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StumbleFloyd Mayweather Jr.: The perfect fighter?
In win over Shane Mosley, Mayweather shows he understands all aspects of boxing better than most
Floyd Mayweather Jr. stands in the ring between rounds during a welterweight fight against Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 2:27 a.m.
Mayweather Remains Undefeated
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del.icio.usFloyd Mayweather improves to 41-0 after securing a unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley, Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
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Regardless of what anyone’s personal feelings are about Floyd Mayweather Jr., there is an undeniable fact the fighter has proven beyond any doubt — he has figured out the sport of boxing.
Every nook, every cranny where a potential advantage in boxing might lay hidden, Mayweather finds it and exploits it.
That much was clear again Saturday night, when he defeated Shane Mosley by unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mayweather’s professional record now consists of 41 wins and zero losses over the course of more than 13 years.
Following the dominant performance, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya said there is no longer any doubt in his mind who the best fighter in the world is.
“Tonight, we just witnessed the best fighter on the planet,” De La Hoya said. “I have to say the truth. He convinced me tonight that he is the best — possibly of all time.
“He has the skills to beat anybody. He has the talent. He has the work ethic. There’s no doubt about it. Mayweather, in my mind, is the best.”
Sometimes it’s easy to attribute Mayweather’s greatness to a few simple factors and be done with it. His natural athletic ability. His family’s background in boxing. Luck.
But the truth is, all of Mayweather’s success can be traced back to the little things he does so much better than any other fighter in the world today.
Much of Mayweather’s pre-fight "trash-talk" is written off as commercial appeal — hype to drive ticket sales.
As De La Hoya mentioned this weekend, however, Mayweather is a genius at defeating his opponents mentally before defeating them physically.
After Mosley had made his entrance to the ring Saturday, Mayweather remained in his locker room longer than anyone expected just to force his opponent to stand and wait as long as possible.
“I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve always got a trick up my sleeve. I’ve always got a game plan,” Mayweather said. “Truth is, I think Shane is a little older. He’s 38. I figured, ‘I’ll make him wait out there for me.’ Show my video. I’ll just hang out in the locker room and relax. Let him get cold.”
There were hints of Mosley being mentally beaten in the eighth round, when he dropped his hands while verbally bickering with Mayweather after the two had been holding onto one another.
Mayweather suddenly stopped and landed a quick right hook under Mosley’s unsuspecting chin.
In the moment, it may have looked like a random mistake by Mosley. However, for a veteran fighter to drop his hands like that, it shows how frustrated Mayweather had made him.
“I had told him throughout the fight, ‘Your jab ain’t faster than mine. If it is, let me see it,’” Mayweather said.
Of course, a fighter could have never made it as far as Mayweather has without natural boxing skill, and he certainly has plenty of that.
But Mayweather has never sat back and relied on his natural abilities alone. He’s dedicated the time it takes to become the best and his camp comes into every fight with an intelligent game plan.
Using a game plan developed by his uncle and trainer, Roger, Mayweather slipped punches and countered effectively all night long. He ended up winning every round of the fight except one, against one of the top welterweights in the world.
“I told Floyd to keep it simple,” Roger said. “Keep him in the middle of the ring and you’re going to box his ears off. And what you seen tonight is just what I said. He boxed his ears off and the fight wasn’t even close. That’s it.”
The only moment of the fight in which Mayweather faced any type of adversity came in the second round, when Mosley caught him with a straight right and then a hook that buckled his knees and brought the crowd to its feet.
Mayweather’s response to the danger couldn’t have been better. He remained calm, covered up and went on to dominate every remaining minute of the fight.
“I think he tried,” said Mayweather, when asked why Mosley didn’t look to finish him when he was in trouble. “But it’s just me being able to show my versatility and adapt. I was able to adjust my game plan and work to break him down.”
Despite the enormity of his competitive success, Mayweather’s accomplishments financially in the sport of boxing might be even more impressive.
His 2007 fight against Oscar De La Hoya already holds the record for pay-per-view buys at 2.4 million, and according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schafer, Saturday’s fight could prove to be second on the all-time list.
The fight also drew a live crowd of 15,170 and a gate of more than $11 million.
“The early indication could be very well that Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather is going to hold not only the record for biggest pay-per-view event ever, but the record for the second biggest pay-per-view as well,” Schafer said.
“I think today was an extremely important day for Floyd Mayweather. Look at how he overcame the second round. That is what a great champion is all about.”
After submitting his urine test to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and changing into a vest and tie, Mayweather spent more than 30 minutes on the microphone at the post-fight press conference.
He answered all the questions directed to him, referring to many of the reporters in the room by their first name.
It was just the final example of Mayweather knowing what to do and how to act to maximize the levels of his success.
In one of his final statements of the night, he referenced to something he had said before the Mosley fight — that he believed he had reached a point where he could call himself the best boxer of all time.
There were many who disagreed with Mayweather when they read that statement before Saturday. But if the fighter continues his perfect navigation through the sport, it would be a hard one to argue with.
