What's something most people don't realize about boxing?

[fish262]

Yeah i think a fighter physical strength not punching power but physical strength.

aka ward vs froch. Ward pushing him around and backing him up

[Hype job]

That sparring is just as dangerous and probably takes just as much out of a fighter as the actual fight does.

[JJRod]

I say most people don't realize how difficult it is to keep a strong fighter off you.

The difference between running, and using ring generalship.



Winky Wright explains this perfectly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYuq3Anx8I

[billeau2]

people, all of us, don't yet really know that lacuna between fate, skill, talent and drive. We don't seem to understand how so many things have to come together for a fighter to fufill their potential....how much the little things can derial, and how much the capricious nature of reality can derail...everything.

I have seen it happen time and time again, from the chronicles of Ibuchi, to the seemingly small mistake that took Nando out of greatness' grasp... When one sees the accomplishments of a great fighter one is looking at a unique set of synchronious circumstances that occured in the universe and at an individual who was able to capitolize on those chances....

Remember Mike Weaver? the story goes that he was in a bar and got into a tussle and decked a guy, knocking him out cold. Just so happened that guy was the heavyweight champ for the Army....ah fate! If Weaver had not decked that guy what would have happened?

So the next time you walk down broadway and see all the people, imagine if you would that someone in that group is the guy who would make Ray Robinson look like an amateur...Ali like a loudmouther tyro! and ask yourself if fate will let it happen or not.

[////]

How much of it is simply a willingness to take damage. You can't possibly understand this until you've been in the ring.

When I was a teenager I practiced (What I thought to be) brilliant elaborate punching sequences but the first time I actually sparred with someone I realized how much of it is just a willingness to endure pain.

Pros make it look like most of those punches are just blocked or have no effect but every single one of them hurts a lot.

[Johnny Rubber]

Boxing is now a business, not a sport.

[mneronava2k]

one can't truly understand boxing and boxing culture until they've honed their craft, trained, and been in the ring and fought. Any opinion and analysis from non fighters is simply conjecture

[GrandpaBernard]

the biggest draws often aren't the guys with the most exciting style

[The Gambler1981]

How hard it is not to get hit by a guy standing right in front of you.