Evolution is defined as, “The gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.”
Last Saturday, we may have seen the future of boxing.
On paper, the middleweight clash between Sergio Martinez and Matthew Macklin should have been a mismatch. Martinez, regarded by many as one of the three best fighters in boxing, was expected to have an easy night’s work against Macklin, who was considered a B level fighter at best. Instead, we saw a closely contested bout, in which Macklin gave Martinez all he could handle. Eventually, Martinez came out on top, scoring an 11th round tko when Macklin’s trainer, Buddy Mcgirt, refused to allow his fighter to come out for the final round. That was a good call.
Before the contest, general perception was that Macklin’s style was tailor made for the Argentinean. By moving away, maintaining distance, Martinez sets traps for his incoming opponent. In contrast, Macklin, an aggressive fighter, likes to press the attack and attempt to close the distance, thus playing into Martinez’ unorthodox southpaw counterpunching style. It was not only the contrast in styles that favoured Martinez. Speed and power are the two biggest equalizers in boxing. Sometimes, a fighter can be at a stylistic disadvantage, yet because of their physical advantages [speed or power] the game can swing in their favour. Unluckily for Macklin then, Martinez held the upper hand in those areas too. These facts would have been well scouted by Martinez’ handlers.
So how on earth was Matthew Macklin – a B level fighter at best – able to compete with Sergio Martinez, who had every single advantage in his favour? Every single advantage except one…. his trainer.
From the very first round, it became apparent that someone had did their homework. Instead of pressing the attack and playing into Martinez’ gameplan, Macklin utilized the gameplan of his trainer, McGirt. By staying at mid-range, feinting and only releasing his hands when Martinez came forward, Macklin was able to neutralise Sergio’s A game. There were moments in the fight where Martinez’ frustration was evident as he appeared to be begging Macklin to take the lead. By staying disciplined, Macklin stuck to the gameplan. Only when fatigue set in, and Martinez started to land with clean shots, did Macklin lose focus and go back to his old ways. As a result, Martinez dropped Macklin twice and the fight was over.
The biggest story following the fight seemed to be that of Martinez. Branded overrated, many were quick to dismiss his pound for pound credentials by deeming him an unworthy challenger to the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Martinez needn’t worry about the critics. There is something else Martinez, and every other elite fighter for that matter, should start worrying about.
It’s becoming more and more apparent that trainers are now playing a bigger part in boxing than ever before. At one time, the trainer was almost an afterthought. Nowdays, they are just as important as the fighter themselves.
The Freddie Roach/Manny Pacquiao relationship is well documented. When Pacquiao first burst onto the scene, he was not considered a great fighter. He wasn’t bad, but certainly not great. Up until his defeat at the hands of Erik Morales, Pacquiao was a one handed, one dimensional fighter, who relied on nothing but his straight left hand. Freddie Roach declared it was time for some changes. Now, Pacquiao is one of the most complete fighters in the business. With a right hand, better balance and elusive footwork, Pacquiao has not lost a fight since. To say he has improved is an understatement. It’s also an understatement to say Freddie Roach deserves a little credit for Pacquiao’s transition from slugger, to boxer-puncher.
Pacquiao is not the only fighter who has been reinvented by his trainer.
It’s hard to believe, but at one time Bernard Hopkins was not perceived to be the supreme craftsman he is today. In his early days, Hopkins was thought of as an aggressive puncher. Now, Bernard is one of the best ring strategists in the sport. His encyclopedic boxing brain came as a result of plying his trade under Bouie Fisher and Nazim Richardson. Likewise Juan Manuel Marquez; once exclusively a defensive specialist, Marquez is now regarded as one of the best offensive fighters in the sport, a result of Marquez and Nacho Bernsteins striving for a more rounded fighter. Wladimir Klitschko is yet another example. Wladimir was once thought of as an overly aggressive fighter with a vulnerable chin. Since taking Emanuel Steward on board in 2004, Wladimir has transformed into a careful, defensively responsible fighter who operates behind a textbook jab, utilising his height and reach far better than before. Wladimir is currently enjoying a fifteen fight winning streak under the tutelage of Steward.
