Joshua foolishly tried to outbox Usyk, which completely backfired. George Kambozo stayed at mid range all night and refused to change tactics attempting to box with Haney. Both guys refused to press the issue and neither attempted to go for the KO despite being way behind on the cards. The corners didn't say anything of substance either. There should have been a plan B, and the fighters should have been ready to get their hands dirty if necessary. Next time I see a fight where it's a master boxer putting on a clinic and the opponent is just following them around the ring content to lose on points, I'm not going to bother watching the rest. It was not Haney's job to stop what he was doing when it was working to make it entertaining, Kambozo was the champion and acted as if he didn't want the belts anymore. Or maybe he was just utterly clueless.
Because sometimes outboxers are more than just a jab. Walk into a counter and that could be the end of the night, or perhaps they are aware they might hit air a lot trying to press the action and waste stamina ? Or perhaps they just had the wrong gameplan. Or perhaps they're just terrible on the front foot and want to find a way to win by working with what they're best at Against Haney Kambosos clearly wanted to time Haney with a counter and and take him out. It's not like he landed 0 punches. But Haney was just too good
Agreed the most frustrating thing. But swinging in close for the KO requires some mettle that I don't think all boxers have in them. Kambosos is so used to fighting that one way always, he just doesn't have that "dog" in him. Neither does AJ. You can't change a person's nature, they either have it in them or they don't. For example prime Linares would've gone for it, really gone for it. The Linares who fought DeMarco (loss, I know) would've been a different story for Haney.
Most guys aren't willing to sell out to win. By doing this it puts them at risks to get koed. Especially if they're boxer puncher types or counter punchers they're not willing to walk through fire to win even though they talk a big game.
Did you see the bit where Kam went aggressive and swung missed on fell on the ropes? You see, no matter what Kam brough boxing or aggression he was going to get schooled.
This is an important point, because people are criticizing Haney even tho Kambosos did not rush him. It's not like Haney was impossible to find, it's just that Kam wasn't going to be able to stand in the pocket and counter like he wanted. I posted in the RbR that he appeared to not know who Haney is a fighter; did you sincerely think you were going to outbox him??
Then learn how to apply smart pressure and fight on the inside. Modern fans keep boasting about how advanced boxing has become, but many boxers seem to be 1 trick ponies who never get out of 1st gear. If you can't outbox the opponent, it doesn't mean simply swing for the fences or load up for one big shot. Joe Frazier, Duran, Chavez, Armstrong, etc, none of them gassed out or swung for the fences knowing they couldn't outbox a superior boxer at mid range. Even defensive wizards like Whitaker and Mayweather can make adjustments to fight at any range, on the front or back foot.
Not necessarily. Big difference between applying smart pressure and just throwing a wild desperate haymaker. Haney still might have won, but if Kambozo learned how to actually cut the ring off and fight at close range he might have made it a closer fighter. His connect % was abysmal and he barely won a single round.
Big money rematch clause sits in the back of some fighters mind. 0 urgency from Kambosos tonight. Was totally willing to fight Haney’s fight. Very poor performance.
That what good boxing does, it gets you in your head and indecisive. He tried charging in and throwing haymakers, but he isn't like Linares or Isaak Cruz who knows how to do that pressure style. I'm not sure if you can become another fighter in one camp.
12th Round George is down by 9-2 rounds in my book. His corner advice is to work on trunk defense. What was going on?
Everybody has different physical attributes. Not everybody will have the gas tank to maintain that pressure enough to win even a few rounds, let alone the fight. It also opens them up more. It takes several years to master those applications when you already train out the ass for other aspects. Not everybody is going to switch like that. Regardless Kambosos even tried to go on the attack a few times and had no success when Haney angled around him and made him look foolish
The art of cutting off the ring has been lost on many fighters. You never see Golovkin or Chocolatito having issues with good movers.
I agree with all your points. But to be fair you have named the greatest fighters in history. Those guys are HOF all timers. Not many guys have the total package like them.