I dont get it? What is wrong with ‘running’?

[SoldierWarrior]

Yeah its so fun to watch someone run around the arena like a school girl, if we wanted to watch running instead of boxing/fighting throwing your fists then we'd all be a fan of the track-star events in the Olympics. Yeah awesome running man!

And yeah, its so awesome to watch someone who comes to only survive and not even really try to win by throwing punches but just came for a paycheck. Thats very fun to watch!

[check hook]

Boxing- the art of hitting your opponent and avoiding getting hit yourself. It’s a sport we all love which caters for people of all tastes and opinions. Some people like an in-fighter, some people like an out-fighter; whilst some people just like to see two athletes battle it out to establish who is the better man. Personally, I’m inclined towards classy out-fighters who use their speed, intelligence and reflexes to win a fight. For me, watching the Alis’ and Leonards’ of the sport tactically manoeuvring their way to victory is a dazzling display of ringsmanship. However, all I seem to read on boxing blogs, articles and boards are peoples negative attitudes towards this style of fighting. People comment, “he will run all night”, “he’s scared, he will run and hide”… but the question I pose is, what is wrong with ‘running’?

I have read people saying that this style of fighting makes the fights ‘boring’, suggesting that these fighters should open up and provide excitement for the fans. Do boxers have a duty to provide fans with a spectacle? Or is the fighters number one objective to get in there and prevail victorious in any way possible? A recent example of criticism of a winning performance is Haye vs Valuev. Many fans slammed Haye’s hit and run style which amounted to roughly ten effective punches per round- but I was less skeptical. When a man has to go into a ring and win the heavyweight title of the world, he should do so by whatever means is successful- and this is what Haye did.

Another fighter under the microscope for his style of fighting is Floyd Mayweather Jnr, for instance, if the super-fight against Manny Pacquiao was to go ahead, hypothetically, would Mayweather be criticised if he fought the contest by ‘running’ and making the fight ‘boring’ for spectators? I think he would. The scrutiny of the evasive style puts the fighter in a no win situation, if he wins the fight by fighting in an illusive manner then he will be criticised for his tactics. And this is exactly why I am confused, shouldn’t people be praising the boxing skills that the fighter used and appreciate that he has won the fight?

Everybody loves a tear-up of gladiatorial proportions, Hagler/Hearns for example and I do not intend on belittling Tyson-esque brawlers, but the sweet science of boxing lies with the skill and elegance of naturally skilled boxers. So I suppose I’m questioning whether boxers have a responsibility to deliver a spectacle to fans… Or does running and winning come top of a fighters conscience?

I hope this article leaves you with something to consider and discuss- Is it really an act of fear to run…or is it simply a display of advanced boxing skills which we should embrace and appreciate?

two things.....


...elusive

...in his heyday Tyson was not a brawler....he was just a superior boxer with power........


apart from that i agree............

[THE REED]

I think there is a difference between running and boxing. And, I think you can be a defensive wizard without running. If you look at the Dirrell-Stevens fight was just horrible, that was not boxing, that was not good defense, that was just plain running IMO...

There is definitely a difference.

In alot of cases people confuse boxing with running.

[SoldierWarrior]

There is definitely a difference.

In alot of cases people confuse boxing with running.

Exactly, Roys a boxer. He is moving and throwing punches and actually trying to win the damn fight. Runners just run and barely throw anything and are alright to coast to a lop-sided loss and just happy to go the damn distance with top fighters. Not to mention everyone else watching the fight is falling sleep because theirs little action going on in the fight.

[AllEyesOpen]

Boxing- the art of hitting your opponent and avoiding getting hit yourself. It’s a sport we all love which caters for people of all tastes and opinions. Some people like an in-fighter, some people like an out-fighter; whilst some people just like to see two athletes battle it out to establish who is the better man. Personally, I’m inclined towards classy out-fighters who use their speed, intelligence and reflexes to win a fight. For me, watching the Alis’ and Leonards’ of the sport tactically manoeuvring their way to victory is a dazzling display of ringsmanship. However, all I seem to read on boxing blogs, articles and boards are peoples negative attitudes towards this style of fighting. People comment, “he will run all night”, “he’s scared, he will run and hide”… but the question I pose is, what is wrong with ‘running’?

I have read people saying that this style of fighting makes the fights ‘boring’, suggesting that these fighters should open up and provide excitement for the fans. Do boxers have a duty to provide fans with a spectacle? Or is the fighters number one objective to get in there and prevail victorious in any way possible? A recent example of criticism of a winning performance is Haye vs Valuev. Many fans slammed Haye’s hit and run style which amounted to roughly ten effective punches per round- but I was less skeptical. When a man has to go into a ring and win the heavyweight title of the world, he should do so by whatever means is successful- and this is what Haye did.

Another fighter under the microscope for his style of fighting is Floyd Mayweather Jnr, for instance, if the super-fight against Manny Pacquiao was to go ahead, hypothetically, would Mayweather be criticised if he fought the contest by ‘running’ and making the fight ‘boring’ for spectators? I think he would. The scrutiny of the evasive style puts the fighter in a no win situation, if he wins the fight by fighting in an illusive manner then he will be criticised for his tactics. And this is exactly why I am confused, shouldn’t people be praising the boxing skills that the fighter used and appreciate that he has won the fight?

Everybody loves a tear-up of gladiatorial proportions, Hagler/Hearns for example and I do not intend on belittling Tyson-esque brawlers, but the sweet science of boxing lies with the skill and elegance of naturally skilled boxers. So I suppose I’m questioning whether boxers have a responsibility to deliver a spectacle to fans… Or does running and winning come top of a fighters conscience?

I hope this article leaves you with something to consider and discuss- Is it really an act of fear to run…or is it simply a display of advanced boxing skills which we should embrace and appreciate?

2 prime examples, 1 fighter;
I never thought i would consider anyone a runner until i saw this fight;

1. Direll ran and refused to engage against Froch, he never stood his ground and only threw 1 or 2 shots and jumped back on the bike.

2. Direll stays in the pocket and uses his workrate & ability to switch back and forth from conventional to southpaw to keep Abraham from getting set and uses head movement to win damn near every round.

The funny part about the AA fight was that it was when he tried to run that AA would land better shots.

[Flawless*]

It's all about winning. You do what you have to do to win. If a boxer's best way to win is by running, than it's up to his opponent to cut of the ring. If he fails it's his fault not the runner

The problem with NSB is they cannot differentiate between a pure boxer and a runner

[SoldierWarrior]

The funny part about the AA fight was that it was when he tried to run that AA would land better shots.

Probably because AA and his camp expected Dirrell to run, Dirrell shocked AA and his ppl and alot of the boxing community too by throwing as many punches as he did against AA. AA trained for a runner not a guy that was going to be their constantly throwing at him.

[AllEyesOpen]

Probably because AA and his camp expected Dirrell to run, Dirrell shocked AA and his ppl and alot of the boxing community too by throwing as many punches as he did against AA. AA trained for a runner not a guy that was going to be their constantly throwing at him.

I think the workrate was much more effective at keeping AA away then the running, but even then Abraham was doing a piss poor job of cutting off the ring. The only reason I think Abraham would have won is because the few times he did land solid, it hurt and the more Direll used the ring the more AA would land. Mind you i understood Direll running and staying away at that point of the fight, he had the fight in the bag, i'm not going to knock him for it, i just think he's was doing a better job in the pocket.

[KickAzz]

running isn't boxing, just liek brawling isn't boxing. only idiots think that.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

Who cares. If you cant cut off the ring its on you.