By Dave Lahr: Trainer Freddie Roach thinks he’s spotted some deterioration in undefeated Floyd Mayweather’s game, specifically having to do with Mayweather’s ability to move around the ring. In an article at 790thezone, Roach said “You saw the other night that his [Mayweather] legs aren’t there anymore. He can’t change his style because he can’t move like he used to. He’s more flat footed, and that’s why Shane did hit him in the first two rounds.” In looking at the 33-year-old Mayweather’s last two fights since his two year retirement from boxing, Mayweather has dominated Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez, winning by lopsided 12 round decisions in both fights.
Mayweather hasn’t moved much beyond a little lateral movement on the outsides. But if you look back at Mayweather’s last fight before retiring in 2007, he didn’t move much at all against Ricky Hatton in December 2007. It would be that Roach is seeing things that really aren’t there. Mayweather rarely has moved a lot in his fights. The one exception that I can recall was when he was running out the clock against Carlos Baldomir in 2006.
In that fight, Mayweather used a lot of movement late in the fight as he played keep away from a desperate Baldomir. But in Mayweather’s other bouts, he never really moved a whole lot. He would circle a little, hang on the ropes and then come out to the center of the ring. He seems to have always fought like this.
Mayweather was never a big mover like say Andre Dirrell. But even if Mayweather was a better mover than he is now, will it matter when he faces WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao? I don’t think it will. Pacquiao is short, wide open and tends to make a lot of mistakes on defense and offense in his fights. If you don’t believe me, take a look at Pacquiao last fight against Joshua Clottey. Pacquiao was tagged over and over again by Clottey and had problems with him, even though Clottey only threw a handful of punches in every round.
I think Roach is commenting on Mayweather’s foot movement to try and get Mayweather doubting himself so that Roach can try and get an extra edge for his fighter Pacquiao. After all, it isn’t as if Roach doesn’t have anything to gain by making the comments that he’s been making. Roach doesn’t want the gravy train to end with Pacquiao, because he doesn’t have any other big mega stars like Pacquiao in his stable.
The closest thing that Roach has to another cash cow is Amir Khan, but he’s someone who could be brought down to earth and finished when they finally put him in with a good fighter. Once Khan is flatted – again – and Pacquiao is beaten, Roach’s gravy train could come to a grinding halt all in the same year. I don’t see any problems with Mayweather’s movement, and I think he moves well enough now to still handily beat Pacquiao if they fight.
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