Floyd Mayweather Sr. seems to think his son will be aggressive against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, but the prize fighter should take the opposite strategy if he plans on winning.
The two undefeated fighters will battle on Sept. 14 in what should be one of Mayweather's toughest fights of his career. Alvarez enters the bout 42-0-1 and is coming off arguably his best victory against Austin Trout.
Additionally, the Mexican fighter has great strength and speed when throwing punches and has proven the ability to give even strong defenders trouble. At only 23 years old, he is also in great shape and has the durability to go the distance if needed.
However, Mayweather Sr. does not expect this to be a problem. The trainer told David Mayo of MLive.com:
I think you'll get a chance to see Floyd put on a scare tactic. Floyd's gonna get in his face and beat his ass and you're gonna see Canelo backing up. It's going to be fear, what makes him (Alvarez) run.
They've already said that Floyd's going to be running, I don't really think that's going to happen.
He also said in the interview that the boxer has "no fear" of his upcoming opponent. This could end up being a mistake for the 36-year-old champion.
The younger Mayweather is obviously one of the best fighters of his generation and has proven his ability time and time again. However, top competitors in all sports are upset when there is no respect for a challenger.
It is important to have at least a little fear in the weeks heading into a big fight to stay on top of your game.
Still, the biggest issue is the strategy that Mayweather will provide. The veteran's success throughout his career has been based on his defensive ability, as few people have been able to land many quality shots against him in 44 career fights.
In his last match against Robert Guerrero, Money danced around the ring and only went toe-to-toe with his opponent when he wanted to land a big punch. This is the strategy that has helped Mayweather in recent fights, and it is the one that will help him win his next one.
If he stays defensive, Alvarez will have little chance to land power punches and cause any real damage. This will help on the scorecards as Mayweather will once again look to win a decision.
On the other hand, being aggressive would introduce more risk than necessary against a tough fighter. The champion could go in for a big hit, leaving himself exposed to a counter-punch that could knock him to the ground.
Mayweather has nothing to prove at this point of his career, so there is no reason to go for a knockout. While it is nice to make statements a few weeks before the fight that he is going to go after his opponent, it is a different story when he steps into the ring.
When the fight starts, the talented boxer will stay conservative and do whatever he can to avoid getting hit. He will only come in for big punches when he knows he can land them.
Although this might not excite too many fans, it is the best way to secure a victory in this high-profile event.
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