By Yannis Mihanos: Some people feel that Manny Pacquiao has lost his killer instinct and effectiveness to finish an opponent is off, but what about Floyd Mayweather Jr’s great defensive skills and effectiveness in the ring? Are those also gone?
In Mayweather’s last fight against the aggressive puncher Marcos Maidana last Saturday night, I noticed that Floyd’s movement was much less energetic and consistent than in his past fights. Maidana was able to easily attack and push him on the ropes in round after round of the fight. Maidana threw hundreds of punches, and luckily for Floyd not all found the target. Mayweather was quite fortunate that he wasn’t dropped in the fight from the big shots that did land.
This was not the usual Mayweather performance that we’ve come to expect from him. He wasn’t as sharp and elusive as he was before, due to him choosing to stand and trade shots with Maidana in a toe-to-toe fashion. It was obviously not a good idea for Mayweather have used this fight strategy, as it almost him his first defeat.
I honestly don’t believe that this was Mayweather’s plan for the fight. Floyd Mayweather Sr., the trainer for Mayweather, must had been very angry about his son’s decision to brawl instead of box. Watching Maidana last December knocking down Adrien Broner twice en route to winning a 12 round unanimous decision, I am sure Mayweather’s plan was different for the Maidana fight. The plan was not to engage with Maidana, move a lot to wear him down but nothing went according to plans.
Since the last encounter against Miguel Cotto, Floyd has appeared defensive and elusive at his best, allowing nothing to chance and winning both the Robert Guerrero and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fights by a wide margin.
Floyd Sr. was very pleased with Mayweather’s victories over those fighters. FloydSr. has said time and time again that the winner in boxing is the one who comes out of the ring with the less damage. Seeing his son scrapping a difficult point’s decision against Cotto and looking swollen and bleeding in the end was the last drop in the glass.
Coming now last Saturday, a similar scenario was again played out. Maidana inflicted a lot of pain to Floyd and caused a lot of damage with his unorthodox attacks.
The thoughts about a rematch have been now put on hold and there are also some thoughts about retirement for Mayweather Jr. He certainly has enough money for many lifetimes to come and doesn’t need to keep fighting. If he retires now, he’s guaranteed to finish his career with his perfect record intact.
Speaking about entertainment and giving the audience what they want (a bloody fight), I think is not a choice for Floyd.
Will Mayweather fight Maidana a second time? Will Mayweather finally fight Manny Pacquiao? These are certainly fights guaranteed to bring tones of PPVs. But they do not guarantee that Floyd will remain until the end of his 6 fights contract undefeated and with no damage.
Of course we are speaking about boxing and not for golf (no offense to this sport). It is called the sport of pain (no pain, no gain). I don’t know what’s in the mind of Floyd right now.
Remaining unbeaten and been regarded as the best pound for pound fighter in boxing has always been the ultimate goal for Floyd. But that same goal has distanced him with the idea of ever fighting Pacquiao, and some might simply call it fear of losing.
Watching Mayweather last Saturday, standing a lot with his back against the ropes and allowing Maidana to tee off, it was a clear warning sign that some of Mayweather’s defensive skills have deteriorated.
Has Mayweather’s mojo of “Hard work and Dedication” not been followed well this time in training? He is reaching 38 soon and many logically will attribute the wearing signs there.
It remains to be seen what will be his next move and if this performance was just a parenthesis in his long career or the beginning of the end.
I got to hand it to Maidana, who neutralized Mayweather’s defense on the ropes, and did a great job of not letting him slip out and use his legendary footwork, boxing skills, jabs or feints. Maidana did an excellent job of cutting off the ring and using his raw aggression against Mayweather
Styles make fights. This is what happens when you put an aggressive big puncher in with a slick defensive minded counter puncher. Unless that big puncher lands a few bombs that rock their opponent, they will get outclassed over a 12 round fight. Maidana would have Money pinned on the ropes and you’d think he was doing some damage and then you’d see the replay and realize that Floyd made him miss almost every punch and would counter beautifully in return. Four out of the first six rounds went to Maidana, but Floyd controlled the second half of the fight.
I’m not a Mayweather fan and honestly can’t wait to see him lose, but he definitely won the fight. You can hate him, but you’ve got to respect the talent. Floyd is getting older and slower though. He’s had a great career, but after watching the first few rounds against Maidana, it might be hard for him to get to 50-0 now given that people will attack him in a different way. IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter has that rough Maidana style going for him, and is younger and stronger. Also, Keith Thurman hits like a mule kicks. Mayweather better watch out for the young guns.
The only way Maidana could have beaten Mayweather last Saturday was to knock him out. There was no surprise in how Maidana fought because that is how he always fights. Mayweather could not control position because Maidana bulled him around the ring and trapped him in the ropes or in the corner. What good is all the punches Maidana threw at Mayweather when the majority of them didn’t even land? The fight showed Mayweather isn’t as sharp and elusive as he was before the tactician beat the hard puncher.
They said about Pacquiao that his killer instinct is gone, but what about Floyd’s effectiveness in the ring also gone?
If you don’t fight Pacman, fans will blame him. We all know Pacman has nothing to lose and will take this fight on any conditions. The ball is in your court, Floyd. It always has been.
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