Educate me on the importance of getting the centre of the ring

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I am interested in the responses.

I have no idea why it is stressed except in the case of Pure Boxers who need room to move.

IMHO, if you have decent pop you don't give a damn where you are as long as you are not ALONG a rope as you can't circle.

 

1) The reason getting the centre of the ring is seen as important is becuase if you hold the centre then your opponent is easier to push and trap on the ropes. As well as providing you with a lot of backward steps to avoid punches etc.
2) simply put you make sure your the 1st in the centre and you apply the pressure to your opponent not letting him "push" you out of there
3) Watch klitchko vs Haye shows you both haye getting trapped on the ropes as well as vlad just stepping back avoiding punches due to the space behind him.
4) Youi can go backwards and spin to the side at the same time forcing your opponent to change direction as well there fore you still have the centre of the ring

 

If you control the center you're going to have your guy on or in dangerous proximity to the ropes most of the time. Controlling the center doesn't necessarily mean being IN the center.

To me it means being between your opponent and the center. It's a pressure tactic.

 

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My one trainer will let his guys go at it until one guy is obviously getting the worst of it in a bad way, then he'll tell the other guy to take the center. You just go stand in the center of the ring and try to stay there. Gives the other guy (me) a bit of a break and a challenge for the guy holding the center.

 

Good question

 

Why would it be different for a southpaw? One of the big reasons for holding the centre is to create the perception to judges that you are in control, your punches are easier to see and when you're on the ropes you can't step backwards.

 

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well for amateur boxing (i just learned this today) my coach told me its important to stay in the center of the ring because:

a) the ropes is a dangerous place to be
b) if your on the ropes too long and getting hit with big punches the ref is going to give you a standing 8 count.
c) controlling the center of the ring gives you the advantage of placing your opponent where you want to put him.

 

Like has been said i also think its more about closing down the other fighter, not necessarily about staying in the centre of the ring but keeping the opponent away from it, using your position to make him predictable, putting pressure on so they waste energy trying to move around you, it only works if the other fighter is daft enough to let you do it.

A good little trick for begginers to get a feel with this is to split the ring into 4 equal squares, instead you want to dominate the squares, dictate where he will go next and be there waiting for him, wait for the crissy, crossy footwork and nail em low and then up through the middle. its like running in the outside lane on a racing track, greater distances to travel, movements get limited while in a corner or on the ropes, unless their feet are moving all the time things get predictable, then there is the pressure to play with which is always fun, like i said this is all only if the fighter your up against allows it.