The "12th Round Syndrome"

[marbleheadmaui]

[QUOTE=THE THIRD MAN;991992]

Let me try another way of looking at it. 12th round syndrome is one of boxing's great gifts to the fans.

In most every other sport? Once one gets far behind, it really is over. Down 28-0 in the second half to a good football (the one where you use your whole body) team? Game is over.

Down 3-0 to a good football (the one where one doesn't use the whole body) team? The game is over.

Behind by five yards with ten yards to go in the 100? No shot.

But in boxing? The whole past can be erased with a single punch, a single flurry, a little luck, a single mistake. It really is not over until it is over.

Anybody buying that?

Mike Weaver is buying it! With less than a minute to go in a fight that was close to a shut out he nails John Tate with a left hook in the 15th round. Now why did it take him all that time to get active and actually throw some punches?

LOL, I watched that one as it happened with my Dad. To be fair to Mike I'm pretty sure he hurt Tate in the 11th or 12th didn't he?

Maybe Mike's muscles were getting in the way

[TitoFan]

Let me try another way of looking at it. 12th round syndrome is one of boxing's great gifts to the fans.

In most every other sport? Once one gets far behind, it really is over. Down 28-0 in the second half to a good football (the one where you use your whole body) team? Game is over.

Down 3-0 to a good football (the one where one doesn't use the whole body) team? The game is over.

Behind by five yards with ten yards to go in the 100? No shot.

But in boxing? The whole past can be erased with a single punch, a single flurry, a little luck, a single mistake. It really is not over until it is over.

Anybody buying that?

Mike Weaver is buying it! With less than a minute to go in a fight that was close to a shut out he nails John Tate with a left hook in the 15th round. Now why did it take him all that time to get active and actually throw some punches?

But see... I don't put Mike Weaver into the "12th round syndrome" (in this case, 15 rounds) category. Yes, it was a shutout... but Mike was with his back to the ropes and threw one very lucky left hook that landed on the button. Mike didn't come out with a mysterious burst of energy in the 15th round and overwhelm Tate. Tate was still working Mike over on the ropes when Mike unleashed that miraculous left hook. Big difference there.

[hitmanhatton]

doesnt it just mirror human nature in normal life, i know i purposley will leave anything i have to do till the last minute knowing i have plenty of time left only to then have to bust my balls at the last minute to get it done

its easier to be hesitant or negative when you know you have time left to change it

once the 12th and there are no more rounds left ...a sense of urgency kicks in

[Howlin Mad Missy]

you're not sure how much you've got left to give till you get there.


Evil training thing a coach used to do. Tell you it was your last round on the bags, sparring etc. So people had that final push! Only to be told 'one more'! Surprising how much extra you can bring.

You might be on to something here.

Naww, just kidding... I know this technique wouldn't fly in real fights (not that I wouldn't want to try it). But what other radical measure could be taken to force the fighters not to wait until the 12th round to actually fight? Maybe bring back the failed "live scoring", where the fighters know the score at key points during the fight. I know it didn't work then, but maybe with some sort of twist. Ah, what the hell.

Just saying...

If you're expecting to work for a certain length of time you pace it even if you think you're working flat out hence there is often more left in the tank than you think = you need a ko in the last round = guy comes out swinging