does boxing evolve?

let me give you an example of boxing fundamentals, and what they look like when learned and applied. take a look at the video and keep and eye on each fighters left hand, and where it is when they arent using it to punch and they are in the opponents range. that is a fundamental skill. a skill that most fighters today cant even master. this is just one lone example of the fundamentals of using a hand in boxing. so dont try and tell me about how fighters today are so much better fundamentally.

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You are right, most fighters today drop their non punching hand when throwing a shot.

it’s shocking how poor fundamentals have been abandoned in general.

these days the little movements the valued are gone because the big flashy moves make for better tv.

for example, which fighters today are good on the inside and can fight head to chest?

 

exactly. even keeping your elbows tucked, another fundamental skill, is something most fighters today cant incorporate into their game. there should not be enough room between your elbow and ribs for a glove to come inside the space. fighters today look like theyre flapping wings. and a lot has to do with so few real trainers out there. some of these trainers at world level are just lousy and inept. they have a job because the good trainers dont have the time for all the good fighters.

 

There are very few boxing trainers, most are fitness coaches. I don’t watch many fighters now tbh.

Feints seem to be the only thing they know, which are good but where’s every other basic thing.
The guard is generally appaling, especially during exchanges, lots of pulling back their head instead of dodging, blocking, parrying or getting out of range.

I think it’s coaches are now fitness coaches and the fighters are not living in the gym these days.

 

Can’t think of anyone who has a good body attack either. So it maybe why they’ve evolved into not tucking their elbows in.

 

i had not considered that. but it does make sense, since i see more body shot ko's today than i remember seeing in stronger eras. even by guys who arent even known for their body attack like chavez was. and i cant think of anyone who can fight on the inside today like a chavez or a toney did. as soon as someone starts to work inside, the other guy clinches because thats all he knows.

 

Yes it has evolved since the 1800s, since the 1990s not so much

 

I think there's something to old school boxing techniques to be honest, as well as Soviet School boxing that have maybe been lost to time as well as some Jack Dempsey/Marciano stuff. It looks goofy but there's a reason these guys were able to go 15 rounds and not gas whereas today some guys are done are like after 6 rounds.

I've been studying Locche lately and the idea that you do as little as possible to never overrev the engine so to speak.

 

Fury is twice as quick as Tyrell was and moves better with 85 inch reach.

 

Excelling at The fundamentals of most sports are what makes you elite.

training evolves, the reach of competitors evolves (like serge has said), etc etc but the fundamentals have not evolved for some time because in essence most sports are about a person with 2 hands 2feet etc, there not much room for evolution of fundamentals.

the artistry of boxing has reduced and I believe it’s more of scientific era, with more emphasis placed on fitness, diet, s&c etc. less time on the bags, sparring etc.
this is obviously going to have an effect.

 

He’s not as fit though and his defence isn’t as good either. Plus many other things.
Fury struggles when he’s not controlling the pace

 

Boxing adapts. Evolves is too often, incorrectly, associated with improves.

In bare-knuckle times 'the mark' referred to that sweet spot in the stomach and so, as already alluded to, there was a gradual switch of focus from body to head. Funnily enough, today we see far too many head-hunters as so we can safely state we've gone to the far the other way. Which 'way' we do go though is very much dictated by the rules of the time. Glove size, fight length and a ref's stomach for the rough stuff are the biggest factors. Boxing as an art though is, ultimately, all about angles, distance and anticipation. That is the immutable law. This is why I've always believed in timeless talents. Check out the sparse offerings of Benny Leonard in his pomp and see his talent shine through that crappy, hand-cranked B&W. That man would thrive anywhere.

However, as it's important to always keep the eras rules in the rear-view mirror, when it comes to fantasy matches it's appopriate to find a middleground, i.e., if we were to match Jack Dempsey against Lennox Lewis, then the battleground should be somewhere around the 1950s with our prinicipals having to adapt an equal amount.

As an overall take on the sport, seen as how bare-fists and gloves mingled for so long (longer than you think), I'm much more a believer in the individual than the era. Moulded by the rules, not chained to them.

 

It has evolved from its roots.

But it certainly doesn’t keep evolving continuously.

Any knowledgeable fan knows this.