Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless: True or False?

It's interesting for you to say that fundamentals matter according to each fighter, but that doesn't mean they aren't necessary to succeed. Each fighter needs the right skill-set, and a bunch of talent without that know-how is not going to get them far.

 

True, but my point is that when it comes to fundamentals vs speed/power, physical talent will normally prevail. Hopkins used all the fundamentals against Jones, and Jones still dominated him even with a broken hand. You can practice hands up, chin down, head off centre, weight on back leg and all the rest of it, but it can't compete with god given talent.

Hopkins could have fought Jones another 10 times during the 90's and he still would still lost every single one of them. You just can't beat genetic freaks until they're old. It remind me of all those sprinters. They train all those hours and it's closely matched, until a genetic freak like Usain Bolt comes along and blows them off the track. Fundamentals will only get you so far.

 

Just watch Donaire vs Vasquez.

Donaire was infinitly more talented but Vasquez makes it close with just simple boxing.

 

No, I don't think you understand what I am saying. Boxing is a Martial Art which has evolved into a sport. This theory holds true for training any type of military discipline. The base of the discipline, what you call "fundamentals", is specifically meant to turn AVERAGE men into average fighters. You take "likely" physical attributes, combat sequences, etc... and use them to form a "base" with which you can apply a cookie cutter approach to take a Average Joe into a fighter. An average soldier.

Knowing this is not special. Every single high level Boxer in the game today knows this stuff. If any decent pro were to be told to apply these basics against an Average guy he would probably look like Muhammad Ali. Knowing this stuff will do them little to no good against ELITE specialized opponents.

Why? Because Elite opponents are not fighting using "fundamentals". They are fighting using a strategy or pressing an advantage unique to them. A specific plan needs to be formulated to nullify the opposition. They are keenly aware of what they do well and press these advantages. It is their handler's and trainer's responsibilities to make sure that they are in the "right fight" or have the "right plan". This is "Special Forces". Would tons of swimming be "fundamental" to a desert fighter? Would hiking endurance be fundamental to a SEAL? The fundamental is actually a specialization which violates the rules of "fundamental Boxing".

You really think a guy fighting for a championship doesn't know silly crap like hands up, lead with the jab, 1-2-3, move your head, etc...? They all do. Doubly so for the ones who started as children. Their seeming lack of "fundamentals" is the overwhelming ability/attributes of the other guy.

 

Simple as that.

 

fundamentals is a talent... wtf is this...

:hat

 

I see what you mean. I guess I seem to put more value in hard work and a passionate application of these "known" rules than I do the concept of "talent", but what you've said rings true in terms of their real-world application.

 

fundamentals is like a huge 4 foot thick concreete wall, talent is the piece of plywood that used to cover the holes.

given time the plywood will rot and fall away while the wall still remains.

talent is the crutch.

ummm that strategy or advantage....its ummmmmmm based off fundamentals.

 

Naseem Hamed's in ring strategy disagrees.

 

not at all.

fundamental is a word that means the core of like there are the fundamentals of jabbing, fundamentals of fainting, fundamentals of countering, fundamentals of slipping, blocking, hooking, ect. all these things are based on some set of fundamentals, some form of basic rules that the actions revolve around.

so any kind of strategy, goal, tactic, even if its just keeping your hands low to faint and counter has some form of fundamentals that its based on.

 

Talent needs to be there somewhere but fundamentals are obviously needed to overcome stronger harder faster opponents. it is a crutch in a way but in saying that talent is a crutch too for the fighter who will not learn the fundamentals. Talent will eventually get kicked from under him if he doesn't keep up the abilities with hard work.