2 observations on "Undefeated"

[wmute]

Let me first say this that I loved the way Mayweather fought this fight.
The inside skills he showed and the slickness of his action even while roughousing or wrestling elevate him to a different level than he was before in my eyes.

1) Joe Cortez actually did a horrible job, I just rewatched the fight and I paid a lot of attention to the calls he made (because there was a debate wether it was horrible I wanted to double check). They were mostly horrible. If you think otherwise maybe you need to go watch figure-skating instead. All the times he let the action go the two fighters ended up fighting on the inside while blocking at most ONE arm and wrestling to get into the best position. As much as some might think that boxing is pot-shotting from the outside, it is not. Go watch old fights and you will see Sugar Ray Robinson doing it.
Actually, IMO the fact that Floyd could out-Hatton Hatton truly separates him from most of today's fighters who can do only one thing.

NOTE: I am not mentioning the fact that Floyd did not get points deduction or not, that is Floyd being smart, I assume that Cortez was not biased, just an unbiased idiot.

2) Ricky was faster than anyone Floyd had fought, bar Judah. His hands were fast, and his feet were fast. Never saw Floyd doing so much (foot)work. Another result of that speed is that we never saw the perfect timed mutiple right hands, which often mark the finishing moments of mayweather fights. Instead...

(This is the part where I am really interested in your comments, because I want to know if I am the only one seeing it.)

Starting from round 3 (I think) Mayweather's right hand, looked like a carbon copy of Hopkins' counter right hands. The way he timed it and stepped in it, the stance from which he throws it (and the angle)... I dont think he watched Hopkins and "copied" him, but I am amazed that he had that in his arsenal, too. Anyone else sees the similarity? I think he changed his right hand because Hatton was too fast to be hit with multiple rights.

[moin126]

I expected, mayweather from the start to jabb, alot. ITs almost like he didnt want that kind of fight. And knew hatton was expecting that.
but he did it in round 9, just to show he could, notice also in the clinches in round 9 he's looking at the crowd, ^_^ he knew ricky was gonna go.
He just wanted to rubb it in. Good ****.

[C'MONMANG']

Let me first say this that I loved the way Mayweather fought this fight.
The inside skills he showed and the slickness of his action even while roughousing or wrestling elevate him to a different level than he was before in my eyes.

1) Joe Cortez actually did a horrible job, I just rewatched the fight and I paid a lot of attention to the calls he made (because there was a debate wether it was horrible I wanted to double check). They were mostly horrible. If you think otherwise maybe you need to go watch figure-skating instead. All the times he let the action go the two fighters ended up fighting on the inside while blocking at most ONE arm and wrestling to get into the best position. As much as some might think that boxing is pot-shotting from the outside, it is not. Go watch old fights and you will see Sugar Ray Robinson doing it.
Actually, IMO the fact that Floyd could out-Hatton Hatton truly separates him from most of today's fighters who can do only one thing.

NOTE: I am not mentioning the fact that Floyd did not get points deduction or not, that is Floyd being smart, I assume that Cortez was not biased, just an unbiased idiot.

2) Ricky was faster than anyone Floyd had fought, bar Judah. His hands were fast, and his feet were fast. Never saw Floyd doing so much (foot)work. Another result of that speed is that we never saw the perfect timed mutiple right hands, which often mark the finishing moments of mayweather fights. Instead...

(This is the part where I am really interested in your comments, because I want to know if I am the only one seeing it.)

Starting from round 3 (I think) Mayweather's right hand, looked like a carbon copy of Hopkins' counter right hands. The way he timed it and stepped in it, the stance from which he throws it (and the angle)... I dont think he watched Hopkins and "copied" him, but I am amazed that he had that in his arsenal, too. Anyone else sees the similarity? I think he changed his right hand because Hatton was too fast to be hit with multiple rights.

great performance from Floyd.

he and HAtton actually fight very similar. Hatton BRINGS PRESSURE THEN HOLDS and hits and Floyd when pressured, he hits THEN immediatley HOLDS..

