Floyd Meayweather will continue to endure scorn for his style of boxing the rest of his career and long after he retires.<\/p>\n
But it is time he got the respect he deserves. He is the smartest, craftiest and most accomplished boxer of his generation.<\/p>\n
He may not give the slugfests that have earned Manny Pacquiao the deserving title of fighter of the last decade. But one thing is an absolute certainty: the dude can box.<\/p>\n
For many, the only thing worse than Floyd\u2019s perceived negativity in the ring is perhaps his reputation as a woman beater and a braggadocio. Yet that should not define his boxing credentials or deny him his place in history as one of the smartest boxers ever.<\/p>\n
Mayweather\u2019s greatness does not lie in his perfect 48-0 record, but rather how he managed to stay unbeaten for 17 years and how he made even the most talented fighters look ordinary. He has fought smart all his career, adapted to opponents when it mattered and on Saturday weathered the expected onslaught from Pacquiao and gave the great Philipino a boxing masterclass. The Pretty boy looked a decade younger in the ring as he brought his full boxing armoury to bear. But then he got booed after the fight and many still maintain he run from Pacquiao all night long. B-O-R-I-N-G!<\/p>\n
At the heart of the raging debate over the legacy of Floyd Mayweather or his style of winning lies \u201cthe classic struggle between beauty and the beast\u2026 considered the philosophical heart and soul of the sport. It’s a battle as old as boxing, one that’s in play whenever a boxer meets a slugger in a big fight<\/em><\/strong> (Nigel Collins, ESPN)<\/p>\n The past weeks have seen another sporting great come under severe criticism for his style of wining- described with derision as boring and anti-his sport. As it turns out that sporting great is on his way to winning another title to add gloss to his already legendary status.<\/p>\n Mourinho\u2019s successes <\/strong><\/p>\n I am talking about Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea team. Mourinho\u2019s successes have been built on winning. Like Mayweather he just knows how to win and does not care much how he gets it done.<\/p>\n These two have a lot in common and Mayweather is undoubtedly the Mourinho of the boxing ring. You can say of \u2018Mou\u2019 and \u2018Money\u2019: \u201cThey are technically accomplished and almost impossible to beat\u201d<\/em><\/strong> (Dan Jones, Evening Standard).\u00a0 They get the results when it matters much to the chagrin of the purists who would like to beautiful spectacles.<\/p>\n History in many ways vindicates Floyd Mayweather\u2019s approach to boxing. Different generations have shown us that the best pugilists have earned their greatness by adapting to circumstances not necessarily entertaining specators. I will name a few.<\/p>\n ‘Floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee’<\/strong><\/p>\n When Mohammed Ali said he \u201cfloats like a butterfly and stings like a bee\u201d he was aptly describing the smartest form of boxing- evasion and landing. For a man who was slighter in build than most of his opponents, there was never going to be any sense in making himself a stationery punching bag for murderous heavyweight punchers of his generation.<\/p>\n When he faced Sonny Liston in 1964 Ali (then Cassius Clay) used his feet, was evasive \u00a0and used the ring making it hard for Liston to touch him while at the same time connecting his gloves relentlessly with the stationery target\u00a0 that was Sonny Liston. Ali\u2019s smart boxing skill was cemented in legend when he beat George Foreman in the famous Ramble in the Jungle in 1974. This time Ali did get hit, several times, but his excellent and impenetrable defences ensured it was just an exercise to wear down George Foreman. The rest as they say is history. The Ramble in the Jungle is not remembered as a beautiful boxing match of two fighters standing toe to toe. It is remembered as perhaps the most iconic fight ever because of Ali\u2019s smart boxing- The \u201cRope-a-dope\u201d <\/em><\/strong>was born. Indeed the fight was all Foremen until the 8th<\/sup> round when Ali turned it around with his famous combination to flow the exhausted Foreman.<\/p>\n Sugar Ray Leonard is not remembered for his power or slugfests. But among a generation that included Marvin Haggler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns he stands tall.<\/p>\n He was one of the smartest boxers ever- evasive, quick and a terrific counter puncher. Sounds familiar? Nowhere was Leonard\u2019s ringcraft more evident than when he came out of retirement to beat \u2018Marvelous\u2019 Marvin Haggler in that controversial fight of 1987. It was classic power versus guile and again smart boxing won.<\/p>\n Bernard Hopkins is a future hall of famer. Anyone watching the him at his prime for the first time might have been tempted to scoff at his negative, unattractive and sometimes frustrating style of boxing.<\/p>\n His is smart boxing at its best with evasive tactics, excellent counter punching and well timed clinches dotted with cheapshots. I was never a Hopkins fan, but in 2001 all that changed as I watched him dismantle Felix Trinidad in a boxing masterclass.<\/p>\n He taught the Puerto Rican a lesson in smart boxing. I still think Ghana\u2019s Ike Quartey would have won Oscar De La Hoya in their 1999 Welterweight classic \u00a0if he had fought smartly, especially in the 12th<\/sup> round.<\/p>\n The fighters mentioned share on trait: they were great champions who are either Hall of famers or destined for the Hall of fame. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior are both destined for the hall of fame and one day young boxers will watch their videos and learn their skills. Manny Pacquiao will go down in history for his sheer intensity, guts, ability to throw punches from all angles and offensive fighting style (At training before the Mayweather fight he was timed at four punches thrown \u00a0per second!). Floyd will be remembered as an artist. The man who sees the punch even before the opponent throws it.<\/p>\n #Stillundefeated<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot not to like about Floyd Mayweather Junior.\u00a0 \u00a0But then you don\u2019t have to like the guy. Just acknowledge that he is the best at what he does- winning. That\u2019s why he is #stillundefeated.<\/p>\n Of course Mayweather is no Ali, Leonard or Hopkins. But his smart defensive boxing skills are reminiscent of these legends. Floyd in his time has mastered his art and adapted it to every one of the 48 he has vanquished.\u00a0 Simply brilliant.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Samuel Bartels<\/p>\n Writer’s email: fifibartelsbartels@yahoo.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Floyd Meayweather will continue to endure scorn for his style of boxing the rest of his career and long after he retires. But it is time he got the respect he deserves. He is the smartest, craftiest and most accomplished boxer of his generation. He may not give the slugfests that have earned Manny Pacquiao […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":113368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[8,3],"yoast_head":"\n