BoxRec

people love to mention that it's good for fighters to get rounds, or justify fights with the line that someone will get rounds from their opponent. you hear stuff like 'it would be good for him to get in some mor rounds before taking on fighter x '

i think there is value, when your opponent offers certain challenges. and in that case it's not the rounds itself that is the benefit, but the factor that is causing you to go rounds. for example, a defensively skilled opponent, you have trouble landing on him, so have to find new ways to create openings

but what about when your opponent is merely an overmatched punch bag who can take a shot but offer nothing of his own but a chin? a guy who is easy to hit and little offensive threat. fighters often spar competitively for 10-12 or more rounds at a time too, simply spending a lot of time boxing isnt necessarily foriegn to them

In my opinion, It is just used to mask a relatively poor performance where a person is expected to stop someone but ends up being extended

I actually think it is good for a young fighter to lose a round or two against a gatekeeper type and have to make adjustments in order to win.

Or to maybe face a bit of a puncher and see if they have the discipline to stick to a plan and avoid getting polaxed before the final bell.

But you are correct, walking punch bags offer very little benefit to a prospect in the pro ring aside from maybe forcing them to pace a fight properly so as not to gas out.

I think the fact you can whack someone and not hurt them is a learning experience in itself. If you know that, you can go through the rounds and not get stressed about not being able to stop your opponent.. Boxing is mainly mental - as they say.

lefthook82 wrote: ↑08 Apr 2021, 03:58 In my opinion, It is just used to mask a relatively poor performance where a person is expected to stop someone but ends up being extended

ya there are defo cases where that happens

It’s knowing you can do the rounds if needed. Even at amateur level, some kids get found out moving from 3x2’s to 3x3’s. It’s a massive leap.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Apr 2021, 04:31 It’s knowing you can do the rounds if needed. Even at amateur level, some kids get found out moving from 3x2’s to 3x3’s. It’s a massive leap.

Exactly this . It’s learning how to pace yourself over the longer distance. Understanding what you are capable of etc

Sparring can never replicate fight conditions for a number of reasons ( weight cut / glove size / crowd etc )

Lots of great fighters had to learn how to go 12 rounds .. Nigel Benn being the best example I can think of right now.

'Rounds' are everything. Thomas Hearns in the build-up to his fight with Wilfred Benitez got in eight good rounds against a gutsy white fighter by the name of Jeff McCracken. Benitez went in without a warm-up and had failed to box in 11 months by the time of the fight. Mickey Duff was convinced that Benitez would be too strong for Hearns and laid a huge bet on the gifted Puerto Rican. However, Hearns proved the sharper man and took a merited 15-round decision.

By getting rounds in, then a fighter will come up against different tactics and styles if matched correctly. That can only be beneficial when they step up

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Apr 2021, 04:31 It’s knowing you can do the rounds if needed. Even at amateur level, some kids get found out moving from 3x2’s to 3x3’s. It’s a massive leap.

This


Sparring and doing it under the lights are two different things. You can do hard rounds in the gym but dealing with the nerves of a real fight whilst doing a lot of rounds is a huge mental boost.

You're always more relaxed in the gym. Rare to see a fighter totally relaxed on fight night. Someone like James Toney.

It's already been touched on here. Pacing, Adjusting to various styles, working on your own faults. If you knock a bunch of guys out early, there is probably a whole in your game that you haven't worked on yet, or perhaps your stamina is lacking. These are the kinds of things that only come to light by going rounds.

Before you go into deep water you need to learn how to swim first

It’s more sociable than drinking on your own.

Going good quality rounds is hugely important to a developing fighter. It goes hand in hand with proper matchmaking. As another poster said, rounds vs a punching bag is non-value.

Noxy wrote: ↑08 Apr 2021, 12:38 It’s more sociable than drinking on your own.

But there’s always one awkward guy who doesn’t want to join in !

Personally I think it’s pretty important, especially for anyone early in their career.

Most guys try and whack the opponent out and most look sloppy doing it early in their careers

Going rounds can have advantages:-

Learn how to pace yourself and find out about your in ring stamina

If someone is mentally weak it could
Play an advantage to them knowing they can do the rounds if required

Gives a fighter time to put in place all the practice they have put in
To see if they can transfer this over

oogiebe wrote: ↑08 Apr 2021, 12:41 Going good quality rounds is hugely important to a developing fighter. It goes hand in hand with proper matchmaking. As another poster said, rounds vs a punching bag is non-value.

Doing 8x3's against a punchbag is worth it for your first one but then you also need to step the class up as you do more.

Also after having time out its worth it to shake the ring rust off.

That's why super tough journeymen are so important, especially in the HW division.
Blasting too many guys out early on your way up the ladder doesn't prepare you for the next level.
I think Lewis Ritson was a good example. He had 4 very early ko's on the trot, then when he couldn't blast Patera out at the next level (Euro) he didn't have the prep to go long and lost a decision.

Always does a fighter well to learn how to fight (not only spar) knackered, I think. Keeping your shape and focus when you're in rounds deeper than you've gone before and the other guy is still going has got to be tough.

A great example of what happens if you don't learn how to go rounds is Wlad Klitschko's first loss - the punchbag ended up knocking him out!

Another reason can be just confidence. Sounds like a placebo but sometimes it's what's needed. Haye showed this in his fight with Ismail Abdoul, purposely throwing no more than three rights a round, to show himself he could do 12. Seems an artificial way of doing it, but after the Thompson loss he probably needed it to make the mental step up.

Two words....Josh Taylor

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑08 Apr 2021, 17:09 Two words....Josh Taylor

the Postol fight did him the world of good, he was ready for Baranchyk and Regis.

That's the fight that proved Taylor could compete in world class.

I get the theory. However I think in boxing the most important thing is to reduce damage to the brain. So less punches to the head.

It's a paradox to some degree, but to be successful getting the rounds at the right time against the right opponent is extremely beneficial.

Going effortless rounds dosent have much value, but going real rounds as a prospect takes you to that place, let’s you know your energy will hold up in future fights.

If you Edgar berlanga for example... obviously good, but if someone takes him past 5 rounds he is going to having some self doubt and also realise oh fornicate what if I gas. Might of sparred 20 rounds in a row, it’s different under the bright lights with Adrenalin dropping..

That’s why as a prospect I think if possible it’s important to find someone that can take you progressively more rounds, that isn’t just a punching bag, but with minimal threat.