Likelihood of Cuts Based on Race

[mschatz]

So, I am in the process of educating my new roommate about boxing. We're watching a fight on TV, and she made a comment about what a bad cut one of the guy's received. I believe my comment was, "well, he's a white guy."

Now, she's a pre-med student, and immediately jumped on that comment. Her basic point is that there is no difference in the skin of people based on differences in the race of the person. Now, every coach who I have ever been around for more than 15 minutes will end up making some comment about white guys cutting easier, having thinner skin, etc. and I suppose it's stuck with me. There definitely seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence around when you look at all the white and hispanic guys who are cut-prone.

Anyone know of any actual scientific data or studies that deal with this? Do white fighters cut easier? Do they have "thinner" skin?

 

[PoolShark]

I think it's the bone structure of the face. I'm white and I know personally I get cut more around my eyes because I have a sharp/protruding brow. It seems like when a punch hits the surface of the skin, having a boney, rigid face adds to the likelihood that the skin will "split". No one can deny that black people and white people have different facial structures especially around the nose, brow and cheeks.

 

[Tam-Tam]

Silverwolf?

 

[Tropics1020]

I think the White guys just get hit more lol.

 

[prontostar]

for some reason this thread made me think of Roy Jones and Marvin Eastman.

Perhaps the cuts on the black guys are harder to see.

then again some black guys just won't cut

 

[prontostar]

I think the White guys just get hit more lol.

Hopkins says it's because they aren't as slick as the black fighters.

 

[Spirit Breaker]

I doubt it's a difference in skin texture and more how different races/ethnic groups approach the sport of boxing. I have heard many comments about how white and hispanic fighter take a lot of punches relying on their toughness to get them through. Black fighters are more slick and defensive choosing to hit withough being hit. I guess I can see that aspect but it's not like a white or a black fighter can't develop a contrary style it is really all about how he was trained. I mean look at when Apollo got a hold of Rocky.

 

[mschatz]

I doubt it's a difference in skin texture and more how different races/ethnic groups approach the sport of boxing. I have heard many comments about how white and hispanic fighter take a lot of punches relying on their toughness to get them through. Black fighters are more slick and defensive choosing to hit withough being hit. I guess I can see that aspect but it's not like a white or a black fighter can't develop a contrary style it is really all about how he was trained. I mean look at when Apollo got a hold of Rocky.

Smart, defensive fighters like Pauli Malignaggi?

 

[Spirit Breaker]

Or Roy Jones

 

[James Fuller]

Tell your roommate to stop insisting that diffrences between races do not exist. So many people think that racism is any recognition that we are diffrent from each other, Face and brow structures are diffrent based on a whole host of factors (yes the influence of selected breeding and slavery being one) and caucasians are prone to cutting because of that structure.

To be honest I think implying that black fighters are more agile, quicker etc. so they avoid the punches while whites and mexicans are simply slow and tough is much more racist.

 

[Spirit Breaker]

Or Mike Tyson

 

[Spirit Breaker]

You could also make the case for how fighters have reacted after retiring from long hard careers. Yvonne Durrell and Jake LaMotta were in a ton of wars and they don't show any of the signs of "punch drunkeness". Whereas Riddick Bowe who was in some wars with Holyfield, but not a whole career full of them has obvious slurred speach, same with Meldrick Taylor. Does this mean white guys take a better punch?

I'm not saying I believe this but it goes along with the discussion.

 

[Tropics1020]

Hopkins says it's because they aren't as slick as the black fighters.

For the most part I agree with him...Are their any white or hispanic fighters with movement like Whitaker, Mayweather Hopkins or Jones ? Calzaghe and Kessler are pretty slick.

 

[Spirit Breaker]

I agree with him...Are their any white or hispanic fighters with movement like Whitaker, Mayweather Hopkins or Jones ? I can't think of any.

Paul Spadafora was pretty slick, just couldn't punch.

 

[Tropics1020]

Paul Spadafora was pretty slick, just couldn't punch.

I hear good things about him but have never seen him fight unfortunately.

 

[Spirit Breaker]

I hear good things about him but have never seen him fight unfortunately.

He went to the joint for a couple years but I looked him up and he seems to be out now and picked up a couple of wins fairly recently. Apparently also known to have dominated Floyd Mayweather in a sparring session according to what I just read. Also says he was preceeded as lightweight champ by Shane Mosley, now that woulda been a fight.

 

[5acrossYOeye]

I hear good things about him but have never seen him fight unfortunately.

i always thought he was pretty good.
slick and to me fun to watch.
him and jessie reid made a great combo.

 

[sobralfan1]

I think the White guys just get hit more lol.

Hhahahaaaaaaaaaa


Whoo......This thread is amusing.

 

[rick_973]

that rocky sitation made me lulz

 

[MSieur Le Bossu]

For the most part I agree with him...Are their any white or hispanic fighters with movement like Whitaker, Mayweather Hopkins or Jones ? Calzaghe and Kessler are pretty slick.

Willie Pep was known to be pretty slick, perhaps also Benny Leonard.

For Hispanics, the first guy that comes to mind is Hector Camacho. Not the post-Rosario Camacho who would hold on for dear life (Especially towards the end of his career)......Rather, when he was younger. He was as quick & slick as any fighter during that time period.