Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="JAXCUSE, post: 4648317, member: 516"] What I truly love about boxing is that it is the ultimate “chess match” at the highest level. It is not just a physical sport. It is the consummate three -four steps ahead “thinking game.” Davis is a thinker. Garcia ain’t (at this stage). Garcia did not fight a “disciplined” fight nor execute a cohesive strategy. And Davis exposed Ryan each time the kid made a mistake. I listened to to Goossen (Garcia’s corner) instructions after the 1st Rd. Maintain distance and keep jabbing. Tank extended his lead RH out in Rd 2 (adjustment) to neutralize Ryan’s jab (make Garcia go around Davis’ guard). Garcia had no adjustment (should have maintained pocket distance, reset his feet and angle of delivery - that’s what Larry Holmes used to do) and instead “played right into Davis’ trap” by opening up (leading with left hooks, flurrying, shortening distance) and got clipped and dropped by a master counterpuncher…. Like ssbriefcase identified, this was an elite “thinking fighter” outmatching an opponent with tremendous physical talents but inexperienced cerebral ring IQ. Same thing happened in the 7th. Tank let Garcia “open up” again in the 6th, studied him and waited for the kid to overextend a flurry again. Clipped Ryan with a lightning body shot and Garcia took the count. That’s elite level boxing by Davis. But Garcia made it easy for him…. Old “King Ryan”has allot of work to do” (needs to be more active and gain experience against different styles and levels of ability) if he ever hopes to be an upper echelon caliber prizefighter. I like Davis; think he’s one of the best below 140 in the sport. But also believe his lack of work rate could really cost him against an another elite (and bigger) thinking fighter like a Haney, Stevenson or a Loma. One punch every 30 secs a rd will result in a decision loss vs the other “Big 3.” This has been Tank’s approach for the last couple of years. Protect himself, analyze, wait for the mistake and bang - knock the opponent out. That ain’t gonna work against the Top Rank boys. He’d really need to work (let his hands go and create advantages/openings) to beat those guys. Maybe that’s why Ellerbie (and Haymon) will never make those matchups going forward. Hope I‘m wrong. Like everyone else, I want to see the best meet the best. Hopefully, we get Spence/Crawford this summer. Looking forward to Haney/Loma and Monster/Fulton as well…. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?