Whitaker was past his prime by then. I thought the only way Oscar could have been given the decision is by counting his workrate without taking effectiveness into account.I thought he beat Oscar, but the fight was razor close. He clowned him at times, but he didn't muster much offense. Whitaker could win, sure, but it sure as hell wouldn't be emphatic.
Whitaker was past his prime by then. I thought the only way Oscar could have been given the decision is by counting his workrate without taking effectiveness into account.
It's hard to figure Floyd being clowned, as it was never remotely close to happening.
Floyd has reach and size over him. Late WW Whitaker lacks volume. Early LW Whitaker is an outstanding boxer, but then again he never faced anyone as skilled, quick and hard-punching (Floyd wasn't pillow-fisted back then) at the same time.
Whitaker can win this, no doubt. There's no chance he utterly dominates Floyd.
I agree. I thought Whitaker won clearly but Oscar was the young guy coming up. He went on to prove himself in other fights especially against Quartey that established him as a true PFPer.He definitely was on the downslide of his career, I just think it's misleading to talk about that fight as if it were a domination by Whitaker, because it really wasn't. It was a fight where he almost completely nullified Oscar's offense, but didn't really muster much offense himself. It's still a fight I give to Whitaker (although the way I judge fights tends to be more sympathetic to someone with Whitaker's style) and a very impressive performance given the context, but it was very close.
I don't think Whitaker had the offense to beat Floyd. Its a weird fight, for sure, but I picture a dull fight with Floyd basically outpointing Whitaker from the outside.He clowned Oscar. almost a decade before Floyd edged a close decision
True. Early pea was untouchable. I think after he one-shotted lomeli, something totally out of character for him, he started sitting down more on his punches and got hit a bit more than he was used to.It's hard to figure Floyd being clowned, as it was never remotely close to happening.
Floyd has reach and size over him. Late WW Whitaker lacks volume. Early LW Whitaker is an outstanding boxer, but then again he never faced anyone as skilled, quick and hard-punching (Floyd wasn't pillow-fisted back then) at the same time.
Whitaker can win this, no doubt. There's no chance he utterly dominates Floyd.
He was inconsistent with his offense. He was a guy who judges saw getting outworked when he tried to go into full boxing mode. Not to mention he really didn't have the most talented roster of fighters on his resume in his prime. The only guys he fought I'd pick to hang with Floyd beat him.I actually think people underrate Whitaker's workrate. He had a very active jab, especially when he was at 135. People forget he threw more than 100 more punches than Chavez (790). Obviously he wouldn't be throwing anywhere near that amount against Floyd, but I'd say on average his workrate was a fair bit higher than Floyd's.
He was inconsistent with his offense. He was a guy who judges saw getting outworked when he tried to go into full boxing mode. Not to mention he really didn't have the most talented roster of fighters on his resume in his prime. The only guys he fought I'd pick to hang with Floyd beat him.