Here are stats http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jose_Luis_Castillo_vs._Floyd_Mayweather_Jr._(1st_meeting)
Yes Floyd landed and threw more jabs however that's irrelevant since his jabs were not effective, they didn't slow down or stop Castillo from getting on the inside and landing power shots and more effective punches. Jab stats are only relevant if the jab is controlling and dictating the tempo of the fight but his were not that night. Castillo controlled the fight. Definitely the most uncomfortable fight of Floyds career where he wasn't in control.
I'd argue that his numbers are going up because he's aging, not using his feet like he used to and he's forced to fight more. Perfect example is the first Maidana fight; he had no business struggling with a guy of his caliber.
I also agreed with you; I don't think simply throwing a 1000 punches is much of a plan, there must be more to it, like Castillo didn't simply plod forward and throw punches, no he had an excellent game plan by mixing up what he did to get inside sometimes he worked off the jab, he used A LOT of head movement, he got very low to get insid, he threw punches from all sorts of odd angles, etc. Basically the plan was to mix it up, be unpredictable while applying pressure (unlike guys like Guerrero who obviously had a very limited weapons and would try and fail at the same thing over and over again).
There are multiple good plans that would be effective the problem again is the talent.
For example,, I always thought a stylistic nightmare for Floyd would be a tall fighter with a long jab who boxes from the outside which would force Floyd to be the aggressor. But there are no Tommy Hearns type fighters around. Floyd's great pull counter would be ineffective against a guy like that and by forcing Floyd to be the aggressor you're putting him outside of his comfort zone, making him play a game that isn't his best.
On the flip-side, an intelligent and highly skilled offensive fighter with great stamina would also give him problems (think a prime Roberto Duran). These types of guys don't exist right now between 140-154. There are plenty of aggressive fighters but none that are as highly skilled or as intelligent.
Yes Floyd landed and threw more jabs however that's irrelevant since his jabs were not effective, they didn't slow down or stop Castillo from getting on the inside and landing power shots and more effective punches. Jab stats are only relevant if the jab is controlling and dictating the tempo of the fight but his were not that night. Castillo controlled the fight. Definitely the most uncomfortable fight of Floyds career where he wasn't in control.
I'd argue that his numbers are going up because he's aging, not using his feet like he used to and he's forced to fight more. Perfect example is the first Maidana fight; he had no business struggling with a guy of his caliber.
I also agreed with you; I don't think simply throwing a 1000 punches is much of a plan, there must be more to it, like Castillo didn't simply plod forward and throw punches, no he had an excellent game plan by mixing up what he did to get inside sometimes he worked off the jab, he used A LOT of head movement, he got very low to get insid, he threw punches from all sorts of odd angles, etc. Basically the plan was to mix it up, be unpredictable while applying pressure (unlike guys like Guerrero who obviously had a very limited weapons and would try and fail at the same thing over and over again).
There are multiple good plans that would be effective the problem again is the talent.
For example,, I always thought a stylistic nightmare for Floyd would be a tall fighter with a long jab who boxes from the outside which would force Floyd to be the aggressor. But there are no Tommy Hearns type fighters around. Floyd's great pull counter would be ineffective against a guy like that and by forcing Floyd to be the aggressor you're putting him outside of his comfort zone, making him play a game that isn't his best.
On the flip-side, an intelligent and highly skilled offensive fighter with great stamina would also give him problems (think a prime Roberto Duran). These types of guys don't exist right now between 140-154. There are plenty of aggressive fighters but none that are as highly skilled or as intelligent.
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