Virgil Hunter hype

Man you couldn't be more wrong. Let me just say that the trainer I work for/with, knows Virgil Hunter very well and he tells me he's an excellent trainer. Also, you don't necessarily have had to do something to be a good trainer in that same sport. Joe Goosen never boxed, Nacho Berenstein didn't either, both are GREAT trainers. Being a great trainer is about understanding the sport, and then more importantly relaying the info in a way that the pupil will understand. Just because Michael Jordan and Larry Bird were great players, it didn't mean they would make great coaches. On the contrary, they were terrible coaches. Actually, it seems that the better someone was at their sport, the worse they usually are at coaching or training. Great players or fighters typically don't understand the limitations of others, and how to teach around them. Larry Bird is one of the few exceptions to that rule, who was a great, great player and also became a very good coach and personnel guy.

It makes sense to me that someone who has NOT boxed would make for a better trainer. They would teach you "by the book" so so speak, as opposed to a former fighter whose training technique would most likely be based off of what worked for them as a fighter.

You've got to remember being taught the technical skills is only half the job. The other half is about how you communicate with your fighter and getting them mentally ready for the fight. You don't need to have boxed to achieve that. Most boxers at this level have already established their style, they already know how to fight and they already know what to expect in the ring. It's very rare that you can change a fighters style or habits when they are this far gone, which is why i don't think Khan will improve that much under Hunter, but you get my point that it's as much to do with a fighters mental state as it is the physical.

I found Virgil to be a very sharp guy... Sometimes having a keen eye for things other than just actual boxing technique can be very helpful to ur fighter. There was an instance when something came up surrounding the last fight and Virgil proved to be VERY wise... I respect him

I know you are right about how those guys are viewed, but it just comes down to credibility among the athletes they coach. Sure the media/press/fans put those guys up on a pedestal because they probably wish the same for themselves somewhere subconsciously. What do the athletes think? Already in this thread theres been examples of guys like Dundee not actually knowing that much as advertised. I dont feel like I have any business showing up at a basketball court and showing the kids how to play. Ya, I watch it on TV sometimes and shoot around for fun. I even played on a team as a kid, but never really competitively. Theres way less at stake in a basketabll game than there is in a boxing match. I dont really have a problem personally with Virgil Hunter, but the whole premise of any guy becoming a guru of somekind with out actually having done anything is absurd. Hey, I never picked up a violin in my life---but I'll teach you how to be the next yo yo ma/ world famous virtuoso performer. It is as absurd a claim in boxing. If an athlete won't listen to a coach for no reason other than, "You never played," no matter how proven it is that the coach is one of the best in the sport, than that athlete is probably too closed minded to every be a success in the sport. I can't say you are wrong to wonder, but I think there are enough examples throughout many sports that you don't have to play or fight to be a good trainer/coach.

There would be more a-holes who dont know crap about violins hanging around music conservatories trying to manage young violinists if there was as much money/glamour/exposure/prestige/fame as there is in boxing and thats the bottom line.

We'll find out in due time about Virgil Hunter, but some of the greatest trainers ever didn't box. I've never bought into the "if you didn't play/fight you don't know," argument for any sport. Some of the greatest trainers in boxing, greatest coaches and personnel people in the NFL or NBA or MLB, never played the sport. I know you are right about how those guys are viewed, but it just comes down to credibility among the athletes they coach. Sure the media/press/fans put those guys up on a pedestal because they probably wish the same for themselves somewhere subconsciously. What do the athletes think? Already in this thread theres been examples of guys like Dundee not actually knowing that much as advertised. I dont feel like I have any business showing up at a basketball court and showing the kids how to play. Ya, I watch it on TV sometimes and shoot around for fun. I even played on a team as a kid, but never really competitively. Theres way less at stake in a basketabll game than there is in a boxing match. I dont really have a problem personally with Virgil Hunter, but the whole premise of any guy becoming a guru of somekind with out actually having done anything is absurd. Hey, I never picked up a violin in my life---but I'll teach you how to be the next yo yo ma/ world famous virtuoso performer. It is as absurd a claim in boxing.

We'll find out in due time about Virgil Hunter, but some of the greatest trainers ever didn't box. I've never bought into the "if you didn't play/fight you don't know," argument for any sport. Some of the greatest trainers in boxing, greatest coaches and personnel people in the NFL or NBA or MLB, never played the sport.

