The Boxing Art of Defense

[Darkstar]

People on here seem to love it from the right guys (Mayweather,Hopkins) but for some reason hate the Klitschkos. lol

[Main Source]

Klitschkos are good. I just wish Haye had the balls to fight them because they need better opposition in their division.

[#1Assassin]

well boxing is about hitting without getting hit, so obviously defense is atleast 50% of boxing. but good defense also opens up for u to land your offense, so its really more than half of boxing. u know yourself a fighter who has great offense and decent defense will win a few fights impressively but ultimately lose a couple along the way and not last long in teh sport. meanwhile great defensive fighters are usually the ones who go down in history as great fighters even if their offense isnt always that great. because when u have great defense, again the openings are much bigger. even if u think of someone generally thought of as an offensive machine like roberto duran, he had amazing defense. tyson is another example, then look at him when he abandoned his headmovement and angles in the 90's. a shell of himself..

[Walker Smiff]

Hit without getting hit.

[Doctor_Tenma]

One of my favorite HLs

[Carpe Diem]

One of my favorite HLs

Great Video...

[nomadman]

I appreciate and have always appreciated the art of offensive defence, not the hoary old cliche of "offense is the best defence" but a defence geared toward the fighter being able to land his own shots with as little return fire as possible. Pirog would be a good recent example. Here was a fighter who used excellent head movement and footwork to negate Jacobs work whilst getting in and landing his own shots. Result? Fifth round KO. It's when a fighter fights solely to avoid getting hit without making any attempt to actually hurt his opponent that I start turn off. Sure, I can appreciate an excellent defence but I find it difficult to get excited about the fighter unless their style is totally extraordinary (Sweet Pea and Locche spring to mind). The idea that only "true fans" appreciate defence is insulting and pompous, but an attitude worryingly prevalent among certain low class individuals of this sport who happen to think they're better than they are. Get over yourself guys. Boxing's a hurt sport. If I want to watch a chess match I'll, guess what?, watch a chess match.

[nomadman]

A poster mentioned that the best defensive fighters prolong their career and take less punishment. I don't think this is quite true. Look at Sweet Pea, look at Toney, look at Wright. All punch drunk or getting that way. The best defensive guys seem to get that way through enormous amounts of hard sparring, not through any inherent god given ability to avoid punches.

[Dirt]

defense and offense are equally important. defense is exciting when the guy is super slick and counters. but most of the time, the general public likes offensive minded fighters.

[Suckmedry]

Defence is the most important part of boxing, if you can't get hit, you can't lose, and you protect your brain and face.

Defence is what separates boxing from a streetfight.