How to deal with a Mayweather defensive styled boxer?

[ChrisPontius]

By Mayweather-defense i mean bending the waist, keeping the right glove at the side of the head and tucking the head in while using the left shoulder well. And keeping the left hand sort of in front of the body so it can quickly counter.

What is the best approach to dissect that type of defense? Not throwing single shots but double jabs and combinations to offset their body movement? Hooks seem to be easily blocked by this guard whereas straight punches have a bit more succes.

[Spartan_Boxer]

It seems Mayweather would be open to a left head rip (cross beween hook & uppercut) after a right cross. Cause he likes to dip down to his right side. In saying that a lot of great fighters he's fought would have spent hours trying to dissect his weakness and have still come up short so I can't really speak.(just my opinion)

[Relentless]

i noticed the guys in my gym that do it start losing their cool when they are pressured and smothered.

[radianttwilight]

Honestly? The best solution is probably just to pummel him repeatedly, with as many hard shots as you can.

If you hit that left shoulder enough it'll start hurting a bitch and he will probably start getting sloppy :yep

Defensive boxers like that count on you throwing single shots, which makes it easier for them to counter safely...if you keep pounding them it gets harder for them to get their shots off in return, and when you're in a philly shell-esque defence like that, once your defence breaks down you are FUCKED and easy to pounce on. The key is to keep them from controlling the rhythm of the exchanges, if you keep up the pressure they will feel obligated to start firing back and that is when you have them.

The problem is when they have excellent footwork, like Floyd, which means they can stay away from you when you try that.

[g0tpHo]

Honestly? The best solution is probably just to pummel him repeatedly, with as many hard shots as you can.

If you hit that left shoulder enough it'll start hurting a bitch and he will probably start getting sloppy :yep

Defensive boxers like that count on you throwing single shots, which makes it easier for them to counter safely...if you keep pounding them it gets harder for them to get their shots off in return, and when you're in a philly shell-esque defence like that, once your defence breaks down you are FUCKED and easy to pounce on. The key is to keep them from controlling the rhythm of the exchanges, if you keep up the pressure they will feel obligated to start firing back and that is when you have them.

The problem is when they have excellent footwork, like Floyd, which means they can stay away from you when you try that.


If I remember correctly, that was Arturo Gatti's gameplan as well :rofl.


Perhaps it would work better with a a stronger, faster fighter lke Hatton. I think Cotto has the best chance though.

[radianttwilight]

If I remember correctly, that was Arturo Gatti's gameplan as well :rofl.


Perhaps it would work better with a a stronger, faster fighter lke Hatton. I think Cotto has the best chance though.

Quite the contary, Gatti tried to box Mayweather :D

I never said it would beat Mayweather, either...I stated at the end of my post that the defensive boxer having excellent footwork+stamina really compounds the problems he can pose to you. Mayweather is the best in the world at what he does, so it will take someone who is the best in the world at what THEY do to dethrone him :good Your average Joe, hell even your average/above-average champion, isn't gonna have what it takes to be able to pull off the pressure angle, Mayweather is too slick.

The other way I can see someone beating a Mayweather-style boxer is ala Hearns, having a dynamite straight right/left (southpaw) that can laser in through the defence. This requires REAL accuracy though...so it would take no less than the second coming of the Hitman himself to pull this off against a defensive mastermind like Mayweather.

PS - Look at the Toney/Peter fights to see what I'm talking about :good Toney is slick as hell defensively, but a crude banger in Peter was able to get through his defence through sheer relentlessness, and he got the decision. Imagine what someone with a real impressive workrate + accuracy and a little more refined attack could do?

[Brighton bomber]

I think taking control of the centre of the ring is important. As allowing a superior boxer to box in the middle where he has room to move is a mistake. Hold the centre ground and force him to the ropes when you can but don't simply plod after him.

Fighters who use the shoulder roll are open to the right to the body. Throw a jab then right downstairs when they roll to their right, exposing the left side of their body. Danger here is getting penalised of kindey punches but it worked for Rahman against Toney.

Mayweather likes to keep his left by his waist to protect his mid section even when in close. Use that against him by using a forearm or actually leaning your body weight to pin that arm down in close to land a short right hand. I'd also be throwing punches at his left shoulder to keep the left hand down and over the course of a long fight that could effect his left jabs and hooks.

Many people talk about using the left hook against fighters like Mayweather and Toney but I have yet to see anyone land it effectively with any regularity. When Mayweather dips to his right he has his right hand in place to block any left hook and because he is leaning to the right his body is tucked up nicely to block any left to the body.

[Pugsley]

Brighton bomber makes a good point especially in the case of a Mayweather defense (left arm held close to the body). Opponents who maintain a static defense are good for having their limbs abused. Keep hitting the side of the bicep and you'll soon notice that arm getting looser.

