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How I Use The Ratings Catergories Part One - Left Handed
To give some more colour and intrest to the thread apart from dry lists of rated fighters. I will occasionally post articles on how I use the ratings catergories to rate fighters.
I would emphasise that this is how "I do it". Im not trying to say this is how you should or setting myself up as an expert with this, im just trying to explain my thinking behind the rating decisions im making and what works for me and what also may work for you.
The first one is a strange one - LEFT HANDED.
Mmm, i hear you muse, seems pretty simple to me, either a fighter is a southie or not whats the problem?
Yes very true, only that I dont just use it for that, ive kidnapped the catergory and shock horror also use it for other things!
One of my admittedly very few gripes with the TB simulation as it stands is that there are not enough catergories especially for variables that can greatly effect sometimes a fights outcome which are how we say outside the squared circle.
If we boil the catergory down to its basic core non specifically it represents a style of fighter in boxing which is well known to give the majority of fighters fits. In the game stats wise this is filtered to give a reduction in CF and PL.
Ok so thats its current core, so why cant we apply that to other strange styles or outside factors which we know effect opponents performance inside the ring?
Lets look at some of these "other" styles or factors in turn.
AWKWARD FIGHTERS
You know these guys, the kind of fighter that maybe due to poor fundamentals just does things wrong! he punches from strange angles, he punches from unconventional distances or punch combinations, maybe his defense is weird or stance just plain throws people off, to sum up hes just damn awkward to fight!
Classic Example - Naseem Hamed
SPOILERS
The kind of guy that makes any fighter look bad, no one wants to fight these slippery customers and they arnt all lefties either. They maul, they clinch they clinch some more, they drain the other fighter of all his usual energy. No matter who they fight they always seem to pose at least some problems.
Classic Example - Joe Bugner
HIGH WORK RATE PRESSURE FIGHTERS
Due to their high octane style these guys sort of inflict their style on the other fighter and force him to fight their fight with their agressive no room to breathe or think in your face high workrate. These guys are often stated nightmares to fight as you simply cannot fight your game plan they wont let you.
Classic Example - Harry Greb
FEARSOME INVINCIBLE PUNCHER
These guys have you beaten even before you enter the ring, their awsome power and killer instinct has their opponents so scared they are already looking for somewhere to fall. Often found in the heavy division, these guys can also be found at the lower weights as well.
If documenting a historical career often these guys have a very bad loss and the illusion of invincibility goes. At that point you may wish to change their style back to right handed to model this.
Classic Example - Sonny Liston.
MINDGAME MASTER
these guys often boxers but not always so have a uncanny way of getting under their opponents skin before the bell and forcing them to fight their fight. It may be at the fight build up, interviews the weigh in or the fight introductions or during the fight itself but these guys manage to get the other fighter so mad they fall right into their hands and then their fists.
Classic Example -Muhummad Ali.
The five types of fighter above are the ones I mainly give left handed ratings to apart from the obvious southpaws already covered by the game.
I feel its the perfect rating catergory to show these import aspects of a fighters makeup and how he affects his opponents style that currently is not covered in the simulation and I feel is important enough to warrant inclusion.
Yes i know its not strictly what the rating is meant to represent, but if you boil down the catergory to its base core it actually is exactly that!
All I know is when i run a Hagler-Leonard fight it makes me smile inside that after giving Sugar Ray this rating I just know he has played with Marvin's head, as he did so in reality.
And when I Run Spinks-Tyson I know the game is taking into account the scared far away rabbit in headlights look in Spinks eyes.
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