that people who box or have done so regularly but aren't pros know more about the sport? im 19,have never boxed (mostly due to wrist problems) yet i still like to think that i know just as much as most of the guys on this forum (bear in mind,i live in ireland so generally people my age just box to think they're tough and dont know any boxer apart from ali and tyson so i cant ask them)
You only understand how certain situations in the ring could affect a fighter's performance, balance, movement and so on when you experience it.
There's no type of learning like hands on experience, but just because you box doesn't mean you'll know the history of the sport automatically. Some people get that mixed up. It's what makes guys like Tarver or Roy Jones good commentators. Sugar Ray Leonard was pretty good at commentating when he did it back in the day
Boxing look a lot easier that it is until you get in there yourself. There are so many things going on that you would never notice until your in the ring. I think that fighting gives your a tremendous amount of respect for anyone in the game. You still young and I suggest that you dive it a try. :good
i have heard real boxers and good professionals with not much talent as far as knowing what will happen in a fight. Then again a guy like Marvin Hagler knew it all. When he commentated I thought he was amazing and knew what was going on before it even happened.
I never boxed. But I am a hardcore fan. The thing is I can say '' this is how you beat whoever '' and make like it's easy but if I was put in the ring with this guy I'd be KTFO. So yes, boxers know more then hardcore fans in certain areas.
without a doubt. u see them in fight corners giving their fighters the worst advice on the planet. u sometimes wonder how the hell did he or she become a trainer
Depends. Do they know more about the history of the sport? Absolutely not. Not as a rule, anyway. I'd wager most fighters aren't really big on the whole history aspect, not nearly as much as a lot of people I've read over the net, anyway. Guys like Tyson and Barry McGuigan are among the only ones who've really impressed me on that front. As for what goes on in the ring, of course they're more experienced in dealing with the ins and outs, that goes without saying. What does not go without saying, however, is how well they're capable of analysing and interpreting it away from the ring. Hence why so many great boxers make useless trainers or analysts. It all depends on the fighter, really. As a result, the "he's a fighter, I'll take his opinion over yours anyday!" argument is one of the weakest that can be presented. I've seen people use it to justify that Mayweather would beat Ray Robinson based on what Pauli Malignaggi said. All that shows is that the person being debated with is a simpleton.
when you box you learn to respect and understand the fighters. You are also less of an armchair expert
Those who box or have boxed are in poistion to understand what it takes to secude as a boxer. It's not an easy sport. Anyone who has done some sparing let alone acatuly fought can tell you that. However in termes of making judgments on who is best and or who would win a fight real or fanasty based on visual information. No I don't think that experanced boxers have any advantage.
agreed Often before a big fight they ask pros and ex pros who they think will win and why and some of the responses are comical! either they hate the fighter they pick against or have never seen them fight surely. Some of the people picking Haye to beat Klit were spouting so much crap!
I know modern history, ranging back say 20 years. I could never give you a run down on the Jack Dempsey Era etc, I can explain to you how to speed your punches up, measure distance between yourself and an opponent, etc. It depends on what area of boxing knowledge you are discussing/debating. History and comparisons (E.G dream fights) are one thing, technique and mentality are another. By the way, I boxed with hand and wrist problems. If you're going to do anything, even spar, find someone who will help you protect your hands, obvious I know, but I wish someone had told me when I was about eleven.
Boxing experience helps give you an understanding of some of the tactics and techniques used inside of the ring. It drills COMMON WISDOM into your head: the punches you don't see hurt the most, timing > speed > power, shoot lead rights against southpaws, etc. Common wisdom isn't so common among boxing fans. Does it help you with history and resumes? No. Having an idea of what goes on in the ring is more important, it makes watching fights that much more enjoyable.
