Boxing, the sweet science; a historic, moving, influential sport that has earned the love of generations of fight fans. Boxing brought us the Greatest, Sugar Ray, Marciano, The Pac Man. Boxing is an ageless gem, for which there is no equal.
Boxing fans have witnessed amazing history. Those fans are highly knowledgeable and well seasoned.
While it may hold no equal, boxing does hold a modern day rival that has been forged in the spirit of what boxing is, meaning prize fighting.
A new challenger in the realm of combat sports has emerged. Mixed Martial Arts is that challenger. In recent times new icons have emerged. MMA has brought us The Last Emperor, The Spider, Gracie after Gracie, The Dragon.
MMA has captured an new generation of fight fans that are driving the sport forward. They too have earned their rightful place as reputable fans of combat sports.
Relatively young in the commercial fight promoting world, mixed martial arts has gained a strong foothold in the community of fight fans. That foothold is more than a decade strong and consists of an establishment of validity that can not be ignored.
The two sides seem content to compare their arts, their loves, their opinions as to which form is superior. The debate runs deep, the theories are many.
Years ago the potential of a pro boxer fighting a mixed martial artist was brushed off as ludicrous. Today, it is very much the fabric of debate for many.
While fans of either discipline would prefer to claim their allegiances surely backed up by undeniable facts as to why one is superior to the other, neither argument can overshadow the other. This is because the two can not be tested against each other. Not with any relevant conclusion based on the outcome of an MMA vs. Boxing fight.
Boxing for example is such refined art. It proves ageless theories as to the importance of heart, endurance, gameness, strategy, and will.
Yet an MMA enthusiast will tell you those traits also play very heavily into the outcome of an MMA fight. Both are correct. Even with all the similarities between the two, they can not be equally contested.
Both sides have valid points and aspects to bring to the table as to their superior style of combat arts. In then end though, those traits remain unique to the style. Why is an MMA fight against a boxer a bad idea? Consider the unique nature of either style and the answer should become apparent.
A boxer can spend an entire career focusing on four points of contact. His entire training will solidify in his mind and his body that there are four attacks possible. The points of contact consisting of his two hands and those of his opponent.
This knowledge allows for the boxer to focus in acute areas when considering both offense and defense. Obviously the whole body plays a role in boxing but the hands are the tip of the sword. His mind is conditioned to contemplate the defense and attacks based on those facts.
For a mixed martial artist the spectrum broadens considerably. Where only the hands are employed as weapons in boxing, in MMA there are eight points of contact. Two feet, two knees, two elbows, and two fists.
Multiply that by two and a fighter has eighteen things to consider before throwing a punch. That doesn’t take into consideration the ability to take one down, or complex aspect of submissions.
So where a boxer can focus in a broader spectrum and excel in that area, an MMA fighter must spread his mind thinner, as well as his body and also remain effective based on those aspects.
Those points are the very reason why the two can not be compared. Is it tomayto tomawto, or is it apples and oranges? The latter makes more sense.
Even the theory of a boxer competing against an MMA fighter is fraught with loopholes that can not be addressed fairly. Not to mention the plethora of questions that are raised by the notion.
Under which rules does the event take place? What type of gloves are used? What type of scoring rules are used? How many rounds? What attire? Cage or ring? The questions are endless, and the answers are few.
While the fans may believe one art is superior to the other and wish to see their predictions come to fruition, there really is no effective way to prove the point.
Is it so hard to believe that the two can co-exist without competition? Can two reputable sports not prove their worth as individuals without the need for ultimate supremacy?
Boxing is what it is, as is MMA. Both are individual sports with varying rules based on similar roots. NASCAR and Formula-1 are both racing but are worlds apart. Boxing and MMA are very much on the same level as that point.
Both hold their value, both have their drawbacks. Yet neither can really hold a candle to the other. Strangely that vicious circle can not be broken. No matter how bad advocates for either would love to prove otherwise.
Last 5 posts by Todd Jackson
- Thomas vs Mayorga: One Of Many Great Match Ups At Shine's Worlds Collide - May 15th, 2010
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- UFC 113 Machida vs Rua Rematch: Did Rua Capture Lightning In A Bottle? - May 7th, 2010
- Eddie Arizmendi Jr: A Mixed Martial Artist Destined For The Top - April 21st, 2010
- Ben Henderson WEC Lightweight Champ In Attendance At Rage In The Cage 141 - April 20th, 2010
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Jeremy Williams (the boxer) with a 54-4 record and 4-0 in MMA who also has a black belt in Judo versus Fedor Emelianenko ould work.
[...] Boxer Vs. Mixed Martial Artist: It Will Never Work » Boxing, the sweet science; a historic, moving, influential sport that has earned the love of generations of fight fans. Boxing brought us the Greatest, Sugar Ray, Marciano, The Pac Man. Boxing is an ageless gem, for which there is no equal. • Boxing fans have witnessed amazing history. Those fans are highly knowledgeable and well seasoned. • While it may hold no equal, boxing does hold a modern day rival that has been forged in the spirit of what boxing is, meaning prize fighting… Todd Jackson, insidefights.com. [...]
