Mayweather isn't as defensive as people think. He's simply not a counter-puncher by standard definition. He's a counter-puncher, but he waits for the breaks, he doesn't punch in between the combinations. When they see a guy with a side posture, they assume they can attack and get things done that way. With Mayweather, his defense is so tight that is rarely works.
When De La Hoya, for example, had success, it wasn't because of that forced aggression that he won those early rounds. It was because of the jab he imployed.
Think of it this way..
A jab offsets your ability to counter if thrown enough. Why would a jab work against Mayweather? Because he counters, or potshots with punches in between the other guys work. But he doesn't counter the way most fighters do, with shots in between the flurries. He waits and makes people miss and in between the time they throw the last punch and the time they reposition themselves.
It still counts as a form of a counter, when you factor in that he counteracts what the other person is doing, while they work. He's fast and smart enough to do that.
The reason I bring this up is because as he moved up, he had to be more careful. He had to make sure that he didn't get tagged or beaten up by naturally bigger men. But, he still wasn't and isn't as defensive as people make him out to be. He's just so good at what he does, that it's more of the same, SOMETIMES. That's actually not his fault.
You can always argue that he should then fight bigger threats and to an extent, you're right. However, De La Hoya was a threat at the time. Corrales was the favorite. Castillo was a big threat, twice. It was still the same with all of them.
He takes his time, he waits for opponents and he counters. It's a lot less about defense than most think, though his defense is incredible.
The way to beat Mayweather is with three things. Decent power/speed/accuracy. I count it as one, because it's all about how you're able to punch. A stiff jab that you will be willing to double and triple. And finally, the ability to take a punch and take it for the entire 12 rounds. Keep coming forward, IN A SMART WAY, and you can get the job done.
When De La Hoya, for example, had success, it wasn't because of that forced aggression that he won those early rounds. It was because of the jab he imployed.
Think of it this way..
A jab offsets your ability to counter if thrown enough. Why would a jab work against Mayweather? Because he counters, or potshots with punches in between the other guys work. But he doesn't counter the way most fighters do, with shots in between the flurries. He waits and makes people miss and in between the time they throw the last punch and the time they reposition themselves.
It still counts as a form of a counter, when you factor in that he counteracts what the other person is doing, while they work. He's fast and smart enough to do that.
The reason I bring this up is because as he moved up, he had to be more careful. He had to make sure that he didn't get tagged or beaten up by naturally bigger men. But, he still wasn't and isn't as defensive as people make him out to be. He's just so good at what he does, that it's more of the same, SOMETIMES. That's actually not his fault.
You can always argue that he should then fight bigger threats and to an extent, you're right. However, De La Hoya was a threat at the time. Corrales was the favorite. Castillo was a big threat, twice. It was still the same with all of them.
He takes his time, he waits for opponents and he counters. It's a lot less about defense than most think, though his defense is incredible.
The way to beat Mayweather is with three things. Decent power/speed/accuracy. I count it as one, because it's all about how you're able to punch. A stiff jab that you will be willing to double and triple. And finally, the ability to take a punch and take it for the entire 12 rounds. Keep coming forward, IN A SMART WAY, and you can get the job done.
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