Hey Thomas, I think that's called court vision, right? I remember reading an article on peak performance a few years back about how the elite athletes/players eyes are always moving a lot more than the novice athletes. I think it'd be safe to also assume that they are much more observant, and the great ones are more observant and decisive still.

It's more than just seeing what's going on. At the kind of rapid pace of boxing, while you're surveying what's happening, off the bat you must pick strategies and you go with it. Sharp observation is something that must be developed first hand. It's important for boxing because through it you're able to make better choices.

The more I understand boxing the more I'm beginning to see that it's not just about understanding your opponent, it's just as important if not more to thoroughly understand what "I'm" doing. Since boxing is about different relationships such as cause and effect, what I do affects what my opponent will do, and in a sense I can plan around their reaction.

There's more to it, but I'm not on that page yet. It's what Thomas is saying about understanding their intentions, breaking down their strategy and setting up a counter strategy. It's strange to say this, but in order to understand how to defeat your opponent, you must understand how to defeat yourself.

Wow that sounds kinda deep huh, like something out of "The Art of War"...

Part of the secret lies in the mirror. When you begin to understand yourself, your faults/short-comings, and anything that gives your intentions away you can begin to set up traps and control your opponent by better controlling yourself. Then you can start doing some higher level things like doing things you wouldn't normally do. Therefore you have much more control over their choices, and by seeing how it affects them you can better make an effective gameplan.