Boxing – Froch might do well to read this
November 12th, 2009
By Joseph Aaron Forbes: Boxing is an interesting sport with many philosophies; to begin I will use the recent fight between Froch and Dirrell to illustrate.
I found this fight very interesting not to mention the decision but that’s for another time.
Here you had a champion in Froch that was completely out of his comfort zone. The reasons for this could be debated but I would like to offer my opinion on the subject.
As I listened to Foch say something along the lines of “all he could do was run run run”. My mind was brought back to the comments of Cus” D’Amato saying “boxing is about throwing the punch where you can’t get hit” and I started to think Froch doesn’t understand what boxing is really all about. He said he wanted to stand and fight, Am sure he did! That’s what he’s good at, but that night he was brought out of his comfort zone and some of his weakness’s exposed, speed and agility naming the two most noticeable ones.
I guess this got me thinking about styles and the fact that they can greatly limit a fighter. Now I won’t beat around the bush, you have to realize that most of the fighters to ever enter a ring were limited by their styles. As we look at these fighters you can see where they would fight some body that beat some body that they lost to and then they would win. It is obvious then that styles make fights; as we go back to that old cliché again.
But there are some fighters amongst these stylists, who really understand the sport.
These are such as Ali, Mayweather and maybe even Calzaghe. They are people who can adapt, who can problem solve in and out of fights and who can work on there weakness’s prior to a fight and infact probably through out most of their career.
These are attributes not often found among fighters; it is not the consistent training in a boxing gym that will get you to greatness but the consistent rumination of all aspects of boxing. The practicing of things, that in a public boxing gym would more then likely make you feel uncomfortable to do, because they would bring you out of your comfort zone and for a time you wouldn’t look cool, infact you may even look a little stupid.
Styles in general limit fighters, as Froch found out recently; hopefully to his learning.
Learning, should be the focus of fighters and is the focus (although they may not know it) of some of the greatest. This stylistic view unfortunately though, is found through out the world, not just limited to boxing but the mind sets of all but the conscientious.
Tags: 11 Responses to “Boxing – Froch might do well to read this”
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Great article, I agree. I was really impressed by Dirrell and thought he was robbed. If you look at the punch stats they are staggering. As a british boxing fan I’m ashamed that our judges went for unintelligent aggression over pure boxing skill.
can you replace santiago please.
Intelligent article, can you replace Scott Gilfoid? You obviously know what you’re talking about and I found you’re article bang on the button.
EXCELLENT ARTICLE
NICE TO SEE SOMEONE GIVE CALZAGHE THE CREDIT HE DESERVES. FROCH WOULD OF BEEN TOOK APART BY JOE. WHEN I WATCHED THE FROCH/DIRRELL FIGHT I WAS SAYING TO MY MATE IF ONLY DIRRELL TOOK THE FIGHT TO FROCH HE COULD WIN.
POUND 4 POUND MOST INTELLIGENT WELL WRITTEN ARTICLE I HAVE READ HERE IN A WHILE!
Am grate full for you compliment though!
Alan that was my first ever atempt, but thanks.
The decision was right, Froch is limited and Dirrell did his best to avoid being hit but he landed nothing himself, he didnt even jab, he just parried and if he got took into the trenches proper he would probably get DQ’d.
Successful boxers have a way of digging deep and winning fights when they are not at their best and/or face opponents that don’t necessarily suit their preferred style.
Some cagey, quick and elusive fighters like Dirrell will make most boxers look a little pedestrian particularly when they hug and hold after every exchange of blows – the key here is to worry less about how entertaining the fight is and concentrate on winning.
Froch likes to go out and have a toe to toe battle to entertain and allow him to use his strength, endurance and granite chin – he is an unbeaten World champion so it obviously has been successful to date.
Great fighters can adapt to numerous styles of opponents and still dominate and look good while winning, but the most important thing, first and foremost is to win.
Very good! but unless you can put that kind of thought accross through layman’s term’s it will only ever appeal to the conscientious, but hey I am listening.
I believe pacquiao follows this adapting approach however it could be boxing or anything else for that matter it is all relative, you can never think you know it all in any walk of life, you must always focus on learning if you stop you cap off your curve and leave yourself open for suprise.
Understanding is key to all, but to understand we must adapt, and generally people are scared of change, it is one of the hardest things to do, as know one wants to look like they are learning, people want to feel and be perceived as if they know, especially the older and more unfit we become.
it’s easy to route your thoughts down the same neuropaths it’s busting new ones that takes all the hard work.
I think you’re very clever! What you wrote makes lot of sense.
Are you a professionnal boxer yourself?
My father used to be a professional boxer in my own country (Kazakstan), but he got Parkinson so he had to stop. He taught me the basics when I was young, but I never wanted to be a professionnal because of the physical risks.
Keep posting, its good stuff!