Fighters who were fundamentally unsound

[Toney616]

In my opinion, father-time has slowed Jones slightly, and he can no longer out-speed his fundamental flaws. Like former heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali, Jones defied a lot of boxing basics and never learned fundamental defense. The fact is neither Ali or Jones ever learned how to block, slip, or parry a punch. They used their legs to keep from getting hit with big shots and moved away. This was wrong and most fighters wouldn't last long if they relied on the same tactic. What saved Ali and Jones was they were so fast in their prime, they could move away from the incoming punches faster than their opponent could deliver them.

Once Ali lost some of his speed as he aged, he was hit more frequently by his opponent's big shots. The same thing has now happened to Roy Jones. He no longer can escape his opponents?punches by just out speeding them and using his legs to take him out of harms way. Now, like Ali at the end of his career, because he can no longer count on his speed for defense, he is getting hit more

The question is why do fighters do this? Everyone knows how things played out for Ali, so why do they insist on repeating his mistakes?

[Sugarj]

The question is why do fighters do this? Everyone knows how things played out for Ali, so why do they insist on repeating his mistakes?

I guess its a styles thing, certain fighters were almost born to do a certain thing well.

In the instance of Roy or Ali, it was only when they were past prime that they really started shipping the big punches to the chin with any degree of consistency or regularity. In their primes these guys were rated pound for pound number 1 for several years.

If either of these guys had started out with the peak a boo style for example (a very high held guard like Floyd Patterson) and incorporated less dancing footwork, they might not have done as well as they did. Ali certainly wouldn't have beaten Liston without his fast footwork.

The real mistake doesn't concern a boxer's style, but a boxer's longevity. Ali should have retired with his senses intact before 1975's Thrilla in Manilla. Jones should have retired after the Ruiz win.

A boxer who employs a style that relies greatly on reflex has to be aware that they will be hit more when their reflexes fade.......that is the time to get out of the sport.

[The_Demon]

I guess its a styles thing, certain fighters were almost born to do a certain thing well.

In the instance of Roy or Ali, it was only when they were past prime that they really started shipping the big punches to the chin with any degree of consistency or regularity. In their primes these guys were rated pound for pound number 1 for several years.

If either of these guys had started out with the peak a boo style for example (a very high held guard like Floyd Patterson) and incorporated less dancing footwork, they might not have done as well as they did. Ali certainly wouldn't have beaten Liston without his fast footwork.

The real mistake doesn't concern a boxer's style, but a boxer's longevity. Ali should have retired with his senses intact before 1975's Thrilla in Manilla. Jones should have retired after the Ruiz win.

A boxer who employs a style that relies greatly on reflex has to be aware that they will be hit more when their reflexes fade.......that is the time to get out of the sport.

.....And its a big shame when an ATG like roy doesnt do this

[Sugarj]

.....And its a big shame when an ATG like roy doesnt do this

Yea, even an old (at 48) Holyfield is a very risky fight for Jones. His chin looked terrible against Green.

Please retire Roy, become a trainer, release fitness DVDs, anything!!

[bigboy11]

holyfield is still fighting...hard to believe

[BattlingNelson]

Yea, even an old (at 48) Holyfield is a very risky fight for Jones. His chin looked terrible against Green.

Please retire Roy, become a trainer, release fitness DVDs, anything!!

No. Not everything lol....:

[Sugarj]

holyfield is still fighting...hard to believe

Yea! He got his Olympic bronze medal the year after Return of the Jedi came out at cinemas.

The Terminator had just came out and the Band Aid concert was still a year off.

Its amazing really...............and to look at his physique even now, full credit to him.

[BattlingNelson]

Nazeem Hamed also had some unsound fundamentals yet got away with it.

[Sugarj]

No. Not everything lol....:

Ha yea...............I must have forgot!

[Sugarj]

Nazeem Hamed also had some unsound fundamentals yet got away with it.

Yea and he retired at 28 years old. Based on the form of the Barerra and Calvo fights it was a good call.

If he had been boxing the last 8 years he might not have ended up quite as sharp as the funny fat bloke at ringside who comes to watch Ryan Rhodes and Kell Brook fight every now and again.