When you say "Slick Boxer", I hear "Smart Boxer"!

[Gino Ros]

There is a lot of talk about the superiority (or lack thereof) of the "slick Black boxer".

Well, first of all, I want to take the racial aspect out of it. There are many guys who I feel fit this mold but are not Black (hey, Slappin' Joe!), so let's talk generically and race-free.

It's not so much that they are "slick", it's that they are "SMART". You can be fast and elusive but not be smart (Paulie Malignaggi). But the guys who are smart fighters seem to fit this mold , and they have the greatest success.

Pernell Whitaker
Floyd Mayweather
Joe Calzaghe
Bernard Hopkins (even though BH isn't as quick/fast)

These guys seem to almost always win the back half of their fights because they make adjustments. They don't simply fight harder. They fight smarter. Look at how Joe C was knocked down early by both Jones and Hopkins. Joe made adjustments in the Kessler fight also.

Look at how Zahir Raheem technically mastered Erik Morales. Pernell confused and potshotted Chavez all night.



When's the last time Floyd lost a round in the second half of a fight?

So, you have fast/slick guys who are not smart (Zab, Paulie, Hamed, etc). But the guys who are BOTH are nearly unbeatable.

[bojangles1987]

"Slick" boxers is just some ridiculous grouping that one group of people use to say dark skinned boxers are all superior, and another group use to say dark skinned boxers are all bums.

In truth, almost all the guys considered "slick" by both groups fight far different than one another. Floyd and Hopkins are constantly grouped together when they fight nothing alike. Judah was used as proof that slick boxers are bums, when he isn't slick at all.

[- v e t -]

smart does not equal slick

JMM is one of the smartest boxers i've seen but he's not slick

[Gino Ros]

smart does not equal slick

JMM is one of the smartest boxers i've seen but he's not slick

Thank you for agreeing with what I said in my post.

[Gino Ros]

"Slick" boxers is just some ridiculous grouping that one group of people use to say dark skinned boxers are all superior, and another group use to say dark skinned boxers are all bums.

In truth, almost all the guys considered "slick" by both groups fight far different than one another. Floyd and Hopkins are constantly grouped together when they fight nothing alike. Judah was used as proof that slick boxers are bums, when he isn't slick at all.

I consider(ed) Joan Guzman as a guy who is both smart and slick.

Smart when he isn't eating himself out of several weight classes.

[Ray*]

I dont get where this racial stereotype came into it, It was a bit sad to see posters with the 'Slick AA' tag, when it has nothing to do with race.

[IronDanHamza]

Zab Judah is NOT a slick fighter.

[Dedication]

This is a good thread, thanks for pointing this out to the many unaware!

[Gino Ros]

I dont get where this racial stereotype came into it, It was a bit sad to see posters with the 'Slick AA' tag, when it has nothing to do with race.

They mostly did it to tag Shane with "slick AA" knowing that Manny would beat Grandpa Shane.

That way, people can say that Manny doesn't avoid the slick or "black" style.

[Gino Ros]

Zab Judah is NOT a slick fighter.

He is fast. Not slick.