It all depends on your definition of slugger, I suppose. There are a lot of fighters who have power but maybe not the skill/athleticism/technique to beat a better boxer in a match of wits, but bide their time looking to set up the big punch or combo that turns the fight. That is altogether different from slugging, to me. A slugger, to me, is one who has he ability to get the opponent out of his comfort level and turn a boxing match into a fight, for lack of a better term. It is someone with a knack for luring a foe -- especially a superior one -- into exchanges in hopes that creating such a fight increases his chances of winning. That shouldn't be taken as an insult to the slugger -- good examples of this are Robert Duran against Leonard I, Frazier against Ali, Iran Barkley against Hearns, Antuofermo against Hagler I, Arturo Gatti against just about everybody. A primary attribute needed for this kind of fighter, to me, is a solid chin and a strong will. To get the other fellow into a slugging match, the slugger has to be willing to take some punishment -- or at least present openings that the other guy will find inviting enough to risk the return, so he opens himself up to exchanges. The key thing, however, is that the slugger, whatever his style, has to have the mental toughness to be willing to trade. Not every fighter is willing to do so -- a lot of guys can fight but can't fight back under fire. Sluggers can do this, and thrive in such an environment.
Valero was a beast and still young, shame he had a great career ahead of him and died unbeaten....never know what could have been if he expelled that darkness inside of him
the funny thing is an intelligent slugger is seldom appreciated until he imposes his will vs a good boxer and takes away his game, Duran at his best was one, a very smart and skilled aggressive slugger...It is a hard learned and lost art just like a true boxer is more than reflex...there is a genius in both but seldom attained to perfection and rarely do both share a decade.
A lot of good sluggers seem to be able to generate power from odd positions where they wouldn't necessarily be in the best place to punch. A result of natural heavy handedness or a learned skill, do you think? Or a bit of both?
That's a pretty concise and pithy definition of the term. So you believe that a slugger is someone who brings you down to their level, instead of imposing his will on you from above, as it were. It's definitely a much more nuanced style of fighting than fans tend to give it credit for.
For my money a superior slugger will integrate feinting and countering into their system of offense. They will learn to be unpredictable. They wiull also learn to aply pressure of one kind or another inteligently, to prevent their opponent from doing what tey want to do.
I think feinting and unpredictability are integral parts of its success. I'd also say one has to have an exceedingly firm grasp of the fundamentals, more so perhaps than other styles, yet remain at heart a fighter.
Duran when he missed an overhand right he would switch southpaw and throw a left hook to the body at times.
I don't see where I defined it that way at all. Where did I imply that it wasn't a skill set of its own? I used examples of how a slugger overcomes a superior boxer, but I don't see that as "bringing you down to their level" in any way. A slugger cannot outbox a superior boxer, so he uses his skill to turn it into a FIGHT. If he's a slugger, that's his style of fighting. It's no different than a boxer getting a slugger to fight his kind of fight -- i.e. Leonard-Duran II. Did you see the examples I gave? Is Duran not a skilled fighter? Antuofermo needed a ton of skill to engage Marvin Hagler on his terms instead of Haglers. Etc., etc.
Of course slugging is an art form. Power is a weapon. I've still gotta deliver it to the target. I'd consider myself, above all, a powerful, explosive puncher. But I have a good jab, I can counter punch, I can take an angle...And I'm far from the best puncher to ever lace em up. Boxers without finishing ability or the ability to generate concussive impact have to do more, have to have more, to win a fight. They often look more impressive because they utilize more techniques, rely on more flash, and throw more punches. Sometimes, a big puncher bides his time, chases, cuts, lines up, and finishes matters with one big shot.
Yes definitly an art to it. I'm a decent enough amateur boxer, a few people will have seen videos here, was always a bit more a long range boxer and that. However, Ive recently started sparring some good level professionals and these guys are great long range boxers and I struggle with their speed and accuracy so I tend to be a pressure fighter. And to do this I use pretty much the same skills as a boxer just in a different way. Especially in the jab and taking away your opponents jab. Using my head movement, and parrying to get into range andget my shots off. Stepping to the side and chucking in the counter to disrupt their range and rythym. Loads of stuff really, I bet you see guys who you think are out and out brawlers but who could really box if they wanted to. I think Basilio shows this early in his career if your looking for an example.
Sorry, you seem to have taken offence at something that wasn't intended as such. I was mostly agreeing with you and asking for a slight clarification of your opinion. All the examples you gave supported your point. Once again, apologies.
You paint a thoughtful, nuanced description of what you do, GP, but soon as the bell rings, it's "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!"