We've seen one RJJ principle applied to PBF. The one of "hypothetical resume" (doesn't have to fight such & such, he would obviously beat them,-just look at how he beat (insert lesser fighter than such & such here). If PBF comes back & loses, will he, by definition be percieved as "past prime"? Will he have "only lost because of the layoff/ heart wasn't in it/ wasn't focused/ weight-drained" Would he be percieved as haven beaten whoever it was that beat him easily, had he fought them pre-layoff? In short, will the other RJJ principle (mitigating loses) be applied to PBF if he loses when he comes back?
mayweather jr was already on the decline before he took the year and a half off, and clearly above his best weight. guys get older and eventually lose, that is what happens in boxing
He's reaching that age where fighters can lose their edge if they've been in wars. However he hasn't really been in any. Also fighters can improve with experience. Just judging on his actual recent performances, without age preconceptions, do you really think he's a lesser fighter now? As far as the weight is concerned. What do you think is his proper fighting weight? because I can just imagine people flip-flopping from "not his natural weight" to "weight drained" quite effortlessly.
mayweather jr has been a lesser fighter since he left his best divisions, lightweight and below. he is older and has been fighting professionally and training hard for over a dozen years. that shit takes a toll, no matter who you are. does that mean he'll lose to guys like marquez or pacquaio? I highly doubt it.
a long layoff affects any fighter, no matter who it is or how great they are or talented they may be if he were to lose a very close fight (depending on the opponent obviously) , then yeah, you could attribute some of that to being away for a long time and hes obviously past his best, for the very reasons Neil stated being in "wars" can certainly exacerbate a fighter's decline... but the wear and tear of simply training and fighting, regardless of how dominant a fighter is or defensively gifted, takes a toll. layoffs arent good for a fighter... was Ali the same after three years away? Leonard after 3 years? Saldivar after a few years? Jofre? Those fighters still had great success in their returns but they were also clearly not what they had once been like Neil astutely pointed out, this guy has been in the pro game for 13 years for the sake of perspective... 13 years think Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993 Pernell Whitaker in 1997 both were still world class but were clearly removed from their peak years as far as the RJJ comparison, I dont really see it... Jones didnt take a layoff... I think the people who try to say the "his heart wasnt in it" stuff with RJJ to explain his losses make up a minority of boxing fans, and frankly that excuse is a crock of shit... Jones clearly looked "wrong" somehow even in the first Tarver fight... the physical signs of his rapid decline were evident to all but those who chose not to see it for one of two reasons: A) They love the guy so much that they cant fathom him losing or not being the best or B) They had been waiting for what was it, 14 years??? for him to be "exposed" and think that the losses "prove" that he sucked all along
He's a defence first fighter who's turned away from 99.9 percent of punches ever thrown at him, he's also a consistantly fit gym rat who's looked after himself. In his recent fights, he's ran and potted his way from slightly larger, and more powerful opposition over the last few years than he faced when he was a giant at 130 for a majority of his career,.. in light of charging sluggers like Glen Johnson,..at 41?.. still hustling and slugging his way through his opposition looking as good as he ever has (against Chad Dawson in particular),.. I seriously doubt,.. that a bitch fighter in his early 30's ..is 'slipping'... Vitali, 37, can come back after 4 years from multiple injuries and look as good as ever,.. but Fraud's 1 year layoff,.. can completely wipe out his prime?.. Bullshit. Absolute bullshit from his groupies.. who are terrified, of Fraud .........losing a fight,....*shivering*....little do they realise, his shameless cherry picking of 5"5 fighters like Marquez,..coupled with his disgracefully illegal defence,.. will ensure Fraud an undefeated career,.. he fears losing just as much as his fans, but he's got it under control, there is no need to panick, all is safe on the Fraud Mayweather bandwagon, it must be a fulfilling, empowering place to be.
When has Vitali EVER Relied on SPEED, TIMING, REFLEXES & MOBILITY???....SHIT Comparison, Kauki... REED:shit:
Reed please,..You think Vitali doesn't use his reflexes and mobility to defend himself?... I dont think I can recall a single time where Vitali has ever put his gloves up in a conventional defence,.. so how does he defend himself?,... could it possibly be... his arching reflexes, and his footwork/mobility?.... why,....what a fine example. Fraud does the upright backtwist, back and brain stem fold,..then thrusts his forearm, elbow or pushes his opponents head back with his palms to defend himself.. it's completely illegal ofcourse,... which requires no attributes you have noted to execute it in the manner that he wishes,.. If he did lose his reflexes, Speed, Timing.. etc...it would damage his offense more than it would his defence,...you dont need any of that, to simply turn and fold with one hand on the side of your head, with the other wrapped around your belly. :nono: City boy.
at 30 he has 4 years left, but the time off could cause him to lose a fight to a good boxer. Same as what happened to Ali
