[Roe]

Ok so now 44 have tried and all 44 have failed, although Jose Luis Castillo came closest once. But still, there is no blueprint.

Many have tried to rough Mayweather up on the inside and take the fight to him - Hatton, Ortiz, Corrales etc - and it generally didn't end well for them.

Some have tried to mix intelligent pressure fighting with forcing Mayweather back - de la Hoya, Cotto, Marquez etc - and again, were mostly found wanting.

Others have stood back more and tried to let Floyd come onto them - Judah, Mosley, Baldomir etc - but generally Mayweather just adjusted, found the range, then picked them off with ease.


What do you think is the biggest key to cracking the Floyd Mayweather code? Is it aggression? Strength? Size? What attributes are required most to beating someone like Floyd Mayweather Jr?

 

[Chatty]

Mayweather fighting someone with the talent to be him would help.:sheeeit

 

[dftaylor]

He has two very close fights on his record, so there is a blueprint. Castillo in the first fight was very unlucky to miss out - he really controlled that fight and arguably did the better, more effective work. De La Hoya only lost because he faded so badly in the last third of the fight. If he'd kept that jab working he could have taken Floyd's 0.

It's not that Floyd's unbeatable, it's more that the standard of fighters in this era isn't as well-rounded so lack the dimensions needed to deal with his much more complete skill set.

And, come on, it was Robert Guerrero, who's not really any great shakes in the grand scheme of things. He's a decent fighter who's well out of his optimum weightclass. He came up to 147 to get the fight with Floyd of Manny, no other reason. Beating a couple of relative scrubs (and Berto is shocking) to get a shot doesn't make me reconsider his abilities. Floyd did precisely what he was meant to do (and he did it beautifully, I might add).

I want to take this moment to point out the greatness of Cotto. He gave Mayweather hell and not because Floyd was slipping, but because Cotto is that good.

 

[Twelvey]

He has two very close fights on his record, so there is a blueprint. Castillo in the first fight was very unlucky to miss out - he really controlled that fight and arguably did the better, more effective work. De La Hoya only lost because he faded so badly in the last third of the fight. If he'd kept that jab working he could have taken Floyd's 0.

It's not that Floyd's unbeatable, it's more that the standard of fighters in this era isn't as well-rounded so lack the dimensions needed to deal with his much more complete skill set.

And, come on, it was Robert Guerrero, who's not really any great shakes in the grand scheme of things. He's a decent fighter who's well out of his optimum weightclass. He came up to 147 to get the fight with Floyd of Manny, no other reason. Beating a couple of relative scrubs (and Berto is shocking) to get a shot doesn't make me reconsider his abilities. Floyd did precisely what he was meant to do (and he did it beautifully, I might add).

I want to take this moment to point out the greatness of Cotto. He gave Mayweather hell and not because Floyd was slipping, but because Cotto is that good.

Regarding Hoya, how much do you think that is under use of the jab late was due to injury and how much was it down to Floyd adjusting and countering it with the lead right?

 

[dftaylor]

Regarding Hoya, how much do you think that is under use of the jab late was due to injury and how much was it down to Floyd adjusting and countering it with the lead right?

It played a part, for sure. Floyd never looks comfortable against the guys with a better jab. Cotto's jab was giving him fits (and I think Floyd and crew overlooked it) and it's Cotto's other flaws that gave Floyd countering opportunities against it.

Mostly I think Oscar just blew his load as usual and didn't work through it. He was well past prime and effectively a part time fighter. Beating Ricardo Mayorga in a two year time-frame is not ideal preparation for Mayweather. His jab, when he did commit to it, was pushing Floyd back and slowing his conservative output even more. Sure Floyd was getting his straight right in, but not as consistently as we were used to.

It's not really one of Floyd's best performances. He was a little basic and very negative at points. He had Oscar hurt a couple of times and never pressed the advantage. He seemed happy to score a split decision. There were some nice feints that stopped Oscar being so free with his punches, but he's not a pressure fighter and he never looked comfortable with that style.

There's no one now who can beat Mayweather, IMO. He's still too complete, physically and technically, to lose to the guys around 147. In a year, Alvarez might have a chance. But I don't think he's long for 154 and I suspect Floyd would want a catchweight.

 

[JamieC]

Mayweather fighting someone with the talent to be him would help.:sheeeit

Ziiiiiing!

In reality, you need to throw lots of punches whilst pumping out a good, varied stiff jab. You need to be able to control range, in that you dont get suckered into no mans land like Floyd likes doing where he can counter, you need to be able to throw punches from weird angles (being a southpaw would help). Plus you need to stay disciplined if things start going wrong, keep your head and go back to what was going right. I think Floyd's ability to adjust is a bit overrated (still one of his best assets), he's just so disciplined, he does a few things to make it difficult during a fight and people cant keep with him, they lose their heads and play into his hands

 

[adamcanavan]

You need to throw big combinations with a lot of speed and not be afraid to eat a punch to try and get 4 or 5 off, you need to cut off the ring effectively rather than just follow him around like guerrero and a height and reach advantage would help. Obviously thats all put very simply and is easier said than done.

 

[Teeto]

I think the only thing we could bet on would be lateral movement and a high quality jab to take the play ayaw from him. The boxing authorities should have mixed the DNA of Vernon Forrest and Cory Spinks when they had the chance and made a clone out of it.