Trainers are now taking a more scientific approach to boxing. By studying the extensive footage available, the new breed of boxing trainer is now capable of injecting their fighter with a problem solving, one-off strategy, depending on the style of the opponent. More and more emphasis now seems to be placed on neutralization as opposed to activation. In other words, a fighter’s primary style is being abandoned, in favour of a secondary style, just to stop the opponent from doing what they do best.
Undoubtedly, Matthew Macklin would have been chosen as an opponent because he was a good style matchup for Sergio Martinez. Little did Martinez and his handlers know, that trainer Buddy Mcgirt had devised a strategy that would counter Martinez’ style beautifully. Consequently, we saw a pound for pound talent neutralized, by a far less talented pressure fighter, using a secondary style. No doubt, this was because Mcgirt will have studied hours and hours of footage on Martinez. The problem Martinez now faces is that his next opponent/trainer combination will have learned from the Macklin fight. You will probably never see another Martinez opponent pressure him the way Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik did.
A few months earlier, we saw an other example of this when Lamont Peterson fought one of boxing’s golden boys, Amir Khan. Throughout his hard fought victory over Marcos Maidana, Khan did not seem to know how to deal with Maidana’s constant pressure. As Maidana was advancing, Khan was reduced to running, because of his lack of an inside game. In his next fight, Lamont Peterson, a boxer, was selected as Khan’s opponent. At first, it appeared Peterson was a good choice. During the first round, with Peterson boxing, Khan dominated with his speed and length, beating Peterson to the punch every time.
At the beginning of the second round, Peterson made an adjustment. Rather than give Khan time and distance, Peterson began walking his opponent down. Even more shocking was the fact that Peterson had never fought in this manner before. If you look at the fight, Peterson is actually running towards Khan. By neglecting his jab and head movement, Peterson threw nothing but power shots and Amir Khan had no answer. Lamont Peterson defeated Amir Khan using a secondary style, which did not come naturally to him. Peterson’s trainer, Barry Hunter, took Maidana’s style and infused it into his fighter. Peterson was suddenly a boxer who could also brawl.
Nobody has quite managed to crack Manny Pacquiao’s stylistic code in recent years. However, there is some ground being made. It is no coincidence that Pacquiao has not finished an opponent in three years. Apart from Antonio Margarito’s heart and chin, other opponents have survived by using knowledge. Take a look at Shane Mosley’s losing effort against the Pac-man. Sure, Mosley probably lost every round, but it was the least effective Pacquiao had looked since fighting Juan Manuel Marquez for the second time. Speaking of which, because of Nazim Richardson’s ability to implement a gameplan, Mosley, who is normally a slugger, kept moving to his left, keeping Pacquiao off balance and maintaining distance. By utilising a defensive style, rather than his usual aggressive one, Shane managed to elude Pacquiao for most of the fight. This strategy was undoubtedly constructed because of the previous work done by Nacho Beristain and Juan Manuel Marquez, in their attempts in trying to decipher Manny’s code. It is no surprise then, that despite winning, Pacquiao has looked far from his best against Beristain and Richardson. Joel Diaz and Timothy Bradley will surely take note.
Make no mistake, the fighter deserves most of the credit. Without the appropriate vessel, the wisdom inserted by the teacher would be useless. However, like it is in football and basketball, trainers are now doing a lot of the thinking FOR the fighter. Boxing is becoming more about tactics and strategy, and less about blood and violence. Trainers now have such an astute understanding that a lot of their fighters are aware on how to take their opponent’s primary weapon away, even before the first bell. It is no coincidence then, that the one dimensional KO artist seems to be a lost commodity.
Fighters now have to be more adaptive and versatile than ever before to switch their fighter’s style depending on the opponent. Such is the ability of the modern day trainer to switch their fighters style, depending on their opponent. Yes, trainers of the past like Jack Blackburn and Eddie Futch were very knowledgeable, but with no disrespect intended to Angelo Dundee, I’m not sure “You’re blowing it, son” would cut the mustard anymore.
With fighters becoming more like pawns in a game of chess, the men outside the ring could end up becoming more important than the men fighting inside the ring.
