How will moving up to Jr. Middleweight effect Mayweather Jr.'s?

Question

fight strategy, if at all? In your opinion will the increase in weight effect Floyd's speed, defensive fighting style and punching power?
Does Floyd moving up in weight play into De La Hoya's hands? Does De La Hoya gain an advantage fighting at Jr. Middle? Do you believe Floyd will come in at 154 or will he come at a lighter weight ? Thanks in advance for answering all these questions.

Answer 1

Brent ~
In my opinion, every fighter that moves up in weight is slower regardless if it is something significant or something so minute that nobody even that fighter doesn't realize. Floyd has already proven that he has no punch the bigger he gets so this will not be a issue. The one thing that Floyd will have going against him is his physical size, usually the bigger man can push the smaller guy around once the smaller guy is caught.
One thing that will come into play will be what size ring this "fight" will take place in. The bigger the ring, the better off it will be for Floyd.
Look for Floyd to come in at 150 pounds no heavier, no lighter.

Answer 2

Floyd and his team are aware that you generally lose speed with an increase in weight, so I am sure that this is an issue that will be addressed in the gym in preparatation for the fight. I'm sure they'll have that variable worked out and it will not be a factor come fight night. His defensive fighting style has always been a staple and I think he would have a hard time deviating from that. I feel like it now just comes to him naturally. As for punching power, if he is a little heavier it may give him a little more power, but since his opponent is larger as well that's kind of a wash. I think that this fight will be at a very comfortable weight for oscar. I wouldn't go so far as to say that floyd is playing into oscar's hands, as floyed has shown versitility at several weight classes. I would bet that floyd came in at about 150lb. And finally, I hope oscar gives floyd what baldimer couldn't give him - a taste of canvas!!

Answer 3

Everybody's forgetting, both these guys started out at 130, so, though I believe that Oscar is naturally bigger and stronger, the size difference won't be that much of a factor, though I believe De La Hoya will come in the bigger man.
Oscar has much more big fight experience, but you have to factor that in against the fact that Floyd has been active, with De La Hoya's attention being split between his business ventures and singing career.
De La Hoya's foray at 160 was a mistake, but he's not washed up and will fight very comfortably at 154.
De La Hoya is the best fighter Floyd has ever faced and he's a terrific boxer, as well as a formidable banger, in his own right.

I can't pick this one.

Answer 4

Honestly I don't think it effects his strategy at all. He's going in fighting exactly how hes been fighting at welter, which is what works for him (I know a lot of people hate it, but there have been very few who have been able to fight like this) I don't think his speed will be noticeably affected, b/c I'm guessing he wont change his natural weight much for this fight. In regards to power, he didn't have any at welter so I don't see why he'll have any at Jr. middle. It definitely plays in to DLH's hands with him moving up. If Oscar can cut off the ring and go to the body there's a good chance he slow him down and do some damage. I don't have any idea what Floyd's chin will be like at 154 b/c its been so long since hes been hit but if the early rounds of the Judah fight say anything its that Oscar could potentially put him to sleep. Oscar's been in with legitimate hard punching Jr middles, and has legitimate power at Jr middle. Floyd hasn't and doesn't, but that being said hes proved to be extremely difficult to hit and has no problem hitting his opponents. It'll be interesting.

Answer 5

I don't think Floyd will come in at 154. I think he may come in at 50,51, or 52 tops. I think he wants to retain that speed and quickness that he is surely going to need for this fight. Floyd has never really been a devastating puncher even at the lighter weights so i can't see him having that much more power at Jr. middle. What he is is a quick, snappy puncher who hits you with a lot of shots that you don't see coming so you can't really brace for them and those are the ones that can stun you and wear you down. I think Oscar has a natural size advantage and by making Floyd move up he's making Floyd fight at a weight that he's not used to and Oscar is comfortable at. I think Oscar wasn't that comfortable at Middleweight that's why he looked terrible against Felix Sturm and even though he didn't look to bad against Hopkins (at least not until that body shot!), you could tell that he was a little out of his comfort zone at Middleweight. So i do think that the fight being fought at Jr. middle favors Oscar but these are two excellent fighters, both of whom are smart, quick, and very skillful so anything could happen in this fight.

Answer 6

This is a mistake by Floyd and his handlers. Oscar is going to come in at peak shape and strong. Oscar's body has matured with age and making 147 would have taken away some of his strength. Floyd on the other hand if he comes at 154 will be too heavy. Floyd has a small frame and 154 is too much for him. Floyd should come in at around 149.

Oscar may knock Floyd out. I know Floyd has superhuman speed but Oscar is gonna be tough to handle.

Answer 7

Anytime a fighter moves up in weight he can lose punching power effectiveness because the fighter is hitting a bigger fighter. His speed may or may not be affected. His strategy will not be affected.
I hope it is a good fight.

Answer 8

He has moved up at least 2 or 3 classes already, and those moves havent effected his speed. His was just as fast as judah at welter, and judah is really fast for a natural welter.

Answer 9

he will still have the speed but the power will decrease.