this is alot like me... i dont know too much below super flyweight... i started following the lower divisions because of Vic
Generally good knowledge of todays fighters, ie the champs and contenders and pretty much watch all fights involving named fighters accross boxing but my knowledge of obscure fighters wouldn't come close to some of the other guys here, Bigbone for example. I'm sure there are plenty who watch a lot more boxing than I do in this forum. Historically its ok, I've done my research and read up on past fighters history as well as seen many of the fights that are available on them, I'd say better historical knowledge than 80% of the general forum but less than 95% of the classic forum. I probably watch boxing more on the scientific level than 95% of ESB. I watch fights that are literally putting me to sleep just so I can analyse how the styles clash, trying to break down exactly what is happening and why. Most of the times, fights would turn out pretty much how I pictured they would in my head, of course you get them wrong sometimes. Also some fighters just offer so many different dimensions, you can never guess which one they are gonna bring to the ring for you to magine the scenario under.
All around? Average. (In relation to other boxing fans) 2000 up till now, of american fights and fighters, I know fairly well, and Id be comfortable saying, above average. However, all around, I dont know much about pre 2000 boxing, and dont know all too much about other countries fighters outside guys who would be in the top 10 in their weightclass. So, all in all, Id consider my knowledge well above that of a casual, and even a lot of genuine boxing fans, but well below those of die hards. (For example, guys like DemolitionDan (and all the other die hards in the league) and others like I.B)
Definitely interested in the technical aspect, I box myself, follow a good amount of prospects, and am familiar with a near-decent amount of older fighters. I'd say I know more than most people on the forum but am by no means an expert.
Im no expert but I'm confident enough on what I do know not to be bullied by so-called gym rats and ESB historians. I must admit I do latch on to certain fighters, but I try my best to be objective and not fall into all out nutguggery. First got into the sport after Hoya won gold in Barcelona....then I really got into it when I shared classes with this guy Ike Whitaker in VT who was Pernel's nephew. Now I normally buy all the PPVs, if not watch them at fight parties and bars. Also regularly watch FNF ....damn, I feel like I'm fillin out a profile at some dating site.
I've boxed a bit and from that I got a lot keener on the sport. It helped me understand what I was seeing a lot more. Assessing myself I'd class me a hardcore fan, but no expert.
"My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart." Something like that...
Not very strong in comparison to the true top guys I've read, otherwordly in comparison to the vast majority who post on this forum. I can hold my own with the majority of the top guys on Classic when I feel up to a debate, but there are a select few who I won't even attempt a debate with and a few more I'll readily admit to being more knowledgable. As far as analytical ability goes, there's probably only a few that clearly have me beat, but they're out there.
I.B. makes me feel like Ms. South Carolina... http://www.youtube.com/v/WALIARHHLII?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0
I'm pretty good at predicting how a fight will play out for the most part if I'm familiar with both fighters. I have a basic sense of styles but I can't really go in depth like some folks do here. I can't dissect a fight with detail like that one guy that does all the round by round threads. Before the Mayweather/DLH fight, I didn't give a hoot about boxing at all. I did watch Chavez and the occasional mega-fight in the early-mid 90s but I was a kid back then and I'm Mexican so my pops bought Chavez PPV's back then, that's really the only time I watched fights, when my pops bought them. My interest died off after the Chavez/DLH fights. The last bout I remember watching was DLH/Trinidad. I honestly have no idea why I decided to stream the Mayweather/DLH fight but I did and I got hooked into the sweet science ever since. I just don't have the knack for detail in any sport really. I watch the **** out of football but I just don't see the detail some people are able to pick up. Some people talk about how the lineman has to control the A-gap or something, I'm only able to see the big picture. I understand coverages and a team's strengths, mismatches and things like that but I just can't describe what I see back in detail like some folks are able to.
anytime you say you know anything about any subject, someone comes along who knows a lot more. I just try to have fun with boxing and say what I feel. But I am sure many people know much more than I do. But I love the sport. I have found that there are so many aspects to boxing that you really do not know everything about it ever. I actually predicted fights better when I was younger than now. I don't know why. I think now I want to predict the underdog so I can say later I saw what was coming.