Floyd's ring tendencies

No question, newly crowned WBA superwelterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. deserved the decision over slow-moving Miguel Cotto in their blow-hot, blow-cold fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Saturday.

But how the three judges scored it wasn’t indicative of how Cotto took the fight to Mayweather. Robert Hoyle had it 118-110, Patricia Jarman 117-111 and Dave Moretti 117-111, all for Mayweather. They should’ve just handed the victory on a silver platter because from the way the scorecards trended, there was no way the judges would’ve allowed Cotto to tag Mayweather with his first loss. There’s just too much riding on a Mayweather win for Cotto to sneak in an upset. A dream showdown with Manny Pacquiao wouldn’t be as enticing if Mayweather came in not undefeated.

Personally, I thought the fight was closer than how the judges saw it. Sure, Mayweather won but I had it 115-113, giving rounds to Cotto where “Money” coasted and wasn’t as aggressive as the Puerto Rican who for the most part, dictated the pace by continuously pressing forward. The difference was Mayweather was just so technically superior than Cotto who was schooled and taught a boxing lesson. Mayweather isn’t a hard hitter but he’s hard to hit.

There were 10 noticeable tendencies in the style that Mayweather showed against Cotto:

• Tendency to coast. Maybe because he’s 35 and ring-rusty, Mayweather paced himself in the 12-round tussle. In the eighth round, he fought defensively and Cotto strafed him. Mayweather was left shaking his head as if to say he wasn’t perturbed – but you and I know he was. Coasting would be suicidal if Mayweather faced Pacquiao who’ll take advantage of every lapse to pounce on his opponent.

• Tendency to drop his left hand. Mayweather likes to lash out with his left jab like a cobra uncoiling to strike. But he drops his left after a jab, opening himself up to a counter right from a southpaw. Cotto isn’t left-handed like Pacquiao and besides, he isn’t as quick. Pacquiao will make Mayweather pay for dropping his left hand.

• Tendency to showboat. Mayweather insists he fights to entertain but his style is boring if he battles a counterpuncher like him. Against Cotto, he displayed flashes of showboating, bringing down both arms, mocking the Puerto Rican and making like a dancing instructor. Pacquiao won’t be distracted by Mayweather’s showboating antics. He’ll move in like a panther on the prowl whenever there’s an opening to strike.

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• Tendency to lay on the ropes. Mayweather did to Cotto what Pacquiao masterfully executed in his own fight against the Puerto Rican. To take away Cotto’s power left jab and invite him to engage, Pacquiao did his version of a rope-a-dope. Mayweather mimicked Pacquiao and did the same. Cotto took the bait and entered the counterpuncher’s lair recklessly. Pacquiao won’t be caught in Mayweather’s trap. He’s too smart for that.

• Tendency to slide side-to-side, shooting on the backfoot. Pacquiao must anticipate where Mayweather will sway and cut the ring off to force an engagement. Mayweather’s a slick boxer and Pacquiao should be ready to move in with counters even as “Money” is on the retreat.

• Tendency to fight defensively. As a counterpuncher, Mayweather won’t often initiate. He prefers to retaliate and catch opponents on the rebound. That means as a matter of comfort, Mayweather fights defensively. Pacquiao’s volume punching will force Mayweather to cover up more than he’d like to. Mayweather looked good defensively against Cotto who isn’t fast with his hands. Against Pacquiao, Mayweather can’t afford to fight too defensively because he’ll lose rounds that way.

• Tendency to use shoulders, arms, elbows and head. In close quarters, Mayweather used his forearm to fend off Cotto. He’s been known to use his shoulders, elbows and head, too, in trying to outmaneuver his opponents from close range. Mayweather doesn’t like fighting from up close. He’ll resort to tricks to keep an opponent away from forcing his way inside his defense.

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• Tendency to throw combinations that impress but don’t sting. Mayweather looked sharp in unleashing flurries but the punches lacked impact. He fired four or five-punch combinations, mixing jabs, uppercuts and straights. Cotto shrugged them off. Against Pacquiao who isn’t a standing a target like Cotto, Mayweather won’t be able to dish out as impressively. Pacquiao will walk through the combinations or slip away to make Mayweather miss. Mayweather’s lack of a killer blow will be a big disadvantage.

• Tendency to grab, hold and lock. When Mayweather found no leverage for his punches with Cotto’s head on his chest, he locked arms, grabbed and held tight. Pacquiao won’t allow Mayweather to get away with holding. Before Mayweather tries to tie him up, Pacquiao will be landing shots.

• Tendency to avoid engaging. When he’s not laying on the ropes, Mayweather will box from a distance and refuse to engage particularly if he’s up against a brawler. He won’t go toe-to-toe unless he thinks his opponent is ready to go. Mayweather doesn’t like taking chances – which is why he’s been setting unrealistic conditions to deliberately delay a Pacquiao fight because at this point in time, he thinks there’s still too much gas left in Pacquiao’s tank to make him vulnerable.

If Mayweather fought Pacquiao instead of Cotto last Saturday, he would’ve lost. Pacquiao wouldn’t have been able to knock him out because Mayweather’s just too slippery but he would’ve walked away with a close decision.