“When you say you’re the best, you have to perform,” Mayweather said. “You have to keep striving and that’s what I did.”
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
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If Mayweather wants to be considered perfect, first he must fight Pacquiao using standard NEVADA drug-testing requirements instead of all that prima dona Olympic style testing crap unless he wants to box with Pacquiao in the 2012 Olympics.
Floyd must fight DANNY GREEN after Pacman. Why are Floyd, Manny and Shane so scared of Danny? Danny annihilated Roy Jones Jr only a few months ago with a TKO just 122 seconds into the fight. Bring the others on!!!
Comment removed by moderator. Post in all caps.
Yup Mike_Hawk is right, in order to be Mr.Perfect, Floyd must also defeat the big guys-- the likes of Danny Green and Paul Williams.
If and when mayweather beats manny pacquiao, that will be the time i will consider him the best. But if he keeps insisting on the usada type of drug testing and not abide by what nsac drug testing does, then i will say he is AFRAID of the pacman.
Fight fans, come on now defeat Danny Green. Mr. Green is a good fighter, however, he is a light HEAVY WEIGHT. Mayweather is a Welterweight (147-154 lbs). Last night Mayweather proved that he has evolved into a GREAT BOXER. Facts Paul Williams would not be a good fight, because he just lost to Martinez. Now Martinez and Mayweather would be a good fight.
Question if Pacquiao is not on any muscle enhancing drugs then take the test.
Also, how is Pacquiao considered one of the greatest fighters when no one is asking him to fight Danny Green or Paul Williams. Fight Fans there should not be any double standards Mayweather has defeated every boxer put infront of him.
Fight fans, you might not like his trash talking, but he is a GREAT BOXER, ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL TIMES
I see your not a true fight fan Mr. Mamba. Mayweather started his career down in the Lightweight division, and he moved up to 147-157 do your research before you speak on untruths. Again, Mr. Mamba Paul Williams will not be a good fight because he just got the brakes beat off of him by Martinez, again do your research.
It is clear that you have much to learn about the fight game. Every Champion that the Media or other enitities have put in front of Mayweather he has beaten. Give the fighter some credit. It just sounds like you are a heater
I'm just stirring the pot. Danny Green is IBO Cruiserweight champion and weighed in at 179lbs against Roy JJ. However he fought Kessler as a super middleweight 3 yrs ago. Mayweather just weighed in at 147 lbs, so Green would have to drop quite a few lbs to at least 168 lbs even if Mayweather beefed up 10 lbs and fought up a division. Mayweather has had trouble making weight in the past so maybe he's a natural 155 lbs or so. Roy was just trying to poach another title in a different weight class against a perceived "mark"...
@"I'm going to be honest with you, I've always got a trick up my sleeve. I've always got a game plan," Mayweather said. "Truth is, I think Shane is a little older. He's 38. I figured, 'I'll make him wait out there for me.' Show my video. I'll just hang out in the locker room and relax. Let him get cold."@
Now its clear that every fight of Mayweather, he always have a trick to his advantage. Demands on Pacquiao for USADA drug testing is just clearly a trick up his sleave. Stop talking too much... Its getting you exposed!!! Fomfadafom!!!
Did you notice in the second round that the greatest Mayweather(Whatever)clung so hard to Mosley so he would not fall? That was very smart! Until now he is still insisting about random test because that's his scape not to fight Pacquiao!
he really think manny is in PED because if its only an opinion as what he always says, he'll fight him without any demands.
He demands for a the blood testing to even the playing fields that means to say he really think manny is taking PED. It is clear a accusation. If manny will undergo blood testing if the ever fight, then mayweather already won the fight before it begun in the ring. .
c mon guys, any other sport and every one of you would be saying "test all you want" and now because its pac-man all of a sudden its a problem?
plain and simple truth is mayweather would be putting himself through the same testing so there is no advantage.. i think the one afraid is pac-man, not so much of floyd but more so of being, as you said... EXPOSED!
take a look at him 6 years ago and now.... there is nothing you could tell me that would make me think he is not on some sort of suplement. and my guess is that it is HGH because of the "random" in the olympic he does not want to take it.... smells like a user to me.
GREAT WORK FLOYD.
Floyd's a great fighter, a great father to his kids, and supports the local community. Can't ask for any more.
Congrats!
It's not the ring that scares Mayweather; it's the pee cup!
So, amigo, follow the trail! Maybe Clyde Clod would be 'almost Perfect' if he got those Mayweather shots.
Level the ring. Fight fair. We'll see.
Shane Mosley is obviously too Old and too Drained, he's not the same fighter as he used to be 5 years ago. after the third round until up to the last he was never the same, Exhaustion have overtook him. Mosley was just like dancing around not connecting any good combination, Well actually he does a couple of times or mores but it's no way hard enough to hurt Money Mayweather.
I think everybody is very eager to see and I do hope it will happen a PACMAN-Mayweather
bout before the end of this year, Well hopefully folks let's see and wait for that Mega fight!!!!!
