Boxing Cliches

[Willie Pep 229]

In the bare-knuckle days when a fighter took money to throw a fight he was thought to have gone "cross."

But when a fighter took money, and instead bet it on himself to win anyway, it was called the "double-cross."

Boxing has added so many metaphors to our daily language that we don't recognize some of them.

[Slugfester]

Ain't it the truth. Is their a boxing-induced cliche as old as "Hold your horses? I don't know when that was coined. But I submit "keep your guard up!"

[billeau2]

According to Wikipedia/Internet the term was coined in 1810 by Pierce Egan and in the 1950s, re- popularized by AJ Liebling, writer.

Thank you... Good info

[billeau2]

In the bare-knuckle days when a fighter took money to throw a fight he was thought to have gone "cross."

But when a fighter took money, and instead bet it on himself to win anyway, it was called the "double-cross."

Boxing has added so many metaphors to our daily language that we don't recognize some of them.

It is good that you have not "thrown in the towel" on this topic. Any ideas on that one?

[billeau2]

Pep said it best: the amount of metaphors, axioms, and cliques that boxing has given us is off the charts. Fighting is integral to a culture, even a modern culture. How many times is "Rocky" referenced when we have an uphill climb?

[Slugfester]

Couldn't help but throw this one in, though not a boxing cliche but a crime documentary staple.

"She lit up a room."

[DeeMoney]

I am going with one that may ruffle a few feathers, "styles make fights".

Now let me write, that I agree with this in regards to entertainment of a given fight. Sometimes two fighters given style mesh well for excitement more so that others, even if they are of the same quality. But where I think it is overused is in regards to who is going to win the fight.

I feel the vast majority of fights are won by the better fighter, regardless of style. Now this isn't to write that certain styles don't give fighters of a different certain style more difficulty. Rather that style itself pales in comparison to skill and ability. Moreover, its kind of insulting to assume that a fighter of a certain style is so robotic that they can't adapt their style somewhat to make it work against a supposed troublesome style.

[Willie Pep 229]

I am going with one that may ruffle a few feathers, "styles make fights".

Now let me write, that I agree with this in regards to entertainment of a given fight. Sometimes two fighters given style mesh well for excitement more so that others, even if they are of the same quality. But where I think it is overused is in regards to who is going to win the fight.

I feel the vast majority of fights are won by the better fighter, regardless of style. Now this isn't to write that certain styles don't give fighters of a different certain style more difficulty. Rather that style itself pales in comparison to skill and ability. Moreover, its kind of insulting to assume that a fighter of a certain style is so robotic that they can't adapt their style somewhat to make it work against a supposed troublesome style.

I'm not passionately committed to what I'm about to say.

Would you make that argument about Wald?

I would argue, he either dominates with his "robotic" style or will be beaten.

I do agree that most often we are too quick to make the false assumption you suggest. Guilty as charged.

But Wald 'adjusting' to anyone just seems unlikely.

Just throwing it out there for debate.

[max baer]

What is a boxing cliche? I don't exactly know. Cliches in movies or music are obvious to me. Blues music is highly cliched in its musical form--I, IV, I, V , IV, I, V. Movies are obvious too. What about the character all viewers already suspect is evil after he spends the night with a new, unsuspecting woman? What is he almost invariably doing when she comes down in the morning? Of course, standing there with an apron cooking breakfast while entertaining her kids.

I will venture a guess on a boxing cliche, these from announcers. "He was hurt by that one!" "That one rocked him!" Etc, etc, etc.

I doubt seriously doubt Larry Merchant or Jim Lampley has ever been punched. I tend to trust it a lot more if George Foreman says it. And what is the difference supposed to be between hurt and rocked et al anyway, the other terms for it? No one except the fighter knows if a punch that staggered him also hurt.

i love it whenever in the middle later rounds of a tear up the commentator always shouts "there's no skill it's just a bar room brawl it's all about who wants it most"
i swear they always say that in those kind of fights. i mean in britain.
that is a good thread started here

[Willie Pep 229]

"Who wants it more" ---"Who wants it most" is definitely on the overused list.