Exciting Fighters vs Skilled Fighters: Which do you prefer?

[BoxerDood]

Now before you assume that by exciting fighters I mean Pacquiao and skilled fighters I mean Mayweather, sit your asses back down, fanboys.

By exciting fighters, I mean those who put on an amazing show but don't really have the best skills in the world. They're known to always apply pressure and slug it out in every round, regardless how many times they kiss the canvas. They're also known to have around 9+ losses on their resume because skilled fighters usually dismantle them. They're often called C class fighters, or one dimensional. This includes Arturo Gatti, Mickey Ward, Cristobal Arreola (well he only has 1 loss because the HW division sucks ass), Jose Luis Castillo, Angel Manfredy, Brian Minto, etc.

By skilled fighters I mean those gifted fighters, whether its offensively or defensively. Whether they're quick, strong, have amazing upperbody/lower body strength, physical, counter punchers, slick or whatever, they always come to a fight prepared and are considered the best boxers. They're also known to exploit "exciting" boxers, and are the reason many people call those boxers overrated, or C class. Sometimes skilled boxers are criticized for not being action packed. This includes fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson & Leonard, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Chad Dawson, Bernard Hopkins, etc.

Which do you prefer? An all out war/slugfest or an amazing showcase of pure skill?

[krispy kreme]

Probably an all out war, it's just incredible how much courage many of these fighters have. The dedication to the fans and boxing is ridiculous.

Watching two skilled fighters go at it can definitely intensify at times though.

[Rickety Cricket]

there are fighters that are exciting and skilled at the same time. people on here seem to forget that because they all praise mayweather who is skilled but is far from exciting.

[HandSpeed303]

I don't know...

I would have to say a mixture of the two is what I perfer.

Two of my all time favorite fighters were Frankie Randall, and Stevie Johnston.

Both always put on a great show (toe to toe wars sometimes). Both had very good skill sets (Just look up Randall..Monster. I will never forget the Manfredy and Johnston fight. Stevie was in his chest all night, and Manfredy couldn't touch him).

[mazdaru]

if you want slugfest, go watch MMA

[BoxerDood]

there are fighters that are exciting and skilled at the same time. people on here seem to forget that because they all praise mayweather who is skilled but is far from exciting.

Yes there are a few exceptions, but a majority of them haven't faced the right opponents. Anyone can look exciting against ****ty opposition (Andre Berto). And still they aren't the most exciting fighters though. I'd much rather watch Gatti-Ward over Pacquiao-Cotto.

And I disagree about Floyd. I think his boxing clinics are exciting. I was amazed by his fight with Marquez.

As for my opinion, I prefer skill. I enjoy things like reflexes, counter punches, timing, defense, footwork, etc. That's why my alltime favorite fighters are Sugar Ray Robinson, Roy Jones Jr and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

[Clyde Barrow]

Skilled fighters can be exciting too. Dumb question.

[BoxerDood]

Skilled fighters can be exciting too. Dumb question.

Again, would you rather watch Gatti-Ward or Pacquiao-Cotto right now? You'd probably pick the latter, but many others would pick Gatti-Ward. Both of these fights are exciting, but Gatti-Ward is MUCH MORE exciting.

[DLT]

I like skilled guys more. I love a high speed chess match. The Spinks-Judah fights were awesome to me

[Thread Stealer]

When it's happening live, I like to see a back-and-forth war.

For replay value, I prefer watching brilliant skills, the little things that fighters do in there. Like Hopkins feinting to his left, Trinidad covers the right side of his face, and then Hopkins hits Trinidad's left cheek with a right hand. Or Mayweather slipping and rolling with every punch of a 6 shot combination.

Of course, a violent skillful fight is the best. Corrales-Castillo 1 was an excellent display of skilled in-fighting.