Skill wins fights. Or does it?

[Mickey Gomez]

I've always believed the fighter with superoir boxing skill and ability will win through. Boxing is a sport and sport is about technique.

However, two recent fights have made me question my stance.

J M Marquez has superior boxing ability to Manny Pacquiao, he has better technique, better defense and amazing footwork. Pacquaio is a stronger puncher and throws punches slightly faster. Pacquiao got the decision.

Rafael Marquez also has amazing technique, well honed skill and superb footwork, some of the combinations Rafa landed in this fight were truely amazing. Israel Vasquez comes a close second on the mentioned attributes but punches harder.

Both excellent close fights but in both the boxer was beaten by a stronger puncher (not to say Vasquez isn't a boxer). So the question begs, does skill win fights or will a stronger puncher shine through in certain instances?

[Boogie Nights]

mccal-lewis 1, rahman-lewis 1, barkely-hearns 1 and 2, list goes on and on

[Silencers]

Skills don't always win fights, heart and will can sometimes overcome skills.

[Scott9945]

I've always believed the fighter with superoir boxing skill and ability will win through. Boxing is a sport and sport is about technique.

However, two recent fights have made me question my stance.

J M Marquez has superior boxing ability to Manny Pacquiao, he has better technique, better defense and amazing footwork. Pacquaio is a stronger puncher and throws punches slightly faster. Pacquiao got the decision.

Rafael Marquez also has amazing technique, well honed skill and superb footwork, some of the combinations Rafa landed in this fight were truely amazing. Israel Vasquez comes a close second on the mentioned attributes but punches harder.

Both excellent close fights but in both the boxer was beaten by a stronger puncher (not to say Vasquez isn't a boxer). So the question begs, does skill win fights or will a stronger puncher shine through in certain instances?

Both of those were very close fights. It basically comes down to what the assigned judges are looking for. I've noticed lately that more than ever they favor aggression over "ring generalship", or at least in the they do in the US.

[Mickey Gomez]

Both of those were very close fights. It basically comes down to what the assigned judges are looking for. I've noticed lately that more than ever they favor aggression over "ring generalship", or at least in the they do in the US.

Good point. Judges might not neccesarily recognise a superior boxing performance.

[Feint]

Skills don't always win fights, heart and will can sometimes overcome skills.

I agree. More often than not, skill will win a fight but effort goes a long way.

[Boogie Nights]

Good point. Judges might not neccesarily recognise a superior boxing performance.

unless it ends in the knockout

[Miburo]

Such a reductionist model fails to capture many important elements. If it was so, fighters like Foreman and Chacon would never have become champions. Power, heart, chin, and of course chance (a non-personal factor) play important roles, though which overcome which is a matter of degree. No matter how much heart a fighter has, his opponent's skill may be too great to dent. No matter how much skill a fighter has, his opponent may have overwhelming power that requires very little error to be felt. Only a case-by-case analysis can determine these things.

[Burner]

Myawetaher seems to be the exception.....because seriously what would the outcome be if he foght pacman.....

[THE REED]

Skill Should always win fights, but it doesnt

How about Friday night fights - Vera, proves it right there.