[Kobe Bryant]

That right hand lead was vintage Hopkins. Especially with the positioning of his head. When he would throw it he would duck his head and almost throw it while looking at the ground. That's exactly what Hopkins almost KOed Taylor with in the first fight. And also what sent Tarver's glove to the canvas.

Did anyone see Floyd in his Roy Jones stance? With the one arm wagging and his forearm on his waste. I couldn't help but think of Roy when he did that.

But rewatching the fight it wasn't as close as I saw it live. Hatton had a couple of effective rounds. I wouldn't say good because Hatton never got any clean work in. Rounds 4 and I think 8 were absolutely masterpieces put on by Floyd. In the latter he actually landed some great body combinations.

As far as the reffing. Cortez allowed Hatton to clinch from about rounds 5, 6, 7, and those were the rounds that were really boring to watch with not much action. The thing is when your first offensive move is to maul your opponent and stick your forehead in his chest and hold his arms, I have a problem with that. He's not trying to do aything but hold.

Now Floyd held even with Hatton in the earlier rounds 1-4 but after a while he was just working with short punches on the inside. And pit pat shots to the body.

[-Hyperion-]

floyd did good but his oppent was ****man.....i agree though, i like the fact that he didnt ***** out of hatton's dirtyness and gave him some too haha....


its much easier to clinch after doing the hopkins-right because you step in while doing it with your head down....so you cant be countered easily...and with hattons eagerness to get at floyd to clinch him, he was walking them like a ****** newbie, Hatton has bad footwork, but he has very good legs, he just didnt know what to do, otherwise he couldve timed them...

[Mozza]

Let me first say this that I loved the way Mayweather fought this fight.
The inside skills he showed and the slickness of his action even while roughousing or wrestling elevate him to a different level than he was before in my eyes.

1) Joe Cortez actually did a horrible job, I just rewatched the fight and I paid a lot of attention to the calls he made (because there was a debate wether it was horrible I wanted to double check). They were mostly horrible. If you think otherwise maybe you need to go watch figure-skating instead. All the times he let the action go the two fighters ended up fighting on the inside while blocking at most ONE arm and wrestling to get into the best position. As much as some might think that boxing is pot-shotting from the outside, it is not. Go watch old fights and you will see Sugar Ray Robinson doing it.
Actually, IMO the fact that Floyd could out-Hatton Hatton truly separates him from most of today's fighters who can do only one thing.

NOTE: I am not mentioning the fact that Floyd did not get points deduction or not, that is Floyd being smart, I assume that Cortez was not biased, just an unbiased idiot.

2) Ricky was faster than anyone Floyd had fought, bar Judah. His hands were fast, and his feet were fast. Never saw Floyd doing so much (foot)work. Another result of that speed is that we never saw the perfect timed mutiple right hands, which often mark the finishing moments of mayweather fights. Instead...

(This is the part where I am really interested in your comments, because I want to know if I am the only one seeing it.)

Starting from round 3 (I think) Mayweather's right hand, looked like a carbon copy of Hopkins' counter right hands. The way he timed it and stepped in it, the stance from which he throws it (and the angle)... I dont think he watched Hopkins and "copied" him, but I am amazed that he had that in his arsenal, too. Anyone else sees the similarity? I think he changed his right hand because Hatton was too fast to be hit with multiple rights.

I agree completely. Footwork played a massive part in this fight. Floyd's movement was unbelievable.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

I agree with most of your observations. Additionally, I have some of my own

1) To beat Floyd, you need to do it in the gym by developing a totally unexpected gameplan or by bringing in a different weapon that will allow you to steal a few rounds. In the 22 rounds with two of the game's best left hookers, Floyd ate a total of zero significant left hooks.

You won't beat Floyd with your primary weapon. He will take that away from you.

2) Hatton doesn't like it to the body. I know, "nobody does". But he started to noticeably guard against the body shots, and that opened up his face.

3) Hatton has a bad guard, and needs to seriously work on his defense. If you notice, he holds the gloves near his chin (Tyson-style) and the punches Floyd was landing were bouncing off Hatton's forehead and snapping his head back.

