The greatest defensive artists of all time

[LeadUppercut]

Yea, but the deaths also caused other rules changes.

The deaths made the rule change of a fighter having to go to a neutral corner before a count is started, so a fighter can get on his feat without having to eat a bunch of punches.

And yea, English prize fighting could go on for as many rounds as possible. But it wasn't a sport so to speak of, it certainly wasn't a spectator sport. It was illegal, and underground, and it was really just druken fighting, not boxing.

Rubbish, they were the rules of engagement that were used up until mid-late 1800's, and those rules existed for well over a hundred years, and were only superceded by Marquis de Queensbury.

Leaduppercut, you seem to be a little confused, or maybe just very unclear. Because the way you've written your post makes it seem like you think the Queens bury rules is what bare knuckeled prize fighting was.

No, Queensbury heralded the official rules for gloved fighting, maybe I mis-worded something. It also excluded clinching in favor of stand-up fighting, timed rounds, gloves, and a host of other things.

Interestingly, I was actually technically incorrect earlier when I suggested that Queensbury superceded the rules of engagement that were in play since the 17th century. They did not supercede those rules, they were an official addendum. Some of the original rules still exist to this day.

Queensbury rules, was the rules that governed and created boxing. It's not the rules of conduct that governed Prize fighting, the one where there was no limit on rounds, or any rules.

Queensbury rules is basically the creation of boxing, it's not English Prize fighting, it killed English Prize fighting.

No, that is simply incorrect, Marquis de Queensbury was an addendum, they did not herald the "start" of boxing at all.

And I don't know if anyone has mentioned the first Black Heavy weight, who was considered the greatest defensive wizard, Jack Johnson. He learned to fight blindfolded.

I remember reading that. But I think you are a getting a little mixed up there, you certainly cannot call that "defense". That was not boxing, I cant remember the name of it, but it was a different sort of exhibition fighting.

Those fights had a number of competitors, sometimes up to a dozen I believe, and they would all enter the ring blindfolded, and all fight at the same time until a winner was announced. That was not boxing, whereas bare-knuckle prizefighting certainly was.

The origins of boxing date back to the great "Figg" and before, so easily the 1700's.

[Brother Jay]

And I don't know if anyone has mentioned the first Black Heavy weight, who was considered the greatest defensive wizard, Jack Johnson. He learned to fight blindfolded.

I was actually waiting to see if anyone else was going to bring up Johnson like I waited to see if anyone would bring up Burley.

Johnson was possibly the greatest defensive HW off all time. He would block, parry and move like a WW, but hit like a HW. The man was awesome in that regard. Many of his methods were unorthodox IMO, but they worked well for him back in that era when boxing had a different feel to it.

Many writers and historians feel the same way. Johnson was a phenom. Both defensively and offensively.

Nice contribution SpitBalla.

[blacraven]

Once again, I must educate the peasants who make such silly claims about a sport they know nothing about. What an idiot.

Watch and learn about the art of pugilistic defense and marvel at those who were greatest at it.

Brother Jay watcha say... (in my x-clan voice) Preach!!!