#2 is just wrong in my view. First off equating the skill levels in Holyfield-Bowe/Castillo-Corrales with Gatti-Ward is indefensible I think.
Skill doesn't mean you don't get hit and getting hit doesn't mean you are being sloppy. Skill, defensive skill, is measured by (among other things) how extraordinary the foe must be to hit you. Go watch Pryor-Arguello I and look for sloppy (meaning poor technical moments). Go watch Ali-Frazier I for the same thing.
One guy using spectacular counters or adjusting his game to temporarily take control is NOT a sign of sloppiness on the part of the guy getting hit. When HE then adapts and temporarily takes control later on? That's not sloppiness on the part of the second guy either. Those aren't technical errors.
That's ebb and flow over time between intelligent fighters.
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