Overall the defensive ability in boxing has gone down

[Steak]

imo the overall defensive ability in boxing has gone down a lot. you rarely see any good head movement, smart effective blocking or use of the ring nowadays, other than a few certain fighters.

seems like the majority of fighters simply try to get away with a generic high guard and nonstop clinching on the inside nowadays.

If you look some years back...even someone like JL Ramirez has really good defensive ability, even though most people look at him as a no defense at all type of fighter.

he shows a lot of subtle head movement, and smart, situation appropriate blocking.

maybe Im wrong...but I think thats one of the reasons why there are so many old fighters around nowadays, still doing well despite being nearly 40. they know how to protect themselves, and the guys theyre fighting have no idea how to deal with it, because theyve never had to experience it themselves.

being a good defensive fighter doesnt mean its automatically boring or the guy is unwilling to engage...on the contrary, good defensive ability is shown when you can stay in the pocket, counter and adapt to the punching style of the opponent.

what do you think?

[Chr0nic]

that was back then when boxing was the number 1 sport on the planet, that's changed and people do safer sports instead

[Doctor_Tenma]

that was back then when boxing was the number 1 sport on the planet, that's changed and people do safer sports instead

Don't know what the hell your talking about. What is Cotto, Torres, Margarito, Paul Williams, Hatton, Ortiz, Soto, Gamboa to you? Rarely do we have defensive type fighters, very few.

[AntonTheMeh]

i suppose.....

[Verstyle]

Don't know what the hell your talking about. What is Cotto, Torres, Margarito, Paul Williams, Hatton, Ortiz, Soto, Gamboa to you? Rarely do we have defensive type fighters, very few.

He said it's gone down, not completely.

[Steak]

Don't know what the hell your talking about. What is Cotto, Torres, Margarito, Paul Williams, Hatton, Ortiz, Soto, Gamboa to you? Rarely do we have defensive type fighters, very few.

Cotto is actually quite good defensively, although he eats up uppercuts. otherwise, hes pretty solid.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Cotto is actually quite good defensively, although he eats up uppercuts. otherwise, hes pretty solid.

He looked really good against Shane, not so good against Zab, Margarito (After the 6th or 7th) and Clottey. He does eat too many uppercuts, his defense isn't too bad but as of late, hasn't looked good.

[Steak]

He looked really good against Shane, not so good against Zab, Margarito (After the 6th or 7th) and Clottey. He does eat too many uppercuts, his defense isn't too bad but as of late, hasn't looked good.

I simply disagree, I thought defensively he looked very good against Margarito. then Margarito started throwing triple left uppercuts, and because Cotto has no answer for uppercuts...the end. he had some impressive defensive moments in that fight though.
Most the damage in the Zab fight happened when Cotto was hurt by the left uppercut, and Zab went ape ****. after the first 2 or so rounds, he didnt get hit that badly.

didnt get to see the Clottey fight though.

other than the uppercut weakness, he has pretty damn good defense.

[Kris Silver]

I agree to some degree, most British guys of late have poor-average defence n'all.

[Kalion]

What about guys like PBF,Bhop,Winky?

I know I can count on my fingers the times Ive seen PBF get hit flush. Those guys have pretty good defense.