Highest/Lowest Ring IQ's of all time

We'll have to disagree about Joppy having a good ring IQ. I never saw it.

Haugen I already said had a good ring IQ.

Back to poor ring IQ - Juan Diaz. Simply fought off of repetition. Combination, pivot. That's all he knew. Never threw at openings. Simply threw the combos he practiced in the gym over and over. Because of his predictable nature and inability to think in there, Marquez analyzed him and systematically took him out.

 

Joel Casamayor was a very smart fighter. I was a big fan and I always wondered why he couldn't quite dominate at the top level. Watching guys like Rigondeaux and Lara you can see he wasn't quite as talented as those guys. But he was smart, tough and knew how to work 12 rounds.

 

Casamayor was never as talented as Rigo, but in his 20's I'd say he was more talented than Lara.

And yes, he had a good ring IQ.

 

Donald Curry. Surprised no one mentioned him yet. Very high ring IQ. Call him a front runner if you want, but can't question his intelligence.

Dwight Qawi, if we're talking offensive fighters with high ring IQs, Qawi is def up there.

Low IQ - pains me to say it cause I'm a big fan... Edwin Rosario. Rosario had a HOF career cause was extremely talented and skilled, and had absurd power. But he wasn't a high IQ figher. Not a DUMB one, but not a great thinker either.

That sets him apart from say Carlos Ortiz, who had less power, but a FAAARRRR better brain.

 

Of every guy listed here, I think the one with THE most underrated great IQ is Mike Spinks. Spinks was a VERY VERY VERY intelligent fighter, which probably can be misleading since he was so awkward. But he was BRILLIANT at figuring guys out after starting slow.

Spinks has to be top 5-6 all time in ring IQ.

 

shutdafuckup

Let's not go overboard.

 

You just compared Joe Calz to some of the best fighters in history and saying I'M going overboard?

Not overboard at all. Spinks is a top 15-20 atg.

And prime Qawi is better than anybody your stripper loving hero ever beat.

 

If you move from lightheavy to beat Larry Holmes...you have to have something more than just skills...

 

Spinks never beat Andre Berto, so his skill is questionable.

 

Never said he was unintelligent...but to make him top 5 all time is going overboard.

 

I didn't see top 5...w/ guys like ALi, Toney, Whitaker, Duran, Chavez, etc...I don't think Spinks is top 5 but he is still up there.

 

Toney??? GTFOH! I love Toney, but Spinks had a higher ring IQ than him. Higher ring IQ than Ali as well. Don't let Ali's talent and TOUGHNESS fool you into thinking he had a brilliant ring IQ. He couldn't outsmart Norton. I'd say Spinks had an equal, if not better ring IQ than Chavez.

Whitaker, and Duran, you got me there. Spinks' ring IQ wasn't as high as theirs.

Watch some of Spinks fights. It's deceiving because 1. He had an awkward, goofy style and 2. He wasn't that articulate outside the ring. But he was a BRILLIANT thinker in the ring.

 

I thought Ricky Hatton was pretty dumb in one major regard. Not learning that a leaping left hook is a dangerous move to make.

So he makes a highlight reel KO against the funky Carlos Maussa. Nicely done. He tries the leaping left hook against Mayweather in the 8th round and gets hurt. He tries it again in the 10th and gets his face planted in the ring post for his troubles.

Then again, it was against Mayweather, and at least he was willing to take the risks necessary in hopes of landing a miracle left hook, as opposed to being content with losing a decision. He tries the leaping left hook again against Juan Lazcano, and gets hurt by it. He gets some extra time when he has issues with his shoes. He does the leaping left hook again against Paul Malignaggi and gets caught, but luckily Paulie is a light puncher.

He fights Manny Pacquiao and what does he do? He AGAIN throws a leaping left hook and gets knocked on his face. By that "same move every time" that Manny did.