This content is protected I just watched the first round and thought I should post it here because this is what I have been trying to say. With speed and slickness the reach gap can be compensated for. Spinks has a 71" reach whereas Jermain has a 73.5"-74" reach. Spinks did a terrific job at keeping Taylor on the outside. I haven't seen the rest of the fight so I don't know how well Spinks does at keeping Taylor on the outside.
Oh I'm fully aware it can happen, there are a lot of people in this section that will argue against it though.
sometimes boxers get committed to an idea in their head, even though it doesn't make strategic sense. I remember watching espn friday night fights back in the 90's. I think it was Green vs Alvaro. That's the first time it really sank in. in Alvaro's prefight interview he talked about how he was a long boxer, but he was having fun learning how to work on the inside so that's how he was going to fight tonight. green was shorter. about the second or third round green realized that he could outbox alvaro, even though he was the shorter fighter, and he whooped his ass for the rest of the fight. green adapted to the situation, and alvaro beat his head against a wall trying to make a strategy work that wasn't working. as a young coach that was huge for me to witness the way it played out.
here's another example I just happened across ... Tszyu vs Forrest (amateurs) This content is protected