[RDJ]

If you hit that left shoulder enough it'll start hurting a bitch and he will probably start getting sloppy :yep

I've heard that bullshit many times and never seen it work against anyone. You can hit my shoulder for hours without any result. Especially in sparring with 14 ounce gloves like we're talking about now.

It seems Mayweather would be open to a left head rip (cross beween hook & uppercut) after a right cross. Cause he likes to dip down to his right side. In saying that a lot of great fighters he's fought would have spent hours trying to dissect his weakness and have still come up short so I can't really speak.(just my opinion)

I thought about something similar. Make him slip to his right by feinting a jab, then hook off it. It sounds easy but you'll have to keep in mind he's a terrific counter puncher. Part of the reason is the stance allows you to stay close. Everyone wants to smother him with punches, just like they wanted to smother Jones Jr. A few counter punches take that desire away quickly.

[RDJ]

Fighters who use the shoulder roll are open to the right to the body. Throw a jab then right downstairs when they roll to their right, exposing the left side of their body. Danger here is getting penalised of kindey punches but it worked for Rahman against Toney.

Very true. The only risk is his left elbow. I sometimes fight from half guard, at first I was caught with the exact punch you're describing, which hurt my kidney like hell. It's not really the opponents fault since I turned into it myself, a referee will notice that as well. I learned to defend against it by sticking out my elbow a little. Hitting an elbow hurts like hell, it may even break or injure your hand.

[RDJ]

Brighton bomber makes a good point especially in the case of a Mayweather defense (left arm held close to the body). Opponents who maintain a static defense are good for having their limbs abused. Keep hitting the side of the bicep and you'll soon notice that arm getting looser.

While you're wearing down his bicep, he'll be wearing down your head. Let's see which one gives in first ;)

[Brighton bomber]

Very true. The only risk is his left elbow. I sometimes fight from half guard, at first I was caught with the exact punch you're describing, which hurt my kidney like hell. It's not really the opponents fault since I turned into it myself, a referee will notice that as well. I learned to defend against it by sticking out my elbow a little. Hitting an elbow hurts like hell, it may even break or injure your hand.

Very good point though I guess you're exposing the right side a little by moving the elbow a little.Though with that guard it would take a very, very accurate body puncher to land the left hook down stairs.

[Brighton bomber]

I've heard that bullshit many times and never seen it work against anyone. You can hit my shoulder for hours without any result. Especially in sparring with 14 ounce gloves like we're talking about now.


Roy Jones Jr used it against Eric Lucas very effectively. It's simply not a regularly used tactic as it isn't something you can use against many fighters and it takes a very smart persistant fighter to employ such a strategy.

[ChrisPontius]

Yeah but Roy Jones could beat Eric Lucas using only slaps or one hand. :D That doesn't mean it works well, especially in amature fights which don't go past 3 or 4 rounds, a wearing down tactic like that would not be advisable.


Thanks for all the advice though.

[achillesthegreat]

It doesn't matter who you fight the science stays the same. You need to continously be ad******g your range/distance while timing your opponents offence/defence.

With a Floyd Mayweather you just have to pick the punches that work in each given situation. Why? Because Floyd Mayweather can do more or less every defensive move known to boxing.

There is no cure for Floyd Mayweather. To beat him, you simply need to be a very good fighter. Talented with tools and intangiables. Otherwise you don't win, you get dominated, it really is that simple.

[Kolya]

I've heard that bullshit many times and never seen it work against anyone. You can hit my shoulder for hours without any result. Especially in sparring with 14 ounce gloves like we're talking about now.



I thought about something similar. Make him slip to his right by feinting a jab, then hook off it. It sounds easy but you'll have to keep in mind he's a terrific counter puncher. Part of the reason is the stance allows you to stay close. Everyone wants to smother him with punches, just like they wanted to smother Jones Jr. A few counter punches take that desire away quickly.

I spar in 18 oz gloves and I'm not sure what caused it; but when I was sparring our Super Heavy he was pounding my left shoulder and it made it very hard for me to jab.

[RDJ]

I spar in 18 oz gloves and I'm not sure what caused it; but when I was sparring our Super Heavy he was pounding my left shoulder and it made it very hard for me to jab.
Perhaps him being a super heavy had something to do with it. Seriously I block punches with my shoulder on purpose. If my opponent decides to "wear me down" by hitting my shoulder, he's doing exactly what I want. That's the reason my face is behind that shoulder in the first place. I never noticed any wear down at all from being hit on the shoulder.

[RDJ]

It's like doing a chin test between my shoulder and my opponents head. I'm taking my chances on that one.