Fighting off the ropes - a lost art?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by shadow111, May 30, 2021.


  1. shadow111

    shadow111 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    LOL that's like a parody of the kind of clips I'm looking for. I mean, that was a fun moment when Fury did that, but it was only brief and he was still getting hit. The first right hand landed, another hit his arm. It looked so awkward how Fury had his hands down trying to dodge punches but was still getting hit. Schwarz could have easily landed a big shot on Fury right there had he not rushed his shots. I'm not gonna lie, that almost look scripted like Schwarz was intentionally missing punches there just to make Fury look unhittable. Fury would never try a stunt like that vs WIlder I can guarantee you lol.

    To fight off the ropes for a prolonged period, keeping your gloves up in a tight guard has to be part of the equation. There's truly an art to it. It's like a game of rock paper scissors and you have to constantly switch your stance. You can't stay in one position for too long. When you lean back to avoid a shot, you can't stay leaned back for more than a moment, then you have to cover-up, then maybe lean forward to make your opponent back up, then throw a jab, then lean back, dig in a body shot, then block the body, etc etc it takes a ropes master to stay on the ropes and know what to do instictively avoid getting hit and managing to get in offense that impresses the judges.

    I am looking for clips showing masters of the ropes. I'm sure if we go back far enough in boxing history we can find footage of what I'm looking for, but it's like finding a needle in a haystack. Maybe there's some off the radar fight where someone remembers a fighter pulling some sick off the ropes moves during a fight. That's really what I'm looking for. I doubt anyone fought on the ropes as long as Ali did against Foreman, but those were VERY loose ropes, and Ali was absorbing a lot of shots from George while he was doing that.

    I know Andre Dirrell had some success fighting off the ropes vs Froch but only briefly, and he was still getting hit. I know he surprised Froch with a big punch off the ropes after ducking some shots from Froch in one of the rounds.

    Another example was Roy Jones vs Calzaghe, in rounds 2 and 3 he went back to the ropes, blocked most of Calzaghe's shots while there and actually clowned Calzaghe with some quick inside shots in between Joe's punches. Jones looked quite content staying on the ropes for large portions of that match, and while he was absorbing some shots and wasn't really matching Joe punch for punch, he did look comfortable there and was trying to give the impression like he could stay on the ropes all night and Calzaghe wouldn't be able to land anything on him which was pretty entertaining. Jones continued to fight off the ropes vs Calzaghe for much of that fight, while he wasn't getting much offense in, occasionally he would surprise Joe with something, and even though he was losing rounds, all things considered, Jones did fight off the ropes quite well vs Calzaghe, which was an interesting strategy. Jones had a tight guard and was able to stay on the ropes for much of that fight and avoid getting hit with anything big.

    But I'm looking for situations where a guy goes back to the ropes voluntarily like he's in full control of the situation, not just going back to cover-up out due to being tired or lazy, but going back to the ropes as way to use the opponent's aggression and lack of skill aganst him. I'm looking for clips of fighters CHOOSING to go back to the ropes in the middle of a back and forth fight, and miraculously avoiding getting hit while there, like making his opponent look silly and countering effectively while leaning back on the ropes. And frustrating his opponent so much that his opponent calls for him to come back to the middle of the ring because he's so frustrated trying to land with him on the ropes.
     
  2. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    Ironically Norton did this to Ali in their 3rd fight. Norton went to the ropes intentionally and taunted him, blocked well, and exposed Ali's inability to initiate offense against a stubborn defensive opponent.
     
  3. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    How can you fight off the ropes? In order to fight something off that something has to be attacking you first :facepalm::facepalm:
     
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  4. shadow111

    shadow111 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Should I call it "Fighting off of the ropes" would that be better?
     
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  5. kiwi_boxer

    kiwi_boxer nighty night, ellerbe ☠ ☠ ☠ banned Full Member

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    Mayweather was the best at fighting off of the ropes.
    As seen
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    :SimpHomer:




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  6. bandeedo

    bandeedo Loyal Member Full Member

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    This content is protected

    bandeedo knows boxing.
     
  7. shadow111

    shadow111 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Round 8 - Good ropes sequence.

    Canelo in a tight guard blocking most of those shots by Kovalev while on the ropes.

    31 seconds on the clock, big counter left hook by Canelo.

    22 seconds on the clock, sharp counter left hook by Canelo.

    Those left hooks were clean effective shots, landed flush, the first one really moved Kovalev.
     
  8. kiwi_boxer

    kiwi_boxer nighty night, ellerbe ☠ ☠ ☠ banned Full Member

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    [url]https://k733t1pogr-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/GGG-Alvarez-Scorecards-1.png[/url]

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    :SimpHomer:[/url]
     
  9. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    Wilfred Benitez was a fighter that comes to mind fighting off the ropes, remember when he fought Carlos Palomino on Jan 14 1979, Benitez fought off the ropes countering Palomino during the bout, in winning the WBC World Welterweight Title by a split decision.
     
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  10. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Canelo got painted and shoe shined against the ropes vs GGG. Maybe you need to rewatch that fight. He did much better where he stood his ground.
     
  11. shadow111

    shadow111 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Please, don't make me laugh. Outside of that one shot GGG landed in the 5th round in the first fight, when Canelo shook his head, Canelo was schooling GGG in how to fight on the ropes. In round 4 when Canelo went back to the ropes, GGG didn't land anything and was getting frustrated. And when Canelo went back to the ropes later in the fight, it was more of the same.

    Is this what you call Canelo getting shoe shined?
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    Don't be daft.
     
  12. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Shadow found an instance in an entire fight to base a long imaginary narrative on. It's what he does best :lol:
     
  13. shadow111

    shadow111 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    How about you show me an instance where Canelo got painted and shoe shined against the ropes vs GGG. Why I always gotta do all the work. You're the one making that claim.
     
  14. Jennifer Love Hewitt

    Jennifer Love Hewitt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Check out Clay Bey vs Ettienne
    Clay Bey kept going to the ropes. He did okay. but ultimately got outworked and lost the fight. That's usually the case when going to the ropes. Going to the ropes is the desperate tactic of an unconditioned fighter. It gained popularity in the gyms. Under-conditioned fighters would go to the ropes to catch a break, usually dropping that left arm (here's also where the popular half guard aka blade the body, aka Philly shell came about). Anyhow they learned the little tricks of fighting off the ropes. It's great to now how to fight off the ropes in case you get cornered. Intentionally fighting off the ropes is because you didn't do your roadwork and hope that your opponent is dumb enough to punch themself out usually leads to a lopsided loss.
     
  15. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    You yourself said that Golovkin was 'just jabbing' Canelo on the ropes in other comments. Canelo did better against Golovkin when he stood his ground.