How Important Is It For Fighters To Watch Tape Of Their Opponents?

[F!x]

In 1992, Lennox Lewis shockingly destroyed Razor Ruddock in 2 rounds. Post-fight Lewis said he'd watched hours of tape on Ruddock and realized that he kept his left hand low.

Floyd has said he doesn't watch (much?) tape on his opponents, while we all remember the famous "same move everytime" tape-watching session with Floyd Sr and Hatton while training for Pacquiao.

It's one thing for trainers to watch tape and feed tactics back to the fighter but how important is for the fighter themselves to watch hours of tape on their opponents in order to gain a complete understanding of the strategy?

Lewis Interview @ 10:00


Same Move Everytime

[Doctor_Tenma]

I don't know whether Mayweather is being genuine, I don't think much of it. Hopkins on the other hand watches them and even in his loses, way out of his physical prime...you could tell that he always knew what needed to be done in the ring. So that right there tells me it helps a lot, of course the fighter has to be analytical. I remember Hopkins saying he was a 'tape freak.

[Public_Enemy]

I think it's very important for a fighter to see tape. It shows tendencies and weaknesses. It helps both the fighter and trainer craft a gameplan. However, it doesn't always help. For instance, Pac/Hatton would almost always end in a Hatton KO. It's just a terrible match up. Watching tape couldn't help Hatton much.

With regards to Mayweather, he definitely watches tape. I've seen interviews, especially early in his career, where he mentions seeing certain fights. As a student of the game and a gym rat, I can't see Floyd not viewing any tape. He eats and sleeps boxing.

[bojangles1987]

I don't know whether Mayweather is being genuine, I don't think much of it. Hopkins on the other hand watches them and even in his loses, way out of his physical prime...you could tell that he always knew what needed to be done in the ring. So that right there tells me it helps a lot, of course the fighter has to be analytical. I remember Hopkins saying he was a 'tape freak.

I don't believe Mayweather for a second. Someone as hard working and insecure as he is definitely watches tape.

I would think it helps a lot to study your opponents. In a sport where one screw up loses a fight, knowing how to spot and take advantage of those screw ups makes all the difference.

[Light_Speed]

I think it can help to a certain extent, the danger is to believe that your opponent will fight the same way he's always fought on the night and to base your whole strategy on it. But what if he doesn't? What if he brings something new to the table? You have to be ready for that. So I think fighters should watch their opponents previous fights but keep in mind that they may have a different style on fight night, so you have to be ready to make adjustments.

[DARKSEID]

how important is it to study for a test?

[JaYDeuce11]

Very important. Almost as important as copying/idolizing your favorite boxer's moves and tendencies that you i herit by watching them.
Look at Marquez he's been studying Pacquiao for years. Obsessed to beat him like Vegeta in Dragon ball z. Lmao he remember Pacquiao's tendency to throw that right hand faint then strait left, and pratcied that KO punch in sparring

[DARKSEID]

Very important. Almost as important as copying/idolizing your favorite boxer's moves and tendencies that you i herit by watching them.
Look at Marquez he's been studying Pacquiao for years. Obsessed to beat him like Vegeta in Dragon ball z. Lmao he remember Pacquiao's tendency to throw that right hand faint then strait left, and pratcied that KO punch in sparring

lmao that's true. Marquez probably knows Pacquiao better than Roach.

[HarvardBlue]

It's very important. Martinez probably doesn't get that KO over Paul Williams without going over tapes to see that opportunity. He probably didn't do it or didn't notice it in the first fight. We know Marquez studied Pacquiao and practiced that KO punch. People called it lucky but he tried it several times in the fight before it landed perfectly. On Mayweather, I don't think he studies his opponents but I do think he watches 1 or 2 fights and get an idea of what he can do against them. You can see Mayweather adjusting mid fight so it's probably a little of both. He probably review a few fights and make the adjustments he sees during the fight.

[KickAzz]

it's only useful if the boxer knows what to look for