Is Technical Perfection More Important Than Speed/Power?

Aha, well what are my standards supposed to be for tall Super-HWs? I get your point, though. If you're talking Jack Johnson, I'm not sure I can completely jump on board with that.

 

Stonehands your still not getting the point. You can compare the extreme or not, on a relatively equal playing field speed comes out on top more. You can ask any trainer what they would rather have and work with and they will say speed everytime.

 

I don't think much of that Johnson's style. Harold is a different story.

 

Any trainer telling you that speed is preferable to technique or that speed is the foundation on which to build a fighter at the expense of technique ....is a dope.

 

Funny enough I was just watching the show on HBO about freddie roach and he was asked pretty much the same question and he said he would take a speedy guy over anything else. I guess Roach is a dope too?

 

I saw the same thing. He was not saying what you're saying. If he did then neither Khan nor Pacquiao would have much of a reason to join him in the first place, since they already had speed. Tell me, do you believe that Pacquiao was pre-destined to ascend to his current heights had he not remarkably improved his craft? Without Roach?

Knowing how to box well is more important than fast hands.

 

Interesting discussion this one. Tempted me to post in Classic again for the first time in ages.

This a very difficult question, almost impossible. But if an amazing athlete who never has boxed before step up against a master technician of the same size but almost no speed or power left, the technician will win 9 out of 10. The McCallum of the Jones and Toney III fight would kill any 175 lbs super athlete without any boxing knowledge at all. Of course, McCallum had tons and tons of experience, instinct and tactical knowledge as well, so perhaps this a bit too an extrem scenario.

I personally liked the distinction that was made in an early post between HWs and other weight classes. The Baers and Foremans of this world rarely have such success in other divisions.

 

The joint is poorer without yah.

Ain't it the truth.

 

Thanks!:good

 

Neither one of them are above average technicians to this day. speed is the reason Roach took them on in the first place. he wouldn't have given either one a second look if they weren't speedsters. PAC was as raw as they come when Roach hit the mitts with him. He saw how quick he was and took him on.

 

The first thing that struck Roach was Pacquiao's power. And he has spent hour after hour adding to Pacquiao's tool box, not toasting his speed.

As for Khan...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUewig7M0K0[/ame]

 

Yeah he says he was making fundamental errors. Why else would Roach want to work with him?? His whole style is based on speed not power. Your wrong about PAC too. Yes he admired his power but not as much as his quickness.

 

Giving this some time to think about it's best to have both. You can get really far with one or the other. There are a lot of guys who work hard master the bsics and have really good careers as in they become champions, despite not having the best natural skills. There are other guys who just on their talent become champions, but never live up to their potional. The ones who are really great have the natural ability and the mastery of techonal skills.

 

Hmm...

I'd go with technique in most cases.

Alberto Davila wasn't necessarily slow, but in most of his well known fights, he was physically over-matched by his opponents. Yet, he was still able to give good to great accounts against opponents who were faster/stronger/harder punchers simply because he had such sound technique. Really, the only fighters who were able to score definitive victories over him were Zarate and Gomez...And they were both capable technicians in their own right.

That being said, I remember watching Ali-Williams and thinking that Cleveland's punching technique that night was actually pretty good. If you watch that fight, and examine just the punches that Big Cat throws they're pretty compact and well thrown. But by and large, they miss Ali by miles because Ali was so freaking fast. So power and speed. while not essential, are certainly good attributes to have at any rate.

 

Have it your way.

Again, no one is dismissing the advantages that speed brings. What I am saying is that it is not more important than advanced technique. It is a great supplement, but it does not replace the craft.

So let me ask you again: Do you agree with that or not?