Defense (in boxing) can’t win fights?

HALL OF Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach, a favorite among Filipino fans, swears that defense cannot win fights.

“That’s bull....,” Roach barked upon being reminded that his boxer Ruslan Provodnikov had lost his WBO light welterweight crown to Chris Algieri, who displayed superior, balanced fighting in the championship match.

Explained Roach: “You cannot win points by making a punch miss. Defense cannot win fights. It’s good that you do that but you don’t get a point from it, though.

“If defense can indeed win fights,” Roach continued, “then we have to change the whole ballgame.”

***

Was Roach crying ex cathedra? Algieri had to get off the floor twice after being slammed by Provodnikov in the first round.

Algieri, however, eked out ama- jor upset by going on using a gallant, intelligent style that gained the nod of two of three judges for a split decision victory.

The judges obviously awarded the victory based on all-around competence, not on sheer might, power or impact punching.

*** As expected, Roach got more than enough dissenting votes.

Explained noted boxing scholar Mario Mungia for Thaboxing.voice.com: “Defense can and has won fights since the beginning of prizefighting ... Roach’s biased posi-

tion on his own inherent style is clouding his judgment and that trend is much more dangerous to his fighter than any set of judges.”

Going further, they need not seek out the legendary Mexican Nacho Beristain, trainer of Manny Pacquiao arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez who is an unyielding disciple of intelligent defense and counterpunching.

Yes, it won’t be a stretch to state that superior defense did the trick when Marquez ducked and countered a fierce but poorly covered Pacquiao en route to a sensational stoppage in December 2012. Roach may be right. Defense per se cannot win fights. But, come to think of it, didn’t Pacquiao also ride on newfound defensive brilliance to outpoint the big, unsinkable Brandon Rios in Macau last November?