Boxing vs. Kickboxing

[Tom Yum]

We live in the age of mixed martial arts and K-1/Pride has given us a few boxing vs. kickboxing matches to look at.

The fights I am referring to are Fujiyama? vs Botha and the recent fight between Masado vs Vincent (forget his last name) who holds a top 10 position as an IBF welterweight.

so far, it seems like kicking in general gives boxers problems. Abidi vs. Botha (part 2) showed how leg kicks can slow down a boxer and frustrate his strategy to close fast and unload. Fujiyama allmost used the same strategy except he was able to sneak in a high kick and plant Botha on the mat. Same with the Masado/Vincent match. talk of the fight says that Vincent's defense against the kicks was akward. One of the still shots shows Masado landing a high kick with Vincent covering akwardly, but getting visibly rocked.

However, kickboxers who have superior boxing skills seem to dominate other kickboxers. K-1 2003 Grand Prix, Albert Kraus through the minimum number of kicks per round and was able to close the gap fast and unload non-stop. Likewise, any of Ernesto Hoosts fights show is aggressive boxing strategy; He Kod Crocop with a right cross to the body - Crocop winced in pain and folded over.

I still think boxing is the sweet science; it just needs a little cross training.

[shadowkiller]

It just stands to reason, kickboxers use both arms and legs so they have a better chance in a fight. But I do completly agree that anyone in K-1 with strong boxing skills and even ok kicking will dominate.

That is why I am focusing more on boxing before I continue on in MT. I will be going to Thailand sometime this year and hope to have brought my boxing skills up.

[WiLd-EyEd]

It's all sychologicle! The boxer steps into the ring thinking his opponent knows how to do something he doesnt and gets all preoccupied with that, focusing on the other guys game instead of his own! A good boxer will bum-rush a kicker and dump him on his ass.
Kicking is a high-risk / low-payoff maneuver that a smart fighter wouldnt try in a no-rules, no-ref situation.
The ony time to kick somebody in the head is when there on all fours!

[Tom Yum]

It's all sychologicle! The boxer steps into the ring thinking his opponent knows how to do something he doesnt and gets all preoccupied with that, focusing on the other guys game instead of his own! A good boxer will bum-rush a kicker and dump him on his ass.
Kicking is a high-risk / low-payoff maneuver that a smart fighter wouldnt try in a no-rules, no-ref situation.
The ony time to kick somebody in the head is when there on all fours!

Francois Botha is a good boxer, not a dominant player anymore, but still a professional. He got stopped by Cyril Abidi and Fujiyama via kicks. Botha had the size and infighting advantage too!

You're thinking of fancy high kicks. Once you ride back one or two of his kicks and swoop in you can plant and deliver.

Fighters from muay thai or MMA will kick low or use them in the middle of a flurry of punches. Rarely will they lift their leg up high and try to tag you on the head, that's the trademark of styles like tae kwon do.

[WiLd-EyEd]

You're thinking of fancy high kicks. Fighters from muay thai or MMA will kick low or use them in the middle of a flurry of punches. .

Weelll you might have a point. Kicking low can work, but sooner or later oriental arts kickers get cocky and try to kick high - which never works.

You ever hear of "furring"? Thats when you scrape your boot down the front of the other guy's shinbone and stomp on their foot - now that works! And it's Irish!

('scuse me, I gotta go find jubaji)

[Tom Yum]

Weelll you might have a point. Kicking low can work, but sooner or later oriental arts kickers get cocky and try to kick high - which never works.

You ever hear of "furring"? Thats when you scrape your boot down the front of the other guy's shinbone and stomp on their foot - now that works! And it's Irish!

Yep, the same thing as a push kick in muay thai (allmost) which you could deliver at the ankle, shin, knee, thigh, groin or solar plexus. Kicking high can work, but I agree if that's the only thing you know how to do a smart guy will figure you out, close and unload.


Alot of boxers know about 'furring', kickboxers too. You step on the guys foot while simultaneously throwing a cross or hook and the guy goes down.

[osopardo]

I think you're talking about a technique meant to take away the opponent's footwork and he's talking about taking away the skin off the opponent's leg - Ouch!

And why would you say it's Irish?

[muaythaitom]

cro cop

I think there is a little bit of grey-area here. The KO of Cro Cop by Hoost was mentioned; that might have more to do with Hoost being a superior kickboxer, considering Cro Cop comes from a boxing background. I think it will be interesting to see how Tyson does after picking up kick-boxing skills--he is a natural fighter, and if he takes the lower-body stuff seriously, we might be sure that we can't be sure (on the question of who is better). Anyway, I guess that it all comes down to who has the most effective striking skills, whether those skills come primarily from the fists or from the legs.