Why do these Eastern European/Russian fighters seem to hit so hard?

[BrometheusBob.]

It's only some of them remember. Just like everywhere else most of them aren't notable punchers at all.

But for the guys who are, it's a reflection of the Soviet coaching philosophy. Different to the modern Cuban or American or Mexican styles where the focus is elsewhere. The Cubans and Americans are more about mobility and ring positioning, with the Americans being more mixed and the Cubans being more extreme. The Mexicans are about pocket fighting and combination punching and you pressing your opponent rather than the opposite.

The classic style from the old Soviet school fighters is about precision and perfect punching technique. They don't waste a lot of energy moving around the ring. Their defence is fairly basic. But their 1-2 is way above the 1-2 of fighters at a similar level in Western Europe, the US, or Mexico.

There are loads of exceptions, like Lomachenko who is a very different style of fighter to a Tszyu or a Klitschko. But there are some general patterns that seem to apply. It's purely about the training focus I think. Don't buy the genetics arguments at all.

Good post.

[Chollo Vista]

Willie Pep died after years of suffering from dementia pugilistica. Wilfred 'El Radar' Benitez has been in a wheelchair for decades. Carmen Basilio was coherent and lucid till the day he died.

Pep and Benitez were some of the most defensive fighters in the history of boxing though.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Pep had over 200 fights which goes back to saying guys fight past their prime and that causes problems, not because they were aggressive killers.

[Damn Wicked]

Do you think GGG, Kovalev and Beterbiev will all be punch drunk?

Hagler, Tyson, Duran, Tua, Lewis, Julian Jackson, Foreman, etc all seem fine.

Hell, Foreman was a killer and ended up being one of the best businessman that was a boxer in history.

What Floyd said has some merit, but not all killers end up punch drunk. Many guys that end up punch drunk are that way because they fought past their shelf life, not because they were killers.

Tyson isn't punch drunk? Of course he is. Lewis was as defensive as he was aggressive. He didn't neglect defense in favour of offense. I'd have to see more video on how hagler, Jackson and Tua look now to know if they're suffering the consequences of their style of fighting. Foreman seems pretty good though from what I've seen. Are you suggesting that getting hit in the head doesn't have an affect on the health of a human and the longevity of a fighter's career? What's your point?

[Dr Rumack]

Pep and Benitez were some of the most defensive fighters in the history of boxing though.

Exactly. The argument that an offensive style=brain damage and defensive style=healthy retirement isn't upheld by the facts.

[pesticid]

It's the training that they've had. Look at the footwork and balance that they have. They come forward and even when they miss punches they are in great position to defend.

I mean Keith Thurman was a beast when he was coming forward at C+ level fighters but it's much easier to defend when fighting off the back foot than to defend when you're coming forward.

So I think all in all guys like Beterbiev, Kovalev and GGG have just had better training.

[Chollo Vista]

Tyson isn't punch drunk? Of course he is. Lewis was as defensive as he was aggressive. He didn't neglect defense in favour of offense. I'd have to see more video on how hagler, Jackson and Tua look now to know if they're suffering the consequences of their style of fighting. Foreman seems pretty good though from what I've seen. Are you suggesting that getting hit in the head doesn't have an affect on the health of a human and the longevity of a fighter's career? What's your point?

Point is fighters get in this sport with the understanding that they're going to get hit in the head. Just like guys play football knowing they're going to get hit in the head.

You can be an aggressive killer and fight 30 fights averaging 2-5 rounds while getting hit 50 times or you can be a defensive genius and fight for over 20-25 years with over 100 fights in 12 round borefests while getting hit over 200-300 times per fight.

And no Tyson is still articulate and very clear when he speaks and doesn't slur like Terry Norris or other cat that got KO'd by Chavez w/ 2 seconds left. Forgot his name.

[Pigeons]

It's the way they are taught to fight.

[Pigeons]

Exactly. The argument that an offensive style=brain damage and defensive style=healthy retirement isn't upheld by the facts.

Willie Pep had 241 fights.

[SN!PER]

They grow up in hard ass ****** environments over there.

[Dean_Razorback]

why don't you say what are you thinking larry, say it, this guys are on performance enhancing drugs.