Floyd's Legs are Gone

pbffan

I've been on a Mayweather marathon this weekend - it's sorta hard to get out with the ice(:mad:), and rather than do something constructive, I decided to watch some classic PBF.
First up: Diego Corrales. Floyd's finest performance gan dabht ar bith. Absolute perfection from beginning to end
Next up: Castillo I. JLC gave him a lot of bother, many felt he should have won the decision, and he probably would have if he didn't piss away the first 5 rounds.
And finally: Ricky. That's more like it, Floyd back to his sizzling best after a somewhat iffy start.

So what is this guys point? Has he never heard of Twitter? Well basically, I have come to the conclusion that Freddie Roach was right when he said "Mayweather's legs are gone". Floyd himself said that the decision to stand toe to toe with Mosley was purely tactical, but I really believe he had no other option. He's 33 now, and visibly much slower than the guy who fought Corrales, Castillo & Hatton. He's heavier on his feet, and he doesn't get around the ring like he used to. I don't think we're ever likely to see Floyd dance around again.

That said, he's still better off than 95% of elite fighters in the world today, but if the Pacquiao fight ever comes off(which tbh, it probably won't), this decline could have a large impact on the outcome. I believe that if you took Floyd from his time at 130/135 and placed him against the Pacquiao equivalent, he would win and win well. Likewise if you take the Welterweight Floyd that fought Zab Judah & Ricky Hatton, and have him fight present day Manny, he would come out on top more times than not. However, I'm really starting to believe that if in 2011, Floyd Mayweather finally fought Manny Pacquiao, he would lose and lose well. I just don't see how he can beat Manny without the trademark Mayweather speed and movement. I honestly think that if he stands toe to toe with Manny, he will be stopped.

Anyway, what do you guys think - Am I reading too much into it? Is it just that he doesn't need to use them, or that he cannot use them anymore? Can he beat Manny Pacquiao by standing toe to toe?

gene_tunney

He doesn't dance as much as he used to, he tends to stay in the pocket more now but that doesn't mean his legs are necessarily gone. All fighters lose something when they get older but Floyd's a different kind of boxer to the one who fought Castillo/Judah. He's not as quick on his feet but far more experienced and he has adjusted his style to compensate for that.

If Mayweather fought and beat Pacquaio in 2011 people would come up with lots of reason Pacquaio lost. They would say he is shot after being in wars with Marquez, morales, Barrera, and he took quite a beating off Margarito as well. Sure he's younger than Floyd, but his "ring age" is a lot older. He's also not as fast as he used to be, I'm talking handspeed.

Either way, if this fight ever actually happens I won't care about excuses for either fighter, I just want to see a good fight.

cowzerp

i think your reading too much into it tbh.

mink_man

no didn't hear he lost them? and if he did I think he found them again?

magma69

His performance against Mosley was great. Floyd still has plenty in the tank and I still favour him to beat Pac. Pity he doesn't believe it himself.

colly10

Reading too much into it, it's one fight that he didn't run. It's too early to be making excuses, I don't buy that anything has been taken out of Pac either.

It makes sense that he'll be a little slower when he's 10 or 20 lbs heavier

walshb

I agree absolutely with the post ref the legs; but, like any athlete, it's the legs that go first. Floyd is now older, and heavier. This will have an affect on his leg speed. Happened to Ali too. Remember Ali in the 60s and in his early and mid 20s. Compare that leg speed to the early and mid 70s. Like two different men. Not reading into it, just stating the obvious. His legas are still good, but not on par with what they used to be.
As regards Pac, I far prefer to watch this Pac to the wilder and more crude Pac from the featherweight days