So and so can't pull the trigger any more

You can look tentative cause you know by the time you feel like reacting to the opening, that your a fraction late, and so dont want to react too late and leave yourself open cause the opening has closed up, which is why you can appear tentative at times.

 

I think there is a Sugar Ray Robinson quote about how you can no longer take advantage of the same openings that you would have as a younger fighter.

 

Old time boxers used to say it's when you see the opening and think about throwing the punch instead of doing it reflexively.
It's a deterioration of reflexive speed. Reaction time has slowed and the fast twitch muscle fibres aren't as zippy as they once were.

 

I hate watching older fighters trying to counter, and failing to react to punches cause of their reflexes, some can do it(Hopkins, McCallum), but not many, but its kinda of a catch 22, cause if you cant have success counter punching due to your reflexes, what can you do to negate that? get off first? but the problem with getting off first, is that you have to work, up your activity level, only your age is restricting your stamina to.

I guess it all equates to how age can effect your overall game.

 

No pro is scared to get hit.

It is the ability to anticipate/see an opening and throw a shot BEFORE the window closes.

When a guy "can't pull the trigger" he sees the window open, decides to throw, and watches it close BEFORE his body responds. That is the "hesitation" you see. He is saying, "Now! Oh missed it..." over and over and over.

 

This.
Don't know if its lack of reflexes, the brain making sense of it but can't get out the messages fast enough or whether its purely just not wanting to get hit. But results are the same, the older fighter following someone around the ring and getting tagged all night.

 

As I come back to read the thread I can't believe I didn't figure it immediately, of course it's mental.

It's "he can't pull the trigger", not "he doesn't have the gun any more".

The thing about seeing the openings but not being able to get to them, I heard that from Zeljko Mavrovic a while back. He was on this show sparring someone or smth like that and he said that he could still see the punches coming but couldn't get out of the way any more.

 

perfect example, just watched jones v tarver 3 and jones was 1 punch at a time, he would not commit to throwing a combo and in his prime he was one of the best, such a shame. im a big roy jones fan