"I gave away rounds"

[Combat Talk Radio]

I struggle to understand this. I do. Why a fighter - any fighter - would "give away" rounds. Why they're not there from bell to bell TRYING to win a fight.

Say you get tired, it happens. Change style. Throw a bit less but still with intentions. Body work instead of upstairs. Trench instead of range. Something to show you still want to win.

Say what you want about Chino Maidana, I can't recall a single situation where he "gave away" rounds.

[W1LL]

If you've ever done any sort of taxing, physical sport which requires endurance, you'd understand. You cannot go 100% from start to finish or you will hit the wall and crash and burn. It's very common to have to just keep pace, try to get your second wind.

[Zaryu]

I think you're misunderstanding the statement. "Giving away rounds" is not a statement of "charity", but more a realization of moments (that cost them rounds) or rounds in general, in which, in retrospect, the fighter realizes he should've/ could've done more but didn't.

A lot of times it has to do with fatigue and the fighter becoming complacent, or maybe even a lack of concentration. It's recognizing room for improvement in performance within their current abilities, instead of feeling like they were just, outright, outmatched.

[Combat Talk Radio]

If you've ever done any sort of taxing, physical sport which requires endurance, you'd understand. You cannot go 100% from start to finish or you will hit the wall and crash and burn. It's very common to have to just keep pace, try to get your second wind.

I think you're misunderstanding the statement. "Giving away rounds" is not a statement of "charity", but more a realization of moments (that cost them rounds) or rounds in general, in which, in retrospect, the fighter realizes he should've/ could've done more but didn't.

A lot of times it has to do with fatigue and the fighter becoming complacent, or maybe even a lack of concentration. It's recognizing room for improvement in performance within their current abilities, instead of feeling like they were just, outright, outmatched.

I already acknowledged fatigue and a different way to do it, and I already acknowledged Chino as a great example of a fighter who from my recollection never "gave away" anything.


Mitch Green is another one. That dude did everything in his power to not only try to beat Tyson but to keep Tyson off him when Tyson was coming forward. He was always trying. Then you look at fights like Pacquiao/Clottey where one guy is just shelled up for 80% of the fight and not even trying. That's what I'm talking about.

[Zaryu]

I already acknowledged fatigue and a different way to do it, and I already acknowledged Chino as a great example of a fighter who from my recollection never "gave away" anything.


Mitch Green is another one. That dude did everything in his power to not only try to beat Tyson but to keep Tyson off him when Tyson was coming forward. He was always trying. Then you look at fights like Pacquiao/Clottey where one guy is just shelled up for 80% of the fight and not even trying. That's what I'm talking about.

Yes, but what you described in your opening post could easily be someone "giving away rounds" due to fatigue.

[Combat Talk Radio]

Yes, but what you described in your opening post could easily be someone "giving away rounds" due to fatigue.

To which I said, change up the style to one that isn't contributing to you being tired. You get tired easier by constant movement, constant throwing, or not being relaxed in there. Manny Steward used to say it all the time - too tense, not warmed up, not relaxed, etc. will make you tire faster. That's why guys like Sergio could go the distance and not "give away" rounds despite not really being aggressive; he was almost always relaxed in there and conserved energy.

If you look at the highest caliber fighters of past and present, that's the main difference. Even a guy like Tommy Hearns who would burst for the first half and then box for the second due to fatigue never "gave away" a round, even when he was old. He just adjusted to the fatigue, but was still in there trying.

[KingHippo]

I don't get this thread really. What's wrong with letting the other fighter punch out while taking a break? It's as valid a strategy as anything. Coach Ramsey specifically told Alvarez not to throw until the 6th against Kovalev. What should've he done differently? "Relax" and leave himself open by boxing a dangerous puncher like Kovalev?

[sunny31]

I struggle to understand this. I do. Why a fighter - any fighter - would "give away" rounds. Why they're not there from bell to bell TRYING to win a fight.

Say you get tired, it happens. Change style. Throw a bit less but still with intentions. Body work instead of upstairs. Trench instead of range. Something to show you still want to win.

Say what you want about Chino Maidana, I can't recall a single situation where he "gave away" rounds.

Chino took the 12th round off, and one of the middle ones against Broner. But yes he generally attacked nearly every round during his career, but he is an attritional fighter so you don't expect anything else.

I disagree with much of what you're saying. Sometimes with dangerous fighters for example, it's a legit strategy if you don't have the tools to win every round, to nullify in certain spots and winning those nullifying rounds might not be possible, but it's about winning the fight at the end of the day.

Another obvious example is if you have a lead.

There are a lot of other situations where it might be appropriate

[Combat Talk Radio]

I don't get this thread really. What's wrong with letting the other fighter punch out while taking a break? It's as valid a strategy as anything. Coach Ramsey specifically told Alvarez not to throw until the 6th against Kovalev. What should've he done differently? "Relax" and leave himself open by boxing a dangerous puncher like Kovalev?

That's fine when it's your strategy; then I shouldn't hear it as an excuse after you lose.

[Zaryu]

To which I said, change up the style to one that isn't contributing to you being tired. You get tired easier by constant movement, constant throwing, or not being relaxed in there. Manny Steward used to say it all the time - too tense, not warmed up, not relaxed, etc. will make you tire faster. That's why guys like Sergio could go the distance and not "give away" rounds despite not really being aggressive; he was almost always relaxed in there and conserved energy.

If you look at the highest caliber fighters of past and present, that's the main difference. Even a guy like Tommy Hearns who would burst for the first half and then box for the second due to fatigue never "gave away" a round, even when he was old. He just adjusted to the fatigue, but was still in there trying.

Sergio Martinez? He did give rounds away until he got his second wind. I'm sensing a lot of stubborness on your part that is disabling you from understanding this.

In retrospect fighters find things they could have done better, spots they could have done a little more and not be complacent. Saying that you would fight in a more energy efficient style is one of the ways a boxer could improve in not giving away rounds, but it certainly is not a one size fits all solution. The point here is the fighter is learning something after the fight, hence it's not just about "Ibwould just do this..." like I mentioned in my previous post, your "solution" could easily become one of those rounds were you later realize you could've won of you did something different.