Sometimes the bold is what is really need by a person on the team. Ali and Ray Leonard both said Dundee was really just a motivator and not trainer/teacher that people thought he was. Boxing is mostly a mental thing I suppose. The likes of Ali and Ray Leonard and Floyd today, all so naturally gifted I think with them kind of fighters it comes down to 'feeling good'. I like Garcia and his dad and hope they do well in the game.

On the other side of the spectrum, im not saying only muhammad ali, mayweather, leonard, pacquiao, tyson, or chavez are qualified to train fighters. There is definitely something to be said for some credibility. I dont care if you were the worst professional fighter or veteran amateur in the history of the sport. I understand that a lot of guys know what is supposed to be done, but dont have the skill/athleticism to make their own bodies do it. I wouldnt follow a leader into combat whos only experience was they are a big fan of war movies, nor would I hire a doctor to take care of me who didnt go to med school. Its just that simple. Those have to be the dumbest comparisons ever in this place. How about a doctor who went through med school, knows everything about medicine but just never practiced or a soldier who went through boot camp, knows military tactics but has never seen combat. Those would be more accurate comparisons. While they can't tell you about first hand experience, they can teach another soldier or med student everything they need to know to become a doctor or soldier.

hahaha dont even get me started on Angel Garcia. That guy has no business within 1000 ft. of a boxing ring, even with his son. The guy is a clown, but he got his son to the big show.

Father and son teams come down to emotional bond more than anything. Will Garcia improve as a fighter if he stays with his dad the rest of his career? Yes, through general experience of more fights and if hes receptive enough, he'll learn from his mistakes. Can the father bring anything to the table? Motivation I would say, but probably nothing from a technical standpoint. Sometimes the bold is what is really need by a person on the team. Ali and Ray Leonard both said Dundee was really just a motivator and not trainer/teacher that people thought he was.

hahaha dont even get me started on Angel Garcia. That guy has no business within 1000 ft. of a boxing ring, even with his son. Father and son teams come down to emotional bond more than anything. Will Garcia improve as a fighter if he stays with his dad the rest of his career? Yes, through general experience of more fights and if hes receptive enough, he'll learn from his mistakes. Can the father bring anything to the table? Motivation I would say, but probably nothing from a technical standpoint.

just another trainer to me.

If I'm not mistaken you can throw Angel Garcia in the mix too. hahaha dont even get me started on Angel Garcia. That guy has no business within 1000 ft. of a boxing ring, even with his son.

Generally, I would say your right. A professional or higher class sportsperson turned Coach/Trainer should have a higher level of knowledge/input to someone than somebody who hasn't performed at the highest levels. I listen to the likes of Tarver, B-Hop, RJJ and they are all intelligent, knowledgeable guys who you'd think could relate to a top-level fighter more than someone who hasn't boxed professionally. On the flipside, I think to be a top coach, you have to apply your knowledge in the right way, otherwise theres no point you been there. Hunter has probably been observing and studying around boxing gyms for years and can probably teach the correct fundamentals, but doesnt have the ability to apply them himself otherwise he'd be world champion and not Ward! Also other non ex-pro trainers, the likes of Adam Booth, Pedro Diaz et al. have sports science and/or psychology qualifications, so can earn the respect of a fighter in a different way than somebody who was an ex-champion in your corner.

If I'm not mistaken you can throw Angel Garcia in the mix too.

On the other side of the spectrum, im not saying only muhammad ali, mayweather, leonard, pacquiao, tyson, or chavez are qualified to train fighters. There is definitely something to be said for some credibility. I dont care if you were the worst professional fighter or veteran amateur in the history of the sport. I understand that a lot of guys know what is supposed to be done, but dont have the skill/athleticism to make their own bodies do it. I wouldnt follow a leader into combat whos only experience was they are a big fan of war movies, nor would I hire a doctor to take care of me who didnt go to med school. Its just that simple.

Can you not study the in's and outs of a sport..observe and train a fighter??yes you can.. idk...I guess for me its kind of like somebody whos never been in combat telling you what war is like. I'm not taking anything away from the guy personally, or de mato, or dundee... The point I made with Hunter is that it seems to be more related to who he was lucky enough to be hooked up with from a young age. Theres a ton of wannabes who have boxing gyms and take in juvenile delinquents, very few are ever successful and they are the ones weve all heard of. They won the lottery and had a good prospect.

bull****... Jose Mourinho (probably the best manager in football/soccer) never played pro football, but he is where he is today because he is a student of the sport and understands how to deal with people. Its no different with boxing...