Paul WIlliams is not a welterweight. he is a middleweight. He entered the ring vs Margarito in their welterweight fight weighing 162lbs - Hagler never fought that high. They need to have same day weigh ins. Ask Joey Camache about his feelings about that. Mayweather will destroy PacMan. while I do not think PacMan is on any Steroids, he should take the test. Mayweather has a good beard. He has fought bigger men (do not believe the hype from Merchant and others, Corrales, Castillo, De La Hoya) and took their shots. PacMan will have trouble with Mayweather's speed. PacMan got a wuppin vs Morales in their first fight. Morales gave him a boxing lesson. Mayweather should be considered top 3 fighters of all time. regardless if he fights PacMan. By the way, ODLH made a career fighting smaller guys - only when he starting fighting men his size the controversial decisions and losses started adding up.
Mayweather is the best defensive fighter of all time and one of the best all round of all time. He's smarter than any opponent he fights. He frustrates his opponents and makes them get away from their game plan. He's completely dominated most of the fights he's been in.
If Pacquiao has nothing to hide, then he will take the blood test. No clean fighter will pass up the opportunity to make tens of millions of dollars just because he is superstitious. Mosley did it and Pacquiao has to as well.
Although Mosley had a big chance in the 2nd round but was unable to finish the job, Mayweather gets all the credit this time, just too good for Mosley, he was smarter,faster and slicker in the ring and outside the ring, made him wait a long time before arriving and talked a lot of trash about Mosley being a PED and steroid user in the prefight stages. Mosley is past his prime and it shows when you are fighting at the top levels...I don't see anyone beating Floyd ("Money") Mayweather anytime soon.....
Letsgorebs, it's not like Pacquiao refused to take the blood test. He actually agreed to take the blood test. He agreed to take the blood test at to a week before the fight and also right after the fight, but Mayweather wants to take a blood test prior the fight. Now, who in the right mind would agree to give blood prior the fight knowing that it would drain a person's energy. If Mayweather would ask to take blood on someone, then he should do it also prior the fight. Again, in my opinion, this is another mindgame on Mayweather's side and another trick under his sleeves.
In my opinion, should there be testing required, then both parties should do it. It can't be a one sided deal. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao are great fighters, including physically and mentally. That being said, Mayweather will not win in a mental game againts Pacquaio like he did with Mosley.
If Mayweather understands boxing and is supposedly some great fighter,, why would he not take the first chance at Pacman... Is it because he only wants to fight the has beens in boxing.....He can show me he is the best by doing what he should have done in the first place,,, stay retired....
De La Hoya's hype ain't gonna do it to make Mayweather the best fighter of all times, nowhere near it. What will make him the best fighter of today is if he gets some guts and fights Manny.
There are many fighters of years ago that would have made quick work of Mayweather if both of them were in their prime.
All De La Hoya's trying to do is sell more tickets for Mayweather's next fight by building up his supposed invincibility.
Mosely is old and basically on his way to be over the hill and that's why Mayweather chose to fight him instead of Pacquiao and until he fights Pacquaiao he's just blowing in the wind with his smoke and hype.
Mayweather is a stud but he dances to much and doesn't knock out enough guys to be considered that great
Most of you people are floyd haters you hate him because deep down inside you probley wish you was him.I had mosley picked to win but mosley is my favorite boxer I tilt my hat to floyd he really showed how great he his however imo he is not the best ever to lase up a pair of gloves but he is consder among the greats.
Floyd proves himself yet again..... and all the haters that said he would never fight Shane (including Freddie Roach) will now say Shane is too old. All of them will now tell you that he is afraid of Manny. When he destroys Manny it will be something else.
Just get on here and say you don't like Floyd for what he stands for. Don't out yourself as a passerby and not a boxing fan and say he is not a great boxer. That is ridiculous!
http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/p...
Floyd is a good fighter. But a lot of people don't like him because they consider him to be a loud mouth punk!
Devil Doggie Dog: Everybody knows even his haters that Floyd is a good fighter. Some people dont like his attitude & temperment. These people don't like Floyd because he is a loud mouth punk.
Just like the the Basket Stars didn't like Isiah Thomas because Isiah ran his mouth a lot. But all of them knew Isiah was a good basket player.
7Hills: Most people think Floyd is a good fighter but a miserable human being.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh floyd haters!lmao
I understand the "Haters" completely... I just don't understand the lack of fight knowledge throwing names around like Danny Green. I am a fight fan. I also like a guy that talks but can back it up. I am not a person that thinks Manny is a chump! He is a great fighter and to move thru the ranks as he has was very fun to watch... But to think he is going to punish Floyd? I think the hate has taken over in the place of knowledge and now everyone who hates Floyd for his mouth is letting themselves get caught up in exactly what the Mayweather camp wants... (Hate Floyd and love Manny and when the PPV comes out all of you will buy the fight to watch Manny) Floyd gets paid...AGAIN!!!!!
Green is a Cruiser-weight, you guys are stupid.