"the objective of boxing is to hit and not get hit"

[al-Xander]

The objective is to win. No one is stopping you from employing any style you want. You can run, potshot, run, pothsot, clinch, grab... but don't effing complain if only a handful want to see you fight. That's really the bottom line. Man, most so-called fans themselves who defend such style would rather stream your fights. Boxing is dead with only such style. How many fans would pay to see Abril, Vasquez, Rigo, Lara, etc, instead of Rios, Ortiz, Maidana, Broner, Matthysse... In a way the sport is being carried by the latter group saving the rest.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

If you can hit and not get hit, why wouldn't you want to do that?

[M Bison]

And how do you win if you're getting hit constantly without hitting the other guy?

By being like a dog going after a bone, very few will be able to avoid being hit the entire round and It only takes one big punch to finish a fight.

[CubanGuyNYC]

People are missing the point here. The point as that people use phrases like "the sweet science" and "hit and don't get hit" to justify being fans of boring fighters like Rigondeaux. The fact of the matter as that these boring fighters could still outscore their opponents by large margins if they threw more and got hit a few more times - in fact they would often be more dominant. Unfortunately fighters like Rigondeaux (a lot of it due to too long in the amateurs) don't pull the trigger even when there is barely any risk associated with throwing just a little more. The fact is that trying to land more punches at the risk of taking a few more is the best strategy in so many cases. It's not that fighters try to get hit, it's that they are willing to risk taking a few to land their own. Anyone who doesn't understand this doesn't get boxing. Not everybody can be a pure boxer. Please note that I'm saying all this as a pure boxer with around 50 bouts. Some of my toughest fights have been against fighters who are willing to take some punches to land their own - brawlers. Everybody could take less but sometimes that's not the best strategy - I think I'm well placed to say this given that half of the people who talk about the "sweet science" have never boxed.

I agree that Rigo can throw more and should throw more. In the Ramos fight, for instance, I couldn't understand why Guille held back so much, when it was evident that Rico was scared to death and reluctant to engage. Perhaps Rigo was wary of Ramos's one-punch KO of Shimoda, but Guillermo really should've finished Rico much sooner than the sixth round.

All that said, I don't consider Rigondeaux a boring fighter. As I said in my previous post, I don't find the master of any style boring. "El Chacal" is a master. He may have his bad moments, like the aforementioned Ramos encounter, and the infamous Cordoba snoozer, but he's an amazing talent. Talent like that is impressive to witness in and of itself. I there are fireworks, and there often are, it's just the icing on the cake.

[FerFAL]

Stop it already. Its not. The objective is to win. All this crap about sweet science this and that is nice and all but its not all there is to boxing. Boxing is about using your preferred style to triumph over your opponent and his style. Saying "boxing's objective is to hit and not be hit " doesn't make you look smarter or knowledgeable.

Agreed. Seems to be the favorite line of dumasses that spend the 12 rounds running and want to convince people that's boxing. As you say, its about winning. If you can take a punch or two but Ko the other guy so be it, you won 100%. If you are more about defense and avoid gettingf hit much while landing your own blows and building up the damage you do, thats ok too. but running like a girl all 12round with a couple little slaps here and there thats not winning and thats not boxing.

[CubanGuyNYC]

...How many fans would pay to see Abril, Vasquez, Rigo, Lara, etc, instead of Rios, Ortiz, Maidana, Broner, Matthysse... In a way the sport is being carried by the latter group saving the rest.

There's some truth to this. It's mainly because the average person finds it very easy to grasp the notion of two men trying to beat each other senseless. However, I personally find myself bored by watching nothing but brawling. Every time I happen across a fight between two brawling journeymen, I almost always change the channel. How many times haven't I seen that? There are only the occasional brawls that capture the imagination. In truth, the same can be said for pure boxing matches. As I said before, it really comes down to the quality of the athlete plying his trade.

[waxfondler]

the problem is the interpretation/application of that saying.

at its most basic, that statement is VERY true. but the "hit" needs to happen before the "not get hit"... same thing as "stick & move"

IMO, i think the ACTUAL saying applied to defensive fighters nowadays should be: "dont get hit, hit if you see the opening & secure the decision".

[al-Xander]

I don't even get why so-called fans hate Rios for his style, or similar fighters. It's as if the sport they purport to love would survive with only boring fighters left. It's so ****** just thinking about it.

[illmaticfighter]

I love boxing because of styles so many different ones the most loved is ko machines and pure boxers. ppl like to call pure boxers boring and IVe called brawlers mindless both have good and bad. but the fact is guys main objective is to win and to look good doing it however they do it.

[JoeKidd]

Boxing is evolving to match fan taste. If a boxer jacks off in the middle of the ring, he'll probably acquire his own fan base. And one has to be tolerant of all tastes!