When did Rd 1 become a throwaway

[DeeMoney]

Was watching some Hagler recently, the notoriously slow starter, and noticed he is more active in his first rounds then most any current fights I see nowadays (save for massive mismatches). Round 1 nowadays is accepted to be a, feel-em-out round where both fighters just get their timing & distance without throwing much; let alone anything with real pop. But why and when did this become the accepted practice?

Additionally, it seems like a less sound strategy to give away the first round now that fights are shorter (giving away 1/12th of the fight is more risky than giving away 1/15th).

Is this an actual phenomenon, or am I just imagining it? And if so, when did it become so?

[Blond Beast]

I am totally with you and have been saying it for years, round 1 is worth the same as any other round on the cards! There’s also a ton of first round knockouts out there so it can be worth trying to land something… but maybe that’s the rub?
The thing is some fighters really do need time to warm up and analyze. Tyson just does Tyson and is dangerous early so it worked for him, same with Wilder.
If round one can be just a few jabs then id like to see people realizing that it pays to work just that bit harder in round one to take it.
Still id like to see more such close boring few jabs first rounds be scored a draw if that’s what they really are in reality. Hate to see one guy win a point for throwing 8 jabs instead of his opponents seven jabs when that ends up being worth the same as someone getting battered and out-landed by say 15 punches.
Anyway id like to see more fighters try push harder in the last minute of the round anyway.

[QueensburyRules]

I am totally with you and have been saying it for years, round 1 is worth the same as any other round on the cards! There’s also a ton of first round knockouts out there so it can be worth trying to land something… but maybe that’s the rub?
The thing is some fighters really do need time to warm up and analyze. Tyson just does Tyson and is dangerous early so it worked for him, same with Wilder.
If round one can be just a few jabs then id like to see people realizing that it pays to work just that bit harder in round one to take it.
Still id like to see more such close boring few jabs first rounds be scored a draw if that’s what they really are in reality. Hate to see one guy win a point for throwing 8 jabs instead of his opponents seven jabs when that ends up being worth the same as someone getting battered and out-landed by say 15 punches.
Anyway id like to see more fighters try push harder in the last minute of the round anyway.

- - Deyonce warmed up couldn't box his way out of a paper mache box. He was usually beat up behind on fans cards by his usual TBA opponent before he could land his big shot.

1st round usually considered the most dangerous because mentally the fighters are seeing each other for the first time, and mistakes are made.

[billeau2]

Was watching some Hagler recently, the notoriously slow starter, and noticed he is more active in his first rounds then most any current fights I see nowadays (save for massive mismatches). Round 1 nowadays is accepted to be a, feel-em-out round where both fighters just get their timing & distance without throwing much; let alone anything with real pop. But why and when did this become the accepted practice?

Additionally, it seems like a less sound strategy to give away the first round now that fights are shorter (giving away 1/12th of the fight is more risky than giving away 1/15th).

Is this an actual phenomenon, or am I just imagining it? And if so, when did it become so?

On a deeper level what you might be seeing is a different narrative emerging in boxing. The old "way" was represented by fighters like Dempsey and the Black fighters before the color line was crossed... The idea being one had to risk it all, you were as good as your ability to win, and there was no luxury of taking any chance that prevented your onslaught. You had to quickly establish your ability and force the opponent to do so as well.

Fighters today are concerned with goose eggs, with image... Dempsey fought for food as a young man. Different stakes. Different level of confidence as well. No socal media to create the Ali effect: "Having to back up a boast."

The idea that one has a round to feel up an opponent (I know, I know...poor choice of words) is part of a narrative where something that was originally designed with combat in mind has become more of a sport. In Judo most of the real techniques that were left from Ju Jutsu have been removed from tournaments, and Fencing a long time ago turned into a spectacle for watching people with reflexes... all the angles, distancing and footwork went out the window so people can fight off one primary fighting line and see who gets there initially first.

[billeau2]

- - Deyonce warmed up couldn't box his way out of a paper mache box. He was usually beat up behind on fans cards by his usual TBA opponent before he could land his big shot.

1st round usually considered the most dangerous because mentally the fighters are seeing each other for the first time, and mistakes are made.

Deyonce stays South in the ring till he wants to unload...

[kara]

9 out of 10 times it's become a feeling out round

[Stuntman Mike]

It's the evolution of the sport

A lot of careers are halted due to cold kos and I guess they're wise to it

[DeeMoney]

It's the evolution of the sport

A lot of careers are halted due to cold kos and I guess they're wise to it

I get that, but when did this evolution take place, & who led the charge

[Willie Pep 229]

Look at Teofimo Lopez. He tried to take it to Kambosos in the first round. He won the round easily, almost and walked away losing a 10-8 round on two of the judges score cards because of a non-eventful flash KD, and subsequently lost the fight by SD.

That will teach him.

[DeeMoney]

Look at Teofimo Lopez. He tried to take it to Kambosos in the first round. He won the round easily, almost and walked away losing a 10-8 round on two of the judges score cards because of a non-eventful flash KD, and subsequently lost the fight by SD.

That will teach him.

Okay, but couldn't the same thing feasibly happen in round two, or three? I get the premise of rd 1 being one that we are supposed to feel things out, get our opponents timing down, and judging distance. But it seems as if the whole round has become just an arbitrary length of time to do this. Moreover if both are just doing this, then are we really getting an accurate picture of our opponent.

That being written, this thread was not so much about questioning the strategy, rather asking about when it became the accepted practice. I feel as if it was less practiced in decades gone by, at least to the extent it is utilized now. Am I wrong in that belief, if not, when did it become the norm?