Should Fighters Be Given Credit For Having A Defense First Style?

[Grimgash]

I don't disagree with this at all. And we all see the impact of it all the time. Tyson made millions & millions cuz he was entertaining more than cuz he was good. And ironically the same thing with Floyd despite his lack of entertainment value for some fans. Floyd entertained outside the ring & got people invested in him losing.

If boxing really wants to maximize its revenue it'd change the rules to be more fan friendly. I've talked about this numerous times cuz I think its an underutilized reality boxing has at its disposal. Rules can be altered (penalize holding & avoiding the fight quicker) & equipment changes (lighter gloves creating more KO's) among other changes could make boxing have broader appeal tomorrow.

I agree fully with what you're saying on the earnings aspect of it. The thread started asked if they should get credit, which to me they fully should. If they're not DQ'd its technically legal....doing what you can to win gets you credit in my book.

Ticket sales and credit are different beasts. Look at the spurs for awhile there, they built up a fantastic team based on solid fundamentals and defense....it was boring but they won and got their credit.

[Metho_4u]

No, because they're boring ******* who are bad for the sport

they all need to get their purses drastically reduced

The UFC fires boring wrestlers all the time, they want KO's to keep the fans entertained and it has worked very well for them

boxing should create rules to prevent the defensive minded wusses from stinking up the joint

take away points for running and hugging at least

Says the guy who's never even had a fight with a 5 year old girl

[The Big Dunn]

Can you imagine if this was years ago and the TS said willie pep didn't deserve credit for his style?

[Larry the boss]

[Larry the boss]

[GhostofDempsey]

What people fail to realize is that boxing is a sport, and sports is entertainment. I have a lot more respect for a defense-minded boxer who choses to stand in with an opponent and make them miss and then counter (Toney, Whitaker) then a fighter who runs and clinches for 12 rounds (Floyd, Rigo, Lara) and merely wants to win by decision. Fans pay good money for fights, and they should be entertained. Apparently, some of those fans are very easily entertained. Me personally, I feel the best fighters are the ones who are the complete package--Duran, Leonard, Pac, De La Hoya, Arguello, prime Tyson, etc. They have a combination of offense/defense and a style that is entertaining--that's boxing!

[madsweeney]

What people fail to realize is that boxing is a sport, and sports is entertainment. I have a lot more respect for a defense-minded boxer who choses to stand in with an opponent and make them miss and then counter (Toney, Whitaker) then a fighter who runs and clinches for 12 rounds (Floyd, Rigo, Lara) and merely wants to win by decision. Fans pay good money for fights, and they should be entertained. Apparently, some of those fans are very easily entertained. Me personally, I feel the best fighters are the ones who are the complete package--Duran, Leonard, Pac, De La Hoya, Arguello, prime Tyson, etc. They have a combination of offense/defense and a style that is entertaining--that's boxing!

Truth here. In boxing, there are 2 distinct versions of "defensive" fighters. Those who stay active and fight defensively and those who dance around to reduce actual fight time to only a few seconds a round.

I can't think of another sport allow that allows stalling, yet, here we are allowing boxers to drain 2/3 of a round just running around or holding.

[Bjl12]

boxing is about entertainment. people on here seem to lose track of that.

Plz go UFC

[HeadShots]

UFC has even more man hugging.


the defensive first fighters are the equivalent of lay and prayers in the ufc. they take someone down or push them on the fense.. then just cuddle up to them to neutralize their offense.


nobody gives them credit for drowning their opponents offense like they do in boxing.


OH ANYBODY THAT FIGHTS FLOYD THEIR OFFENSE GOES DOWN! SKILLS! That's cus he's hugging you 10X a round you facken numbnuts

[Bjl12]

Truth here. In boxing, there are 2 distinct versions of "defensive" fighters. Those who stay active and fight defensively and those who dance around to reduce actual fight time to only a few seconds a round.

I can't think of another sport allow that allows stalling, yet, here we are allowing boxers to drain 2/3 of a round just running around or holding.

TIL Pernell, Toney, and Floyd are "boring" even if they're ATG's.

Yawn. I thought PacFU.CKS left??