4) Floyd is vulnerable early in fights. I remember him tripping early in the Judah fight and nearly falling, and he did it again vs Hatton. It's like he takes 2 or 3 rounds to adjust to the guy's speed/pace and fight style. I first noticed this against Manfredy. Angel was able to do some good work. But then Floyd adjusted. Floyd would be an amazing fighter if he dedicated himself to breaking down film and became a student of the modern fighters.

5) Hatton is a very inaccurate puncher. He has gotten by this far on a high activity rate. I think that training on that hugely wide bag has eroded his skills.

6) Graham gave no useful tactical advice and was badly outcoached. The fight REALLY swung when Roger told Floyd to stop moving away from RH ("You ain't got to move away from him... you hurtin' him inside"). There was no similar analog from Graham. I watched the fight several times, and I can't remember any useful guidance. Graham just offered encouragement.

7) I knew and predicted that Hatton would tire. The people who think that Hatton is a tireless machine have not watched his fights. And in this fight, he didn't even throw that many punches.

8) There is a method to the madness of Floyd's irritating bragging and insults. These very mature and experienced fighters allow him to get into their heads. Oscar admitted that in the weeks before (and after) the fight, he was very angry. And hatton was VERY uncharacteristic with his words and actions. A throat-slashing gesture from Ricky? Really?

Even the mature and experienced Judah is saying that if he fought Floyd again, he would do it on "skill and not emotion". There's an interview at Boxing t a l k.

[2501]

Let me first say this that I loved the way Mayweather fought this fight.
The inside skills he showed and the slickness of his action even while roughousing or wrestling elevate him to a different level than he was before in my eyes.

1) Joe Cortez actually did a horrible job, I just rewatched the fight and I paid a lot of attention to the calls he made (because there was a debate wether it was horrible I wanted to double check). They were mostly horrible. If you think otherwise maybe you need to go watch figure-skating instead. All the times he let the action go the two fighters ended up fighting on the inside while blocking at most ONE arm and wrestling to get into the best position. As much as some might think that boxing is pot-shotting from the outside, it is not. Go watch old fights and you will see Sugar Ray Robinson doing it.
Actually, IMO the fact that Floyd could out-Hatton Hatton truly separates him from most of today's fighters who can do only one thing.

NOTE: I am not mentioning the fact that Floyd did not get points deduction or not, that is Floyd being smart, I assume that Cortez was not biased, just an unbiased idiot.

2) Ricky was faster than anyone Floyd had fought, bar Judah. His hands were fast, and his feet were fast. Never saw Floyd doing so much (foot)work. Another result of that speed is that we never saw the perfect timed mutiple right hands, which often mark the finishing moments of mayweather fights. Instead...

(This is the part where I am really interested in your comments, because I want to know if I am the only one seeing it.)

Starting from round 3 (I think) Mayweather's right hand, looked like a carbon copy of Hopkins' counter right hands. The way he timed it and stepped in it, the stance from which he throws it (and the angle)... I dont think he watched Hopkins and "copied" him, but I am amazed that he had that in his arsenal, too. Anyone else sees the similarity? I think he changed his right hand because Hatton was too fast to be hit with multiple rights.

Agreed. I do feel that Cortez broke them up to early. You just cant get in there as soon as they get into kissing distance. You need to let it go for a couple of seconds to see if any inside work will be happening. If not, then break em up. Also, I find it hard to believe that Cortez didn't see Floyd's elbows at all. That was some bull****. Other than that though, Hatton was born to lose to Floyd. It was written.

[TyrantT316]

I agree with most of your observations. Additionally, I have some of my own

1) To beat Floyd, you need to do it in the gym by developing a totally unexpected gameplan or by bringing in a different weapon that will allow you to steal a few rounds. In the 22 rounds with two of the game's best left hookers, Floyd ate a total of zero significant left hooks.

You won't beat Floyd with your primary weapon. He will take that away from you.

2) Hatton doesn't like it to the body. I know, "nobody does". But he started to noticeably guard against the body shots, and that opened up his face.