Ray Mercer, an olympic boxer lost to a street fighter Kimbo Slice with little MMA experience via tap out. Also in early UFC Royce made the opponent (boxer) tap out with ease. Even a ninjitsu practioner won just taking the boxer to the ground. If anyone watched DREAM 11, there were a perfect example again, mma-artist vs a boxer (Sakuraba vs Williams) and AGAIN the boxer was taken to the ground and submitted. To sum it up MMA > boxing.
I’m in my 40′s, and have been a big boxing fan since March of 1971. Yes ,ever since the first Ali-Frazier fight. I have alot of respect for the MMA fighters, but let’s set things straight. When you compare MMA fighters vs Boxers, what boxers are you referring to? An older Ray Mercer? Gimme a break!! I boxed as a teenager, and had a couple of friends back then who either won, or competed for State championships in High school Wrestling. We debated back then of who could “whip” who, if it came down to it.We never found out, because we respected each other, but let me break it down for all who are “dissing” Boxers.Let’s forget the “no-name” boxers you saw lose to an MMA fighter. Take guys like a YOUNG Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Roberto Duran, Marciano, Hagler, Terry Norris,and the Ray Mercer of the early 90′s who pummpled Tommy Morrison into a knockout. Boxers like these, all in their prime, all grew up as “street fighters”. I’ve watched 2 MMA fighters stand toe-to-toe,many times in the middle of the ring/cage, and it’s a joke!!! They telegraph every punch, and stand there like sittng ducks!!The great warriors/boxers would knock most of these MMA fighters out,QUICKLY if they squared off in an open parking lot,with no rules … I’m absolutely convinced of it!!! Sure, if they got careless, and LET the MMA fighter grab them, then of course they could lose.The average MMA fan, like my buddies at work, don’t truly appreciate the fact that the great boxers . . . #1).Grew up as mean/quick street fighters. #).2 All great boxersare trained to see a punch coming the spit-second it’s thrown. #3).The human brain is our computer.Controls all nerves/muscles. I don’t care how big an MMA fighters muscles are, or his grappling techniques, the great boxers would “ring his bell” in an open fight, before he knew what hit him! NO doubt in my mind! A young Mike Tyson, a young George Foreman, a YOUNG RAY MERCER of 1992, would destroy Kimbo in an open parking lot street fight.
I’m in my 40′s, and have been a big boxing fan since March of 1971. Yes ,ever since the first Ali-Frazier fight. I have alot of respect for the MMA fighters, but let’s set things straight. When you compare MMA fighters vs Boxers, what boxers are you referring to? An older Ray Mercer? Gimme a break!! I boxed as a teenager, and had a couple of friends back then who either won, or competed for State championships in High school Wrestling. We debated back then of who could “whip” who, if it came down to it.We never found out, because we respected each other, but let me break it down for all who are “dissing” Boxers.Let’s forget the “no-name” boxers you saw lose to an MMA fighter. Take guys like a YOUNG Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Roberto Duran, Marciano, Hagler, Terry Norris,and the Ray Mercer of the early 90′s who pummpled Tommy Morrison into a knockout. Boxers like these, all in their prime, all grew up as “street fighters”. I’ve watched 2 MMA fighters stand toe-to-toe,many times in the middle of the ring/cage, and it’s a joke!!! They telegraph every punch, and stand there like sittng ducks!!The great warriors/boxers would knock most of these MMA fighters out,QUICKLY if they squared off in an open parking lot,with no rules … I’m absolutely convinced of it!!! Sure, if they got careless, and LET the MMA fighter grab them, then of course they could lose.The average MMA fan, like my buddies at work, don’t truly appreciate the fact that the great boxers . . . #1).Grew up as mean/quick street fighters. #).2 All great boxers are trained to see a punch coming the split-second it’s thrown. #3).The human brain is our computer.Controls all nerves/muscles. I don’t care how big an MMA fighters muscles are, or his grappling techniques, the great boxers would “ring his bell” in an open fight, before he knew what hit him! NO doubt in my mind! A young Mike Tyson, a young George Foreman, a YOUNG RAY MERCER of 1992, would destroy Kimbo in an open parking lot street fight.Everybody remembers Mike Tysons knockout punches, but does the average MMA fan realize how super-quick he was in his prime? Kimbo couldn’t touch him in a street fight. Tyson would knock him out in less thsn a minute!
you forgot to mention that ray mercer was 49 year old when he fought kimbo, and i think it was setup because kimbo was being groomed.Anways that same ray mercer at 49 Ko’d former ufc heaveyweight champ tim silvia who was like 32 at the time.He did that in 9 seconds.