Again, I am not saying a elite boxer goes into the ring with ZERO MMA training and wins. I am saying an elite boxer with a small amount of MMA training (a few years) to defend a takedown and learn some ground skills would be a force. I mean, really watch Tim Sylvia fight. Then plop in a tape of a top notch heavyweight boxing match. Is there really any comparison? No. It's laughable to even compare punching skills of Sylvia to a Lenox Lewis.
And for those that are saying I am just using light fighters to propose speed, BS. Roy wasn't that light. And I ask that you look back at the Tyson/Holleyfield or Holleyfield/Lewis fight. These guys are WORLDS faster (Hand speed) than ANY MMA fighter. It's not even close, and they are using 10-12 ounce gloves. Watch how there hips and shoulders explode into punches, and how balanced they are. Then watch Chuck L. throw a punch and tell me there is a comparison. People that have never been involved in boxing don't realize how much talent these guys have and how long it takes to learn the skills (+ God given ability) to punch with that kind of hand speed, power, and accuracy. And no, I am not impressed with Tank Abbotts/Kimbos punching ability/skills/power. Against another no-name smuck, they look INCREDIBLE. Put them in a boxing match against any decent pro and it would last all but 30 seconds. Hell, I think Butterbean could whip either one in a boxing match. But sure, against some other big/slow smuck they look great. Again, I think it comes down to most people having no idea how skilled a elite boxer is, and how most are truly elite athletes that have been training since age 6.
And as far as the Kimbo guy, I watched him fight another big dude (white guy) stand up fist fight. Kimbo lost. It is on the net if you search. Both gassed out after 5 minutes, and neither could knock the other out with clean bare fisted shots for 10+ minutes. I mean really, do you think ANYONE could withstand 1 clean bare fisted shot from a elite heavyweight (Tyson, Holleyfied, Lewis), let alone 10 minutes? The power and speed is on a TOTALLY different level. It's like comparing a good high school football player to an elite NFL star.
Last edited by onerareviper : July 11th, 2006 at 11:05 AM.
I agree that most stand up fighters in MMA do not punch like boxers. I will say that if you DID punch like a boxer, where you can get away with a wide stance, hip turn, and overcommitting to a punch, you would take nasty leg/body/head kicks and/or be taken down and GNP'd very quickly. Unless, of course, you connect with one of those real "boxer punches"
The stand up game is much improved in MMA versus 10 years ago.
Vitor Belfort (when the "real" Vitor shows up) and Phil Barone have very good hand speed for MMA. They throw punches the way you must throw them in MMA.
Anyone who has ever done any form of martial art fighting or MMA fighting will likely tell you that when you have to start worrying about someone shooting in, or kicking you, suddenly you start punching (and thinking) in a very different way. I spar with some pretty good boxers, and after taking some kicks to the legs, they start playing the game different very quickly. I have heard a lot of "let's just box today - no legs or takedowns, OK?" That is not because I am good (I'm not), or because they are not good, it is just a totally different game when you add legs, knees, and takedowns to the equation.
PS: Kimbo is a decent boxer, but I saw where he got beat up by a "C" level MMA guy also. Sapp has no idea how to throw a punch, but is so big and strong, he has won fights anyway. I love to see him cry when he gets hit or leg kicked though.
PPS: I don't believe that Rogan ever said an MMA guy would get beat by an elite boxer. I have heard him say the opposite though.
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Anyone who has ever done any form of martial art fighting or MMA fighting will likely tell you that when you have to start worrying about someone shooting in, or kicking you, suddenly you start punching (and thinking) in a very different way. I spar with some pretty good boxers, and after taking some kicks to the legs, they start playing the game different very quickly. .
I agree that most stand up fighters in MMA do not punch like boxers. I will say that if you DID punch like a boxer, where you can get away with a wide stance, hip turn, and overcommitting to a punch, you would take nasty leg/body/head kicks and/or be taken down and GNP'd very quickly. Unless, of course, you connect with one of those real "boxer punches"
The stand up game is much improved in MMA versus 10 years ago.
Vitor Belfort (when the "real" Vitor shows up) and Phil Barone have very good hand speed for MMA. They throw punches the way you must throw them in MMA.
Anyone who has ever done any form of martial art fighting or MMA fighting will likely tell you that when you have to start worrying about someone shooting in, or kicking you, suddenly you start punching (and thinking) in a very different way. I spar with some pretty good boxers, and after taking some kicks to the legs, they start playing the game different very quickly. I have heard a lot of "let's just box today - no legs or takedowns, OK?" That is not because I am good (I'm not), or because they are not good, it is just a totally different game when you add legs, knees, and takedowns to the equation.
PS: Kimbo is a decent boxer, but I saw where he got beat up by a "C" level MMA guy also. Sapp has no idea how to throw a punch, but is so big and strong, he has won fights anyway. I love to see him cry when he gets hit or leg kicked though.
PPS: I don't believe that Rogan ever said an MMA guy would get beat by an elite boxer. I have heard him say the opposite though.
are you talking about the fight with the cop "gannon"? if so he didnt get his ass whipped, they both really gassed out. i will admit he lost but it went on for a LONG time. and it wasnt an mma style fight. it was a typical brawl. if thats the one i wouldnt say he got "beat up" either. i agree with you 100% on your first paragraph. for that matter the last one too!
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