"Slick Boxer" The Most Abused and Misused Term in Boxing

[Doctor_Tenma]

To me slick has to do with a guys ability to trick the other guy.

A guy like Lara is a good boxer, but he doesn't really trick anyone because he fights as simple as a screwdriver. He is still hard to beat because he is good at the things he does, but it is not based on constantly tricking the other guy. Plus if a guy moves 3 4 feet out of range there is no need to be tricky because no one is buying that from that range, if someone moves 6 inches or less out of range that is slick because if done poorly trouble will happen.

Any guy can fool someone once and land a big shot, two or three times maybe if they have the right attributes. A truly slick guy will fool someone time and again, and make seem touching them like a near impossible task which will break most fighters.

That is another part of it a slick guy is really attacking a guys fighting mentality and breaking a guy that way. Rather than breaking down their body.


Not a lot of guys are truly slick though, and really when properly done it is very high level boxing.

Well said, I didn't see this post. The art of trickery, deception, straight mindfucking the opponent. That there is my definition of slickness and the truth is, slick fighters are rare, very rare.

[CubanGuyNYC]

See, here I'd strongly disagree, he was a master at setting traps and it was difficult to defend against his attacks because he was constantly giving you different looks.

I agree, but slick? I don't think so. Maybe we need to refine the definition. I don't think too many fans would call "Manos de Piedra" slick.

[Doctor_Tenma]

I agree, but slick? I don't think so. Maybe we need to refine the definition. I don't think too many fans would call "Manos de Piedra" slick.

Had this discussion plenty but I was in the minority back then, with the gifs sicko posted and The Gambler's post, I see that I'm not alone in that line of thinking. It's more of, when you see it your left saying 'that was slick'.

[Beercules]

Chris Algieri is a slick bruvva.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Definitely agree that he doesn't fall into the category of a "slick boxer". But I always considered him a fighter that has a lot of slickness in his game. He used a lot of roll and slip counters, a lot of feints and even while in your face he was very difficult to hit. He's widely considered as one of the better defensive fighters which is amazing considering his relentless style.

No argument from me here. I described Duran's skill as under-appreciated earlier. He was tremendously skilled, but in a subtle way. Most fans would look at him and not appreciate his talents, because it wasn't as flashy as, well...the slick fighters. Lol Duran had a distinctive way of violently swinging his upper body around while avoiding a counter. He often impressed me with that move. Canelo does something similar. (Another guy who has some slickness to his game but I don't consider a slick fighter.)

[The Gambler1981]

Well said, I didn't see this post. The art of trickery, deception, straight mindfucking the opponent. That there is my definition of slickness and the truth is, slick fighters are rare, very rare.

It is fooling someone who a professional at what they do and most likely knows going in the guy has some tricks. A pro who has worked hard knowing something is going to happen but still can't really do a thing about it.


Watching a guy break another fighter with their trickiness is how you know a dude is actually slick. To me it is one of the highest compliments to give a fighter, which is why it makes me sad when people misuse it and it getting mocked for it.

[Vasyl’s dad]

While I agree 100% on Pernell and Toney, bro, I can't agree on Duran. Although Roberto's skill is under-appreciated, he was known primarily as a brawler. Young Ali was slick; Camacho was slick; "Sugar" Ray Leonard was slick. I can think of many who fit that description, but not Duran.

Log the **** off. You clearly don't know schit.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Had this discussion plenty but I was in the minority back then, with the gifs sicko posted and The Gambler's post, I see that I'm not alone in that line of thinking. It's more of, when you see it your left saying 'that was slick'.

I getcha. I've always regarded slick fighters as being typically fast of hand and feet. Not a necessary requirement, but a common attribute. They're typically hard to hit, with crazy reflexes. They tend to be defensively inclined, although not always so. I consider a slick fighter to be someone that has all this on display at all times, not just in spots. Slickness isn't just a part of their game, it is their game.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Log the **** off. You clearly don't know schit.

Haha That's pretty funny. Did you just make that up?

I watched Duran fight live on TV since the mid-to-late seventies. Saw all his major fights from that point on, and also some lesser encounters. Duran was always regarded as a brawler by fans, writers and announcers alike. The first Leonard fight is still described as "Ray playing matador to Duran's bull."

Tyson is another guy whose skill is under-appreciated. Everyone seems to think he was just this savage who would knock people out the moment he landed clean. In the early days, especially, Tyson had fantastic head movement and his pivoting was a thing to behold.

[CubanGuyNYC]

It is fooling someone who a professional at what they do and most likely knows going in the guy has some tricks. A pro who has worked hard knowing something is going to happen but still can't really do a thing about it.


Watching a guy break another fighter with their trickiness is how you know a dude is actually slick. To me it is one of the highest compliments to give a fighter, which is why it makes me sad when people misuse it and it getting mocked for it.

I read an interview with former welterweight champ Carlos Palomino years ago. He fought Duran in one of Roberto's first welterweight fights. Carlos said he was amazed at Duran's speed, skill and movement, that he was under the impression Roberto was just this brawler.