Where did the sweet science go?

by Coach Thorpe
(Bloomington, Illinois)

What happened to the sweet science? Why isn't the sport of boxing taught like it used to be? Where has the Jab gone. Why isn't footwork taught like it should. Why is defense forgotten. It seems the only thing that is important in boxing is the total of punches you throw. While I admit punching is important it is not the only aspect of boxing. Not getting hit, setting your opponent up to get hit, outmaneuvering your opponent with your footwork and punching with power and precision seems to have lost almost all its importance.
Boxing is no longer the sweet science it was in its heyday. At a recent Golden Glove Tournament I could count the number of fighters who really knew what a jab was on one hand and these fighters seemed to be penalized for throwing the jab. We coaches and trainer need to get back to the basics and stop worrying and stop teaching the failing of arms now that we call punching. Let's go back to teaching the true sport of Kings instead of this forgery of the sweet science. Let's not be influenced by idiots who know nothing of the sweet science. We owe our youth so much more then teaching them to punch fast and often and not teach them the other aspects of the boxing. It is called the sweet science for a reason. Let's teach it like the gift it is.
Back in the day it wasn't the strongest fighters that held the title. A champion had to use his head to think what he was doing in the ring. Anymore fighters for the most part take a straight path to engage their opponent. It doesn't seem to count how many punches they take to get there. What happened to taking the angles or slipping a few punches before closing on your opponent. We coaches must change our teaching methods if boxing is ever going to get back to it's glory days. We must give our fighters the tools to be the best in the world like we use to. We (USA)use to dominate from lightweight to Heavyweight in the amateur and the professional rankings. We can again. It's up to us to push for excellence. Coach Thorpe