By Jermill Pennington: Since Floyd Mayweather Jr’s performance versus Marcos Maidana May 3rd, there has been a drastic change in who fans believe is the best fighter today. The two suspects still remain the same being Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, but in the minds of some the scales have balanced out. Prior to May 3rd it was a consensus thought that Mayweather was indeed the top dog in the sport. After having a hard fought bout versus Marcos Maidana it seems some think that Mayweather is ripe for the picking based on his performance.
In Mayweather’s fight versus Maidana he received a majority decision victory in a closely fought match. This was hands down Mayweather’s toughest fight since Miguel Cotto. In the Maidana fight we seen Mayweather resort to tactics we haven’t seen from him in a while. Mayweather did not control the pace of the fight as he normally does, and was lying on the ropes getting roughed up far more than we are use to seeing.
Mayweather would eventually make his trademarked mid round adjustments, but the result of the adjustments made weren’t quite as convincing as we have become accustom to seeing from Mayweather. Maidana was still able to push the fight making Mayweather fight out of his comfort for the most part. In the end I thought the judges got it right rewarding clean punching rather than a mauling. I have complete respect for the effort put forth by Miadana, but for my taste I will always go with clean punches especially if the total punches landed by each fighter are nearly identical. As a Mayweather fan, I liked seeing Floyd in deep, aside from all the flash it’s good to know the champ can bite down and fight with guts if need be, so for me I liked what I saw. However my interpretation of the fight seems to be far different from what many others took away from the fight.
The overwhelming argument being made by the anti-Floyd group is that the style Maidana presented would be the same style that Manny Pacquiao would employ versus Mayweather. Freddie Roach has said as much in interviews over the years that his strategy would be to out work Mayweather. Seeing Maidana have success using this strategy has seemed to breathe new life into the great debate of who would win if the icons were to ever square off. This logic lends itself to the “styles make fights” mantra. Pacquiao fans believe that Pacquiao’s superior hand speed and movement compared to that of Maidana would surely present Mayweather problems if the much slower predictable Maidana could. However, in the case of Maidana versus Mayweather I not sure if the style made the fight, or the size and bodily strength of Maidana made the fight.
Maidana came into the fight outweighing Mayweather by 17 pounds, which is a norm for Mayweather at this point. Maidana in his career has relied on his ability to basically wear guys out with shear strength of body and determination. Similar to Julio Cesar Chavez in the regard of not being a flashy puncher (though Chavez arguable had the best left hook to the body the sport has ever seen) but just wearing guys out with his physicality. The difference here is not the style, which I feel is the right one to execute, but who is employing the style. Pacquiao in a fight versus Mayweather would actually come into the fight at a lesser weight than Mayweather, which for Floyd would have to be a welcomed change. In Mayweather’s career there have only been two guys prior to Maidana who used this strategy of attack effectively being Oscar Dela Hoya, and Jose Luis Castillo. What was the common scenario in both these fights for Mayweather you ask? In both fights it was Mayweather first time fighting in the particular weight class. Not the case with Maidana I know but still had the edge in bodily strength by far.
So, what we are getting to here in my estimation is that the kryptonite for Mayweather may not only be a guy who throws lots of punches, that guy must also have the advantage in strength of body, naturally the bigger man. Mayweather was able to land plenty of flush shots, and the body work done by Mayweather was some of the best I’ve seen from anyone in quite some time but seemed to have little effect on a highly motivated, hungry Maiadana. I wonder, would Pac have been able to walk through those punches which Mayweather will land, there’s no questioning that. Will Pacquiao be able to drive Mayweather to the ropes being the smaller man? Well if history tells the story the answer is no, Mayweather has never been pushed around by a smaller foe, in fact in the few cases he has been the bigger man he completely dominates.
At this point of both men’s career if find trouble in seeing how they are still even being compared. Looking at the past four opponents of each it’s clear that Mayweather is fighting a completely different caliber of fighter. Pacquiao’s last four opponents would consist of the fight where he was KO’d by Juan Manuel Marquez, a win versus Brandon Rios (don’t get me started) and two fights versus Timothy Bradley. Now these four fighters are name brand fighters, but let’s be honest, none of the four at this point can punch, and none of the four had a single advantage over Pacquiao from size, to speed and agility Pacquiao had ever single advantage.
Mayweather on the other hand is fighting lesser known fighters (Maidana, Robert Guererro) but at least to me guys that surely have some advantage on their side. Mayweather’s last four opponents being Miguel Cotto, Robert Guererro, Canelo Alvarez, and Marcos Miadana in my estimation is a four fight streak that any fighter could be proud to say he fought through. Each of the four fighters Mayweather faced came in an average of 16 pounds heavier than Mayweather. The four fighter mentioned aren’t known as the most skilled boxers, but definitely guy who can put you down with one shot if landed correctly.
At this point the two aren’t fighting nearly the same level of competition, that’s why I’m asking is there something I missed?
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