Why is it that people think that speed=skill?

[Steak]

When in reality its generally the opposite? The guys with natural speed advantages dont have to rely on their skill most the time, and can just get away with basic stuff because they outspeed the other guy.

seriously, what takes more skill to do? fight it out at close range while interpreting the opponents next moves and outsmarting them, or using your speed to potshot and run away? I mean come on.

Its fighters like Froch that are unfairly labeled 'unskilled'. the guy has few physical gifts. hes not that fast, not an overwhelmingly strong puncher, and even his chin is not quite as good as some people try to make it out to be...and yet he can still compete with top guys that are far more physically gifted than him. That is skill, no matter how you look at it, and if you actually look closely at what he does in the ring you can recongnise that he actually is far more crafty than people give him credit for.

I love it when people say a guy is able to win on because he 'imposes his will on another fighter' or something like that. Trust me, if youve ever boxed someone before and have recklessly tried to 'impose your will' on someone, it flat out doesnt work. People that label certain fighters as 'brawlers' and assume theyre unskilled have no idea what theyre saying, because unless you have a huge advantage in chin and natural power, it takes a LOT of skill to 'brawl' with guys and come out on top. its just not as flashy, and its very discrete and hard to notice...but thats the true skill that top boxers are made out of.

now, this isnt to say that fast guys arent skilled. of course you can have both. but its irritating to see certain fighters labeled as 'unskilled' when reality theyre actually very well schooled and clever, and are often simply at a physical disadvantage.
There are two factors that matter in boxing: Physical attributes and mental(which is predominantly skill, but heart is there as well to a lesser degree). and if a guy is still successful at the top of boxing and doesnt have a lot of physical attributes, hes got to be doing something right.

Side Note: I dislike how certain fast guys are also automatically called great 'combination punchers' as well. guys that are good at flurrying quickly and landing 1/4 of their punches, maybe one of them landing clean, are not actually that great of combination punchers. someone like Julio Cesar Chavez who could throw a (slower) 7 punch combination and land all of them near flush, now THAT is a good combination puncher.

And I dont blame fighters for using their physical advantages: its a very big part of boxing, and would be ****** not to take advantage of. I just like to clear up misconceptions on this board.

[BoxingTech718]

Good post!

[jrosales13]

Damn good post.

And, I don't know why people think that.

For example, there are idiots on here who think Oscar was more skilled than JCC... Just cuz Oscar was fast I guess. It is ridiculous.

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

What specific fighters are you talking about?

Im a Froch fan and hes not that skilled at all. He does nothing great but everything well.

[D-MiZe]

What specific fighters are you talking about?

Im a Froch fan and hes not that skilled at all. He does nothing great but everything well.

He doesn't do everything well.

[Steak]

What specific fighters are you talking about?

Im a Froch fan and hes not that skilled at all. He does nothing great but everything well.

how is it that he beats guys much more physical gifted than him then?

Im not talking specifics, Im speaking generalistically, because its just a vibe Ive picked up on this board often.

[S.G.]

how is it that he beats guys much more physical gifted than him then?

Grit.

Plus he has a couple physical gifts of his own in his ranginess, power and punch resistance.

[Steak]

Grit.

Plus he has a couple physical gifts of his own in his ranginess, power and punch resistance.

do me a favour. put on boxing gloves and get in the ring with someone more skilled and faster than you, and try beating them using 'grit'.

Tell me how it goes.

his chin is overrated, and he is flat out not that strong of a guy. the power on his punches come from hitting the opponent flush and in the right spots, I certainly dont see any thudding power when he throws power punches.

[brick wall]

boxing skills is something you gain from training and experience like good combinations, head and body movements, footwork, etc. so yeah speed is not skills. same thing with punching power and good reflexes...those are not skills but natural talents. if you got speed or good reflexes though it's easier to showcase your skills so most of the time the more talented fighters usually gets the impression of having better skills. if you go by pure boxing skills, i rate hopkins and jmm as two of the most skilled active fighters.

[Calilloyd]

When in reality its generally the opposite? The guys with natural speed advantages dont have to rely on their skill most the time, and can just get away with basic stuff because they outspeed the other guy.

seriously, what takes more skill to do? fight it out at close range while interpreting the opponents next moves and outsmarting them, or using your speed to potshot and run away? I mean come on.

Its fighters like Froch that are unfairly labeled 'unskilled'. the guy has few physical gifts. hes not that fast, not an overwhelmingly strong puncher, and even his chin is not quite as good as some people try to make it out to be...and yet he can still compete with top guys that are far more physically gifted than him. That is skill, no matter how you look at it, and if you actually look closely at what he does in the ring you can recongnise that he actually is far more crafty than people give him credit for.

I love it when people say a guy is able to win on because he 'imposes his will on another fighter' or something like that. Trust me, if youve ever boxed someone before and have recklessly tried to 'impose your will' on someone, it flat out doesnt work. People that label certain fighters as 'brawlers' and assume theyre unskilled have no idea what theyre saying, because unless you have a huge advantage in chin and natural power, it takes a LOT of skill to 'brawl' with guys and come out on top. its just not as flashy, and its very discrete and hard to notice...but thats the true skill that top boxers are made out of.

now, this isnt to say that fast guys arent skilled. of course you can have both. but its irritating to see certain fighters labeled as 'unskilled' when reality theyre actually very well schooled and clever, and are often simply at a physical disadvantage.
There are two factors that matter in boxing: Physical attributes and mental(which is predominantly skill, but heart is there as well to a lesser degree). and if a guy is still successful at the top of boxing and doesnt have a lot of physical attributes, hes got to be doing something right.

Side Note: I dislike how certain fast guys are also automatically called great 'combination punchers' as well. guys that are good at flurrying quickly and landing 1/4 of their punches, maybe one of them landing clean, are not actually that great of combination punchers. someone like Julio Cesar Chavez who could throw a (slower) 7 punch combination and land all of them near flush, now THAT is a good combination puncher.

And I dont blame fighters for using their physical advantages: its a very big part of boxing, and would be ****** not to take advantage of. I just like to clear up misconceptions on this board.

It's the same as the misconceptions that a good defense = running. Or "No heart" "Not a warrior" "coward". Even when fighters like Whitaker and Mayweather have never "run." It goes with the territory and lots of people make comments like that. I've seen that vibe here as well. With that said, Froch obviously has skills. He wouldn't have made it as far as he has without skills.