Kid Gavilan v Jose Napoles

If Napoles relied on getting off first he never would have been anywhere near a world title. He wins this one clearly IMO

 

Getting off first and countering are more related that you think.

If Napoles was continually waiting for his opponents to throw, without throwing anything at all he would be duffed. But Napoles was always either feinting or jabbing as he was waiting to counter. That to me is what is meant by 'getting off first' it is more about controlling who punches first and manipulating it.