Was pacquiao a swarmer or boxer-puncher?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by boxingexpert733, Dec 9, 2023.

  1. boxingexpert733

    boxingexpert733 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2023
    Messages:
    635
    Likes Received:
    616
    I can’t tell which one but I’m leaning towards swarmer. What do you guys think?
     
  2. quest00

    quest00 Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2015
    Messages:
    164
    Likes Received:
    176
    Even tho he's not known as being a top tier type of boxer, I would def consider him more of a boxer-puncher. He had A1 punching power in his prime and world class foot work
     
  3. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    58,812
    Likes Received:
    14,039
    Dwyer might have coined the term "ambush fighter" and I think that's most accurate. I used to just call them a darting style. Swarmers are more of an all-over-you-pressure-bursts-pipes thing and that's not Pac. Pac makes use of his unusual abilities to stop on a dime and unleash powerful combos faster than anyone else and un-boxer-like defense of backing out with the high guard up. His ability to close the distance when he wants, and stop immediately able to start punching are all taking advantage of uncommonly fast feet. But ambush is what I would call him.
     
  4. boxingexpert733

    boxingexpert733 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2023
    Messages:
    635
    Likes Received:
    616
    interesting. What would you call juan manuel marquez style btw? it matched up well with mannys
     
  5. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    58,812
    Likes Received:
    14,039
    I see him as more a classic counter-puncher, but an aggressive one, and strangely, Pac's ambushes, I tend to think of as largely opening up as counters too, so it's odd how he matched up with Marquez, if you think of them both as being aggressive combination counter-punchers, with one being a classic boxer and the other being so peculiar and difficult to read for most other fighters, it's almost a wonder they didn't both spoil each other, even in their least action-packed fight. I mean, not really. I would think they might very well make one real stinker in all those matches.
     
  6. AdamT

    AdamT Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2019
    Messages:
    5,742
    Likes Received:
    10,168
    He's kind of both
     
    Babality and drenlou like this.
  7. drenlou

    drenlou VIP Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2015
    Messages:
    78,122
    Likes Received:
    43,026
    Yeah I was thinking the same thing.
     
    AdamT likes this.
  8. boxingexpert733

    boxingexpert733 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2023
    Messages:
    635
    Likes Received:
    616
    yeah i felt the same way. He's agressive and throws lots of combos but he can also get out of range with his guard up to defend.
     
    AdamT likes this.
  9. kingcracker

    kingcracker Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2021
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    167
    the thing about truly great fighters is typically they either cannot be categorized as one single thing, or as something that is widely known or understood.
     
  10. Babality

    Babality KTFO!!!!!!! Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2008
    Messages:
    30,386
    Likes Received:
    16,551
     
    AdamT likes this.
  11. alakran

    alakran Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2011
    Messages:
    3,464
    Likes Received:
    442
    Both but probably more of a boxer puncher towards the ends.
     
  12. Sks476

    Sks476 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2023
    Messages:
    669
    Likes Received:
    940
    A counter-brawler (new style just for Juan)
     
  13. boxingexpert733

    boxingexpert733 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2023
    Messages:
    635
    Likes Received:
    616
    his style is tailor made for going up against brawlers. i heard he struggles with more defensive/pure boxers though
     
  14. KnellCurve

    KnellCurve New Member banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2023
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    3
    Pacquiao was more of a thwacker-ringster in my opinion.
     
  15. MorvidusStyle

    MorvidusStyle Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2017
    Messages:
    3,939
    Likes Received:
    6,372
    I'd consider him more of a roider-swarmer.