How important is the ability to analyze an opponent before a fight

Every list who doesn´t have Max at least in the Top20 is ****. You are right with your topic though.

 

Tunney studied films of Dempsey, and Dempsey and Kearns are supposed to have obtained a bootlegged copy of Willard/Johnson.

Scientific analysis? Corbett certainly applied it to Sullivan, observing how John L. would slap his left hand on his thigh when unloading his right. He agree to be filmed by Edison, figuring it might be useful to see himself on film.

Marciano was certainly capable of thoughtful analysis, but his particular attributes essentially required him to fight in a more or less identical manner each time he competed. He and Goldman worked on how he could improve his own boxing, such as the cultivation of his hook, and let the other guy worry about the specific opposition.

 

Not hugely important, it can lead to over-thinking on the part of a fighter. I think this skill is much more important for a trainer.

 

"I Zee something"

 

Schmeling is a clear cut top 20 Heavyweight; the best of the era outside of Louis.

 

I think its very important. When your a fighter, training is repetition, During that repetition every fighter picks up habits whether good or bad. They approach a move or a punch in some way where it tips your opponent to what might be coming.
For example Emanuel Steward noticed early on when Lewis was still somewhat green but champion, he loaded up with a lot of his punches and left himself wide open before he even delivered the shot. Thats all he trained Oliver Mcall to do, was wait for Lewis to wind up and he had Mcall throw his righthand.
If you watch that fight Mcall actually had his eyes closed when it landed.

Sometimes fighters are good at analyzing fights and seeing weaknesses and in most cases its the trainer who programs the fighter to wait, look, or try and trap their opponent into making a specific move to take advantage of it. A lot of fighters like Mayweather who say they dont watch tapes on their opponents are full of ****.

 

Its very important for a strategy fighter, which most people in the industry are. If you are a pure puncher like a Tyson, then you know what you have to do but you need a corner that can make adjustment, yes adjustment...a very important factor. A corner should watch and analyze the opponent before their fighter gets into the ring. Vlad Klitschko may be undefeated at this point if his people knew how to fight, Purrity, Brewster, Sanders..they walked in and fought the wrong fight not knowing the other fighters strengths or weaknesses

 

I belive Tunney was the first to study film of his foes in action, like Dempsey or Gibbions.

Schmelling was not the first, Of couse I could be wrong with the Tunney guess, who knows, Gans? Corbett? Jeff? Johnson may have done it also, its not much money going to a movie house and watching the champion in action if your getting a title shot.

 

Anything you can learn about your opponent before actually facing him is gravy. Sometimes (especially in amateurs) you know little about your opponent and have to find out during the fight. Problem with this is the time it takes you to notice what his weaknesses are. You might get behind before you figure something out. Another thing is as a fighter you cannot always see things IN the ring that your corner can. Sometimes your corner gives you good advice but it seems to go against everything your mind and body is telling you lol.

IF you get the opportunity to watch tape and figure out some habits good or bad then by all means gather as much info as possible. It will also help you to feel at least a LITTLE familiar with the guy when you get into the ring.

 

I think it's extremely important. But the fighter has to analyze the films in conjunction with his trainer.

 

I think some of the greatest fighters figure their opponents out in the ring.
Sometimes overthinking,or relying on a pre-determined strategy is detrimental at the very highest level.
They once asked joe calzaghe what his plan was before he went in the ring,and he replied he didnt know,but intuitively adjusted to the opponent placed in front of him.

 

I love it when it comes to light that a fighter won by virtue of analyzing his opponent and putting a strategy together, it's interesting ****.

 

This is true, and whats really interesting if you want to get more insight into that fight was the very first punch of the fight. Tyson came out and bobbed to his left, so Holyfield was looking for the lefthook, and Tyson unleashed a bomb of a righthand that landed flush on Holyfield. Holyfield was stunned for a brief second, but I think his adrenaline snapped him back to reality, but it was a monster of a righthand.