Quote of the Day 3: Anderson Silva's Boxing Needs Work

by Luke Thomas on Dec 8, 2008 2:06 PM EST in News Comment 23 comments

"Speaking of [Freddie] Roach, in talking to him during the Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya pre-fight, he didn't exactly give glowing reports about [Anderson] Silva's early boxing work at the Wild Card Gym. Roach said that he needs work, had a rough couple of days early on and is laying on the ropes too much."

-- Steve Cofield, who spoke with famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach at De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao on Saturday night.

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What did he say about Arlovski when he started training with Roach?

by Brett Jones on Dec 8, 2008 12:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

roach raved about arlovski. said he thinks he could be a pro boxer. dont know at what level though.

by bdw on Dec 8, 2008 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess my next question should be: is being a professional heavyweight boxer is really a great challenge in 2008?

by Brett Jones on Dec 8, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the klitchkos are still pretty good hws, but arlovski isnt ready for them yet. i think he’s better suited to cross-over to boxing than silva, but he would probably only be getting into boxing for 1 or 2 big paychecks, just like silva. it would definetly be a big challenge for andrei though, just like it would be a huge challenge for any boxing champion to fight in an mma match.

by bdw on Dec 8, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

…I mean….regardless of if this ins’t exactly a golden age of heavyweight boxing it isn’t just like you can be a decent striker in MMA and automatically be a legitimate heavyweight boxer…very different things.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 8, 2008 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that. I really don’t follow boxing these days, though. While I understand that boxing is a whole different kettle of fish from striking in MMA, I’m not sure if the talent level at heavyweight is something that would prohibit a fighter like Arlovski, who Roach is apparently complimentary of, from successfully competing in the division.

by Brett Jones on Dec 8, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say...

Arlovski has maybe a 0.1% chance at his age of becoming a top 10 heavyweight boxer in his life. Yes, his technique is good…but that doesn’t mean he could compete at the highest level with guys who have done nothing but box their entire lives.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 8, 2008 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a sec…

Gary Shaw said Kimbo is a top 5 heavyweight boxer.

by mmalogic on Dec 8, 2008 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

HAHAHAHA

And if Shaw said it…it must be true…

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 8, 2008 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ROACH

at least freddie’s honest. he’s not gonna kiss silva’s ass and tell him he’s a better boxer than he actually is. anderson should stick with mma and forget boxing imo.

by bdw on Dec 8, 2008 12:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah man. Why be mediocre at one thing when you can be the greatest in another? Think Michael Jordan playing baseball.

by pud333 on Dec 8, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO the difference is Arlovski uses a pretty limited palette of striking moves in MMA — mostly boxing, a few kicks. He’s coming from more of a traditional kickboxing approach rather than the blend of muy thai + various exotics that Anderson has concocted.
Frankly I can’t imagine why Silva thinks he wants to fight in the boxing ring…except money, lots and lots of money.

by Kid Nate on Dec 8, 2008 12:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ding Ding Ding!

We have a winner!

by dnevil001 on Dec 8, 2008 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly. even as faded as roy jones is, i still think he would box thears off of silva, and that seems to be the only boxer he talks about wanting to fight. i think both fighters should stick to mma imo.

by bdw on Dec 8, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

box the ears off i meant.

by bdw on Dec 8, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

These MMA fighters need to wake up

Boxers train punching and head movement and footwork…. that’s it. You can’t outdo them in that domain. However, the striking game is more than just punching and head movements. It includes kicks, the clinch, elbows, etc. Why give up 75% of your arsenal just to go up against guys who only train a few aspects and does it insanely well?

by cyph on Dec 8, 2008 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

exactly...

people need to realize that there are very few MMA fighters who legitimately have “good boxing technique” which isn’t a knock on guys in our sport…it is that the sports are different and require different skillsets and techniques. If an MMA fighter were using perfect boxing technique he’d get killed with leg kicks and get taken down more or less at will.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 8, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention the time it takes to train as an MMA fighter. A boxer can train just in boxing for months leading up to a fight. An MMA fighter (if they’re doing it properly) has to train all aspects of striking, not to mention wrestling and bjj in the same amount of time. On top of that, the time spent on strategy is totally skewed. So many more ways to win/loose in MMA.

by pud333 on Dec 8, 2008 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so true. just like most of the top boxers fight for years and have a 100 or more fights in the amatuers, golden gloves, and the olympics. the top mma fighters have spent their time geeting blackbelts in karate, judo,bjj, and tae kwon do along with competing in amateur wrestling and mauy tai etc. for many years. it’s way too much for anyone to expect someone to excel at both.

by bdw on Dec 8, 2008 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Anderson Silva should compete K-1. He was born for it.

by lbk on Dec 8, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Umm, Anderson Silva isn’t gonna beat guys like Semmy Schilt or Badr Hari. In fact, he’d get decapitated for not that much money.

by D.Capitated on Dec 9, 2008 8:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This has been touched on by a couple of commentors, but I think it’s definitely worth fleshing out some more.

Not only is striking in MMA and striking in western boxing two different things, but boxing striking compared to muay thai is different as well. The fundamentals of footwork, head movement, and reflexes are all qualities Silva surely possesses but the types of strikes thrown are different in each sport. Silva tends to throw lots of knees and elbows which are all out of the question in straight western boxing. On top of that, many of the punches he throws tend to come from weird angles which is something you don’t see in boxing as it’s easily defended when you’re not trying to defend from kicks and takedowns as well. Anderson Silva will likely never be able to box at a high level like that of Roy Jones, just like Jones won’t be able to throw kicks like Silva.

It’s unanimously agreed that Silva should probably stick to MMA but there’s also no doubt that training the fundamentals of boxing will no doubt help an already great fighter and legend in our midst become even greater and more legendary. MMA is a constant journey where fighters continue to learn throughout your career. No one will ever know everything there is to know in this sport.

by dropkick101 on Dec 8, 2008 7:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs