Boxing IQ Discussion

[USMCer]

General Boxing IQ Discussion Thread...


But to start the Thread, I'm posting this regarding Canelo's Fight IQ.

[OctoberRed]

Canelo is very smart in the ring, much better after the last few years.

[Redd Foxx]

Looked forward to the discussion but instead it's just a video. I can do to YouTube to watch videos.

[CodeBreaker]

Floyd has the best boxing IQ

[tcbender]

I like the content of the video, but I can't stand that dudes voice and just the overall style of his videos. He comes off as super pretentious. Like he thinks the **** hes saying is so profound and mind blowing, but its not that deep.

Not a bad video, just not a fan of this guy.

[a.rihn]

Let me ask a question: in regards to ring IQ, how do you value aggression versus defense?

Like, Mayweather's ring IQ is undoubtedly high, right? So I'm assuming that's based on defense and counter-punching. How then would you calculate someone like Shawn Porter, a fighter who is all about aggression and swarming?

Another way of asking this: do you take into account a fighter's particular style when assigning ring IQ?

[CodeBreaker]

Let me ask a question: in regards to ring IQ, how do you value aggression versus defense?

Like, Mayweather's ring IQ is undoubtedly high, right? So I'm assuming that's based on defense and counter-punching. How then would you calculate someone like Shawn Porter, a fighter who is all about aggression and swarming?

Another way of asking this: do you take into account a fighter's particular style when assigning ring IQ?

I don't take into account a fighter's style in regards to ring IQ. It's all about making adjustments inside the ring. Pac has great ring IQ while having an aggressive fighting style especially in his prime.

[a.rihn]

I don't take into account a fighter's style in regards to ring IQ. It's all about making adjustments inside the ring. Pac has great ring IQ while having an aggressive fighting style especially in his prime.

Oh now that is interesting! So if I'm reading correctly, ring IQ may not necessarily be about the successful execution of a plan, but IQ is about being flexible enough to adjust that plan as needed. Fascinating!

I'm curious about how others think about ring IQ. Keep 'em coming!

[OctoberRed]

I like the content of the video, but I can't stand that dudes voice and just the overall style of his videos. He comes off as super pretentious. Like he thinks the **** hes saying is so profound and mind blowing, but its not that deep.

Not a bad video, just not a fan of this guy.

I second that, very annoying.

[ecto55]

I don't take into account a fighter's style in regards to ring IQ. It's all about making adjustments inside the ring. Pac has great ring IQ while having an aggressive fighting style especially in his prime.

Oh now that is interesting! So if I'm reading correctly, ring IQ may not necessarily be about the successful execution of a plan, but IQ is about being flexible enough to adjust that plan as needed. Fascinating!

I'm curious about how others think about ring IQ. Keep 'em coming!

For me (only my subjective view, mind you) ring IQ comes in all shapes and sizes.

Whether it's Ray Leonard's ability to recognize the last 30 seconds of the round via his own mental clock and flurry / shoeshine to try and 'steal' it, or George Foreman's ability (during his comeback) to work out that some seemingly 'easy' opponents would be a horror for him in the ring given the way their styles would mesh, these are all different indicia of ring IQ.

The second example 'isn't even in the ring', but derives from experience in the ring.

Do I usually assume a face first fighter has less ring IQ than a defense oriented boxer? - of course. It's a bad bias I have.

Tex Cobb was extremely intelligent, but in the ring he fought as though as smart as a heap of mud. But contrast George Chuvalo, reliant on his chin, but his ring IQ was quite high given his physical limitations...and he was always thinking.

Re. the video....yeah the guy sounds like a wanker. I'm not sure any boxing fan want's to hear some guy murmuring into your ear in an almost (**********) way. It's uncomfortable. Still he spent the time to make the video....so on with the content.

In my view...what the video creator shows is good technical stuff (feinting a counter, then landing a different counter; liked the left hook to the head changed to the liver - old school Mexican trick), but these rote techniques don't place Canelo in the same bracket as a peak Mayweather's level of ring IQ....not imo.

I'm sure that Canelo has done real ring IQ examples...just think there are better examples in his bouts that need to be found.

Adjustments vs execution of a plan - I agree execution of a plan doesn't require any great ring IQ, in fact, sometimes trainers want their fighters not to think too much so that they follow the game plan to the letter....'He'd have won if only he'd done what I told him'.

The ability to make adjustments comes usually from a higher level fighter who either (like the old school fighters) a) doesn't have a set game-plan but who comes in, see's what his opponent has and determines the best strategy from there, or, b) as is usually the case now, is surprised by something unexpected, new or novel from his opponent and needs to change his

But again, adjustments and in ring flexibility is only one (although v/large) part of fighter's deeper / broader ring IQ, which can include things like knowing when / when not to body punch; recognizing correctly when an opponent is hurt and when to go for the kills; discerning correct / incorrect corner instructions; drawing leads and programming an opponent with expected counters...with the aim of dropping a bomb via an unexpected counter; mixing leads and / punching with different speeds / rhythms; conning an opponent your not hurt when you are etc etc.

For me, adjustments are one important part of a larger category.