Here's some parts of the fight with Shane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIrpgt0mYKQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=97s
You cannot be serious, Chavez a tougher fight for Floyd than Martinez? Floyd would pick Chavez apart and win in a stinker. Martinez' strength, unorthadox style/stance, and speed would make a much tougher fight IMHO. Especially with the more stationary style of fighting Floyd has today. Floyd would have some difficulty with Martinez' speed, seeing as he has not fought many guys who have been able to match his speed, as well as his reflexes, which Martinez certainly can match. I'm sure Martinez would get tagged some, but Floyd isn't the hard hitter he once was, and is too economical with this punches to win a fight based on accumilation. I think Martinez would let his hands fly often vs. Floyd. I don't think he'd respect floyd's punch, or willingness to engage. Best way to beat Floyd it to make it a brawl, make Floyd fight out of his comfort zone. I think Martinez posses well enough skill, along with this other attributes I mentioned, to make this happen. But of course, as others have already said. I doubt it will happen. Only two guys for Floyd to fight, that's Pac or Martinez. If he won't fight either, he might as well call it a day. Beating Canelo still means little, since Canelo is STILL YET to face a top contender in his class.
Whatever the case, it's a a fact that Floyd has been fighting a very stationary style with the high guard for years. And i don't think it's completely by choice. I think he is trying to maximize his talents with what he has at his age because he knows he no longer has the cat like reflexes nor the natural spring in his step which allowed him to dominate people in his younger days. This makes him more limited and easier to track down. Bad news if you are fighting a guy much bigger than you with power.
I don't remember Floyd and Shane fighting inside much, but when it happened it featured Shane getting beat up