Floyd Mayweather Jr. (43-0, 26 KOs) is an exceptional fighter and arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet. But not by coincidence.
Money has developed into a versatile fighting machine over the years and boasts a number of tremendous advantages inside the ring. From his superb boxing IQ to his unrivaled instincts, Mayweather is far from your average everyday boxing champion.
As Money approaches the twilight of his career and looks to finish off one of the greatest careers in the sport's history, let's take a closer look at the mighty advantages he still possesses in the ring.
Defense
Mayweather is an exceptional defensive boxer and therefore rarely gets caught with a damaging blow.
Money's strong defensive skills are the main reason many favor him in a potential megafight with Manny Pacquiao. Landing a significant shot on Mayweather is challenging enough, but causing severe damage or knocking him out is nearly impossible as his record shows.
Defense can often be overlooked in a sport like boxing where the goal is to wear down your opponent. However, Mayweather's proven over the years that a sound defensive game can take you further than a heavy hand.
Speed, Quickness
Although Mayweather has lost a bit of a step over the years, even nearing age 36 he can elude and pounce better than anyone.
At 5'8", Money's game is built around his speed and quickness. You can think of Mayweather's speed as his ability to fire off a quick combination and his quickness as his ability to make split-second decisions inside the ring.
When you combine Mayweather's abilities to make quick decisions and punch with speed and power, it's easy to understand how and why he's been so successful for so long.
Of his 43 career wins, 26 have come via knockout, which speaks to his speedy striking prowess.
Experience
No matter the sport, the value of experience can never be overlooked. In Mayweather's case, he has more than 16 years of professional boxing experience and 43 career victories to fuel his confidence.
There's seemingly no situation or moment too big for Money. He's experienced it all dating to 1996. At this point in his career, has a solution for nearly every problem he's presented with between the ropes.
Few fighters throughout history can boast a resume as impressive as Mayweather's. He's been in bad situations at times, and he's faced fearsome opponents in others, but through it all he has remained unblemished and that experience makes him a lethal boxer.
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