There is a lot of talk about the superiority (or lack thereof) of the "slick Black boxer".
Well, first of all, I want to take the racial aspect out of it. There are many guys who I feel fit this mold but are not Black (hey, Slappin' Joe!), so let's talk generically and race-free.
It's not so much that they are "slick", it's that they are "SMART". You can be fast and elusive but not be smart (Paulie Malignaggi). But the guys who are smart fighters seem to fit this mold , and they have the greatest success.
Pernell Whitaker
Floyd Mayweather
Joe Calzaghe
Bernard Hopkins (even though BH isn't as quick/fast)
These guys seem to almost always win the back half of their fights because they make adjustments. They don't simply fight harder. They fight smarter. Look at how Joe C was knocked down early by both Jones and Hopkins. Joe made adjustments in the Kessler fight also.
Look at how Zahir Raheem technically mastered Erik Morales. Pernell confused and potshotted Chavez all night.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21JVx65lZeL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
When's the last time Floyd lost a round in the second half of a fight?
So, you have fast/slick guys who are not smart (Zab, Paulie, Hamed, etc). But the guys who are BOTH are nearly unbeatable.
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/038/447/1789583_display_image.jpg?1308776866
http://sports.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/floyd-mayweather-jr-returning-from-retirement.jpg
http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/thumb/d/dc/Sugar_Ray_Leonard_02.jpg/250px-Sugar_Ray_Leonard_02.jpg
They mostly did it to tag Shane with "slick AA" knowing that Manny would beat Grandpa Shane.
Umm, no Gino, from what I remember, the "Slick AA" label was first used by pachaters because they didnt give Pac credit for his wins because he hasn't beat a "Slick AA" yet.
There is a lot of talk about the superiority (or lack thereof) of the "slick Black boxer".
Well, first of all, I want to take the racial aspect out of it. There are many guys who I feel fit this mold but are not Black (hey, Slappin' Joe!), so let's talk generically and race-free.
It's not so much that they are "slick", it's that they are "SMART". You can be fast and elusive but not be smart (Paulie Malignaggi). But the guys who are smart fighters seem to fit this mold , and they have the greatest success.
Pernell Whitaker
Floyd Mayweather
Joe Calzaghe
Bernard Hopkins (even though BH isn't as quick/fast)
These guys seem to almost always win the back half of their fights because they make adjustments. They don't simply fight harder. They fight smarter. Look at how Joe C was knocked down early by both Jones and Hopkins. Joe made adjustments in the Kessler fight also.
Look at how Zahir Raheem technically mastered Erik Morales. Pernell confused and potshotted Chavez all night.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21JVx65lZeL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
When's the last time Floyd lost a round in the second half of a fight?
So, you have fast/slick guys who are not smart (Zab, Paulie, Hamed, etc). But the guys who are BOTH are nearly unbeatable.
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/038/447/1789583_display_image.jpg?1308776866
http://sports.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/floyd-mayweather-jr-returning-from-retirement.jpg
http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/thumb/d/dc/Sugar_Ray_Leonard_02.jpg/250px-Sugar_Ray_Leonard_02.jpg
proper thread....good stuff G!!!
Slick= Fast in the reflexes department. If everyone was fast, everyone would move out of the way of a punch lol.
Smart= Being able to throw both leads and counters effectively. Because in order to do that you have to be able to identify when each should be thrown. That takes intelligence.
So yeah, dodging a punch or having defense is all about speed and reflexes, because if you don't have speed or the ability to move out of the way fast enough, you than have to roll and add that subtle head movement you see all the ATG pressure fighters do. You think guys are punching bags when in reality they're doing little things to take the sting of most of the punches being thrown at them.
I dont get where this racial stereotype came into it, It was a bit sad to see posters with the 'Slick AA' tag, when it has nothing to do with race.
They mostly did it to tag Shane with "slick AA" knowing that Manny would beat Grandpa Shane.
That way, people can say that Manny doesn't avoid the slick or "black" style.
"Slick" boxers is just some ridiculous grouping that one group of people use to say dark skinned boxers are all superior, and another group use to say dark skinned boxers are all bums.
In truth, almost all the guys considered "slick" by both groups fight far different than one another. Floyd and Hopkins are constantly grouped together when they fight nothing alike. Judah was used as proof that slick boxers are bums, when he isn't slick at all.
I consider(ed) Joan Guzman as a guy who is both smart and slick.
Smart when he isn't eating himself out of several weight classes.
"Slick" boxers is just some ridiculous grouping that one group of people use to say dark skinned boxers are all superior, and another group use to say dark skinned boxers are all bums.
In truth, almost all the guys considered "slick" by both groups fight far different than one another. Floyd and Hopkins are constantly grouped together when they fight nothing alike. Judah was used as proof that slick boxers are bums, when he isn't slick at all.
14y ago
When you say "Slick Boxer", I hear "Smart Boxer"! | BoxingScene Community