I don't like fighters just coming forward and putting pressure on him, we've seen it too many times and it hasn't worked, but that said, educated pressure is different to just a regular aggressive puncher, as Castillo showed the first time round. That's why I'd favour someone like Canelo over someone like Paul Williams who will likely just come swarming. But Mayweather will be too good for Canelo so I don't know why I'm even saying that :lol: I just mean about the styles matchup.

I'd like to see someone who can use footwork around the centre of the ring against Floyd. Not going to be easy though, I'd favour him over anyone in boxing now really.

 

[adamcanavan]

I think if it turns out that sergio just had an off night against murray (i think it was a combination of all martinez's injuries and a great murrau performance) and if sergio recovers from the injuries he has the tools to beat mayweather imo, i've thought so for a while.

 

[Teeto]

I think if it turns out that sergio just had an off night against murray (i think it was a combination of all martinez's injuries and a great murrau performance) and if sergio recovers from the injuries he has the tools to beat mayweather imo, i've thought so for a while.

well yeah I would favour him all day but mainly because of natural size advantage

 

[Earl-Hickey]

I think the most important things are:

Be better than B level
Be still in your prime
Be unbeaten
Be at your natural weight

I think those things might be the key

 

[adamcanavan]

well yeah I would favour him all day but mainly because of natural size advantage

I dont think the size would be all that important as martinez isny the type of fighter that would try and just outmuscle him or something. I think martinez's movement and speed (although not as fast as floyd) would be key. I can see floyd having to take the lead in the fight and coming on the front foot and providing martinezs reactioms are still there floyd may end up on the end of big counters

 

[Teeto]

I dont think the size would be all that important as martinez isny the type of fighter that would try and just outmuscle him or something. I think martinez's movement and speed (although not as fast as floyd) would be key. I can see floyd having to take the lead in the fight and coming on the front foot and providing martinezs reactioms are still there floyd may end up on the end of big counters

I think the size would be a factor simply because its logical. Look at the natural size difference. If Martinez started throwing those rapid piston-like combos he could possibly punch through Floyd regardless of his guard. He'd be like a monster compared to Floyd IMO.

 

[Teeto]

It's like saying if Wlad beat Dawson it wouldn't be because of size, because Wlad isn't the type of guy to lean all over you

 

[Hook!]

He has two very close fights on his record, so there is a blueprint. Castillo in the first fight was very unlucky to miss out - he really controlled that fight and arguably did the better, more effective work. De La Hoya only lost because he faded so badly in the last third of the fight. If he'd kept that jab working he could have taken Floyd's 0.

It's not that Floyd's unbeatable, it's more that the standard of fighters in this era isn't as well-rounded so lack the dimensions needed to deal with his much more complete skill set.

And, come on, it was Robert Guerrero, who's not really any great shakes in the grand scheme of things. He's a decent fighter who's well out of his optimum weightclass. He came up to 147 to get the fight with Floyd of Manny, no other reason. Beating a couple of relative scrubs (and Berto is shocking) to get a shot doesn't make me reconsider his abilities. Floyd did precisely what he was meant to do (and he did it beautifully, I might add).

I want to take this moment to point out the greatness of Cotto. He gave Mayweather hell and not because Floyd was slipping, but because Cotto is that good.

You've disregarded Floyd's injury in the first Castillo fight.
You also seem to think that DLH stopped jabbing for shits and gigs?! Not that Floyd took his jab away or did anything to neutralise it?

 

[adamcanavan]

I think the size would be a factor simply because its logical. Look at the natural size difference. If Martinez started throwing those rapid piston-like combos he could possibly punch through Floyd regardless of his guard. He'd be like a monster compared to Floyd IMO.

Thats because of sergios power then rather than size, he has power against much bigger guys too. I agree that power might be enhanced by the size advantage but its there regardless

 

[Teeto]

Thats because of sergios power then rather than size, he has power against much bigger guys too. I agree that power might be enhanced by the size advantage but its there regardless

:lol:

I'm not sure if you're trolling or just clutching to straws mate. Are we really going to play this game and pretend there's no size advantage for Sergio Martinez against Floyd Mayweather? :rofl

Ok then, Mayweather would not be able to put a dent in him becuse of the size disparity and when the weight of Sergio's body comes down on him there will be a big difference in the damage done on either side, and yes it would be because of the natural size advantage. Call me crazy though.

 

[Teeto]

You've disregarded Floyd's injury in the first Castillo fight.
You also seem to think that DLH stopped jabbing for shits and gigs?! Not that Floyd took his jab away or did anything to neutralise it?

:deal

Shit is ridiculous

 

[adamcanavan]

:lol:

I'm not sure if you're trolling or just clutching to straws mate. Are we really going to play this game and pretend there's no size advantage for Sergio Martinez against Floyd Mayweather? :rofl

Ok then, Mayweather would not be able to put a dent in him becuse of the size disparity and when the weight of Sergio's body comes down on him there will be a big difference in the damage done on either side, and yes it would be because of the natural size advantage. Call me crazy though.

I didnt say martinez didnt have a size advantage, and the weight of sergios body wouldnt come down on mayweather with the styles. Obviously it would be a factor but i'm saying that its not the main factor in the fight imo

 

[Nyanners :sad5]

Be one of the Four Kings.

That's about it.