36
Minutes and 12 rounds
By
M.DeTyrone
What
is boxing? One can use the simple definition about boxing just being the art of
attack and defense by using one’s fist. In my opinion, boxing is such much more
it’s a war between two opponents that involves skills, intelligence, top physical
and psychological preparation, and willpower for 12 or 10 three minutes battles.
The boxer that achieves the use of effective aggression, defense, ring
generalship, and lands the clean and hard punches within 10 or 12 rounds should
win the boxing match, if judged correctly. In a championship fight, the goal is to
achieve the highest score nearest 120 points at the end of the fight… in the
eyes of the three judges or eliminate the opponent from being a competitor in
any of those 12 rounds. The goal is to win within the accepted rules of the
commission. There
is nothing more and nothing less!
Now, the more balanced boxer should always win
the majority of the time although there are exceptions, since in boxing a KO
can change the outcome of a fight. When I comment about a balanced boxer, I
mean a boxer, which is in constant position to land combinations and clear hard
punchers by controlling the momentum, distance, timing, and space. The higher
classes of boxers have more balance visibly seen compared to the lower class
skilled boxer.
“And as water shapes its flow in accordance
with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the
situation of the enemy. Thus, one able to gain the victory by modifying his
tactics in accordance with the enemy situation may be said to be divine.” – Sun Tzu
How
can you recognize a good to elite boxers? I will comment this like it or not
boxing has a hierarchy based on a meritocratic / Darwinian “survival of the
fittest” system that’s why I wouldn’t call anyone great or good without any
true test of skills, accomplishments, or a record without adversity. What do I
look for? I look for a good boxer, which has the ability to constantly change
or switch up their styles to take advantage of an opponent’s lack of skills and
weakness during a boxing bout. You can notice a boxer’s intelligence and
experience when he’s able to grasp and take advantage of every opportunity
offered by a weakness in the opponent by using a combination of momentum,
power, footwork, speed, accuracy, feinting, and timing. A good and elite boxer
nullifies or offset the opponent’s attacking strengths and they force the
opponents to adapt to their style of boxing, which the opponents lacks skills. In
the Art of War Sun Tzu once wrote, “Thus,
those skilled at making the enemy move do so by creating a situation to which
he must conform; they entice him with something he is certain to take, and with
lures of ostensible profit they await him in strengths.” Now, for the more
experienced boxer there’s hardly anything, which they can’t cope with, that
could develop during the 36 minutes of combat, unless they are long past their prime,
then they can be outmatched.
“Strike at the
enemy as swiftly as a falcon strike its target. It surely breaks the back of
its prey for the reason that it awaits the right moment to strike. Its movement
is regulated.”
– Tu Yu
A
boxer that makes the correct judgment throughout the fight on the correct
moment to land his combinations controls the timing and without controlling the
distance, a boxer can’t use his timing. A boxer that uses timing with accuracy is
very dangerous especially when facing opponents that use repetitive
combinations by creating an artificial impression of speed or boxers that
constantly rely on their speed. A boxer with good speed, timing, and accuracy
is dangerous because they land accurate combinations or an accurate power punch
in less time than the opponent’s reaction. Many times resulting in hurting an
opponent, a knockdown, or a KO of the opponent.
“He who knows
when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.” – Sun Tzu
A
boxer that uses effectively the amount space in the ring thus controls the space
and this is very important for all boxing styles. It’s a tactical weapon for
pure-boxers and boxer-punchers, which use their knowledge of the ring for
footwork and defense and the sluggers and infighters, use their knowledge of
the ring to trap and corner opponents. In essence, a boxer that controls the
amount of space between the opponents controls the distance something, which is
essential for all boxing styles from sluggers, boxer-punchers, pure-boxers, and
infighters, all seek to control the distance. If a boxer can’t close the
distance there’s no way he can constantly land effective punches and use
effective aggression, overall, a lower class boxer.
“When I wish to
avoid battle I may defend myself simply by drawing a line on the ground; the
enemy will be unable to attack me because I divert him from going where he
wishes.”
– Sun Tzu
If
a boxer controls the distance with good footwork and defensive skills the
result is that they are in a good position and is limiting the opponent’s
ability to land clear effective punches. That’s when that boxer is constantly
landing first and is imposing their style on the opponent they’re controlling
the pace and the work rate of the fight as a result they control the momentum. The
only way to stop their momentum is by out working them with speed, timing,
power to regain the momentum. Dynamic boxers with world-class experience can
seize the momentum once again with more ease than the static boxers that tend
to rely on imposing their willpower on an opponent.
“In battles
based on martial strategy, it is taboo to let your opponent take the
initiative, thus putting yourself on the defensive. You must try at all cost to
lead your opponent by taking complete control of him. During combat, your
opponent intends to dominate you as much as you want to dominate him, so it is
vital that you pick up on your opponent’s intentions and tactics so as to
control him… according to the principle of martial strategy , you must be able
to control your opponent(s) at all times.” – Miyamoto Musashi
All
these boxers, trainers, commentators, and fans that whine all over the web and
television about a boxer “running” are admitting that their boxer lacked the
necessary skills to dominate an opponent or adjust. That’s why they will remain
always weak and exposed when faced with tough opposition regardless of their
fan base, or what the boxing media tries to construct.
