DEFENSE — SHOULD IT BE VALUED? By Rénald Boisvert

“Defense doesn’t rhyme with spectacle!” That’s the kind of reaction this article might
provoke among many boxing fans. Indeed, we must admit that a “watertight” defense is
often associated with anti-boxing.

Yet, while agreeing that the quality of the show should never be compromised by any
type of defense, it is worth making a few distinctions; not all forms of defense take away
from the spectacle. On the contrary, some actually enhance it. It is from this
perspective that I will approach the present article.

That being said, the next question is: what constitutes excellent defense from this point of
view? In this article, I will identify the fundamental principles that ensure both the
entertainment and safety aspects of good defense. In a future article, I will attempt to lay
out a learning approach to help young boxers learn it more easily. There is much to be
said on the topic.

But first, I’d like to point out a very common misconception about defense. I’m referring
to those boxers known for their offensive exploits whose defensive skills are unfairly
overlooked. One in particular stands out to me in this regard—so much so that his
defensive qualities could serve as a model for our young boxers.

ROBERTO DURAN
Among the fighters who moved up in weight classes during their careers, Roberto Duran
strikes me as one of the most remarkable. At age 27, he was still the lightweight champion.
At that age—having already completed most of his physical maturation—Duran was
starting his climb through the weight divisions relatively late. Shouldn’t this be taken into
account when comparing the all-time greats?

Even so, Duran’s disadvantage in weight was largely offset by his offensive abilities,
whose intensity contributed to his immense popularity. But behind the fiery, explosive
image of this brawler hid a defense just as formidable. In fact, more than any other
attack-minded boxer, Roberto Duran had a defensive style I would describe as
“complete” and “multi-functional.” Compared to other greats like Mike Tyson and
Muhammad Ali—whose defensive qualities were highly effective but somewhat one-
dimensional—“Hands of Stone” possessed a technically broader defensive arsenal.
Some might be surprised that I’ve chosen Roberto Duran as a model. It may seem
provocative. Since Duran is one of the most offensive boxers of all time, how can he also
rank among the best in defense? Of course, other boxers could serve as examples. But
few can combine “spectacle” and “multi-functional defense” the way Duran did. By
preferring him over other legendary fighters, I aim to show that these two facets of
boxing are not mutually exclusive.

From a technical standpoint, it’s worth closely observing this Panamanian boxer to
appreciate the highly methodical and cunning nature of his defensive style. To fully
understand its range and depth, I invite you to watch the “defensive” portion of the
following video:

TAO OF DURAN

Let’s now explore what constitutes excellent defense—that is, a defense whose technical
features ensure maximum safety without compromising showmanship.

ON THE TECHNICAL LEVEL
At the foundation of any development, I believe young boxers should gain proficiency in
all types of defense, while recognizing that each has its limitations. It’s unfortunate when
a young pugilist limits themselves to learning only one defensive style—as though a
single method of defense could work in all situations. From this view, some give all the
importance to evasions (these are the overconfident ones), while others rely solely on the
“shield” defense (these are the less ambitious ones). While evasions are spectacular but
risky, the “shield” (both hands and forearms covering the face) offers safety but is dull
and unappealing.
Personally, I don’t believe any single defensive form can adequately solve all the
problems posed by a quality attack. Therefore, I advocate a multi-functional approach,
where all forms of defense remain available and adaptable based on the circumstances of
a fight. In this framework, choosing the right defensive move is strategic—but its
technical mastery is essential. Young boxers should put just as much effort into mastering
defensive skills as they do their offensive ones. As for the coach, their role is to ensure
this diversity of learning. Sadly, as a course director for Boxing Québec, I’ve noticed that
few coaches teach offense and defense with the same care.

A WELL-STOCKED TOOLBOX
Generally speaking, it’s recognized that at medium and long range, a boxer should
prioritize evasions and parries, while at close range, greater caution and more blocking
are necessary. However, we must also remember another basic rule: defensive variety is essential. In other words, varying defensive techniques is just as important as using a wide array of
offensive combinations. A boxer should not be more predictable in defense than they are
in attack. Defensive techniques should be selected based not only on the situation, but also their interchangeability.

The goal is to benefit from the element of surprise—the opponent should never know what’s coming.
So, beware of repetitive movements! For example, the “shield” defense should be
reserved for moments when the boxer needs a break—to catch their breath or manage a
difficult round. It may also be used as a trap. In any case, this form of defense should be
used sparingly. If not, it’s the entertainment value that will suffer most. In fact, no young
boxer should adopt a repetitive defensive style and risk falling into their own trap. This
would also compromise their effectiveness.
Since we are talking about both effectiveness and spectacle, I believe it is the coach’s job
to assess the value of each defensive method based on the counterattack opportunities it
may create. To track a young athlete’s progress, I suggest coaches count the number of
successful counterattacks during sparring sessions versus the missed ones. The goal is to
gradually improve this ratio—linking defense to counterattack.
Let me quickly add: this ratio could improve even more if the young athlete learns to vary
their defensive methods. In doing so, they’ll increase their chances of catching training
partners off guard, while decreasing the chances of becoming predictable themselves. In
fact, one of the best ways to help young boxers appreciate the importance of defensive
adaptability is for them to discover it on their own. But first, the coach has to believe in
it.

CONCLUSION
All things considered, learning multi-functional defense must start with valuing it. Too
often, young athletes try to imitate star boxers whose seemingly exemplary defensive
styles are actually unsuitable for beginners. Whether it’s Floyd Mayweather Jr. or
Roberto Duran—it doesn’t matter. It’s natural for a model boxer to serve as both
inspiration and aspiration. But mimicking them without nuance is a leap too great for
most beginners.
It’s therefore the coach’s responsibility to guide young athletes—especially early in their
training—through a progression tailored to their stage of development. With that goal in
mind, I plan to contribute further. In a future article, I will suggest a teaching approach to
simplify the learning of defense for young boxers. In particular, I intend to propose a
“teaching sequence” for the different forms of defense. That proposal may ruffle some
feathers. But the stakes are high—so I’ll go ahead…

Posted on: July 17, 2025