3) Hatton has a bad guard, and needs to seriously work on his defense. If you notice, he holds the gloves near his chin (Tyson-style) and the punches Floyd was landing were bouncing off Hatton's forehead and snapping his head back.

4) Floyd is vulnerable early in fights. I remember him tripping early in the Judah fight and nearly falling, and he did it again vs Hatton. It's like he takes 2 or 3 rounds to adjust to the guy's speed/pace and fight style. I first noticed this against Manfredy. Angel was able to do some good work. But then Floyd adjusted. Floyd would be an amazing fighter if he dedicated himself to breaking down film and became a student of the modern fighters.

5) Hatton is a very inaccurate puncher. He has gotten by this far on a high activity rate. I think that training on that hugely wide bag has eroded his skills.

6) Graham gave no useful tactical advice and was badly outcoached. The fight REALLY swung when Roger told Floyd to stop moving away from RH ("You ain't got to move away from him... you hurtin' him inside"). There was no similar analog from Graham. I watched the fight several times, and I can't remember any useful guidance. Graham just offered encouragement.

7) I knew and predicted that Hatton would tire. The people who think that Hatton is a tireless machine have not watched his fights. And in this fight, he didn't even throw that many punches.

8) There is a method to the madness of Floyd's irritating bragging and insults. These very mature and experienced fighters allow him to get into their heads. Oscar admitted that in the weeks before (and after) the fight, he was very angry. And hatton was VERY uncharacteristic with his words and actions. A throat-slashing gesture from Ricky? Really?

Even the mature and experienced Judah is saying that if he fought Floyd again, he would do it on "skill and not emotion". There's an interview at Boxing t a l k.

Kind of funny you mention Floyd's method to getting in their heads. People think it's about "making him scared or intimidated". Floyd doesn't seem to try to intimidate his opponent. That's why Hatton throughout the build up was like "he's not getting to me". What Floyd seems to do is make you want to knock his block off more and more and more. He makes you so annoyed with him that eventually you tried TOO hard early and completely lose focus on what it actually takes to "WIN" the fight. Instead of fighting to win rounds and be effective, they end up doing opposite what makes them great.

Gatti - all he heard was that he had no skill...what did he do? He tried to Box.

DLH - all he heard were insults and bragging. He fought well, but blew himself out early and dispensed with his jab when he's been known to have an effective left.

Hatton - all he heard was that he was not good enough and insults. What did he do? Got too reckless trying to "teach Floyd a lesson" rather than fighting smart to win.

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Judah wanted to prove he's faster? Floyd walked him down with accuracy, showing he is more than a speed advantage over his opponents.

Gatti wanted to box? Floyd went offensive.

DLH wanted to steal rounds with flurries? Floyd made sure he did just enough pot shotting to win.

Hatton wanted to fight inside with hard shots? Floyd fought him inside with hard shots.

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Floyd allows himself the first round or three to study his opponents on that night. Tapes can help, but at the end of the day it is about your opponent on THAT night. He gets his opponent into a false sense of security and confidence, then adjusts.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Agreed. I do feel that Cortez broke them up to early. You just cant get in there as soon as they get into kissing distance. You need to let it go for a couple of seconds to see if any inside work will be happening. If not, then break em up. Also, I find it hard to believe that Cortez didn't see Floyd's elbows at all. That was some bull****. Other than that though, Hatton was born to lose to Floyd. It was written.

How did Graham/Hatton not anticipate that? They claimed that they watched FMJ's fights "for years". After the fight, Ricky said that he was surprised by Floyd's foremarm and elbow and shoulder work. HUH??

We put it into the "no excuses thread", meaning that we as posters expected a heavy dose of forearms/elbows. Hatton was talking about Floyd as if he was some ***** fighter, and I have seen a rough/dirty inside fighter his whole career.

I have seen Floyd push off with his elbow his whole career. He has been warned for it. He uses it to create space for the right hand, and to control the opponents body.

Hatton was sitting ringside when Floyd pushed Gatti down with the forearm and hit him.

Check out this highlight reel. HE ACTUALLY PUSHES CHOP DOWN WITH THE FOREARM.