Many martial arts and MMA fans may now find boxing dull in comparison to the UFC or hate not being able to use their feet and have the ability to use all their techniques. However boxing being one of the oldest fighting arts is also one of the most developed. Whether you practice Tae Kwon Do, Karate or Muy Thai there are many lessons you can learn from understanding boxing strategies that can be used in your martial arts tournaments. Any serious fighter should also spend time practicing sparring using just punches or kicks in order to develop and hone those skills to perfection.

There isn’t one magic strategy to master for every fight but a number of strategies that can be used depending on your on physical characteristics and talents and be used used against differing opponents depending on their strengths and weaknesses. You also need to learn to change up strategies because as you progress your way up the food chain there is big money at stake and your opponent’s camps will focus a lot of time and resources on studying your style and tactics.

There are basic strategies that are more common sense than anything else like using distance to your advantage. If you have longer arms then keep your opponent farther away so they cannot get any shots in. Or if they have a longer reach find a way to close the distance and get inside their optimal striking distance. Or like Muhammad Ali learn to make your opponents tire themselves out so till you can slow them down and weaken them enough to get in that perfect blow on the knock out button. In the case you are up against a fighter with incredibly strong punching power and he has a chin of steel you may want to work on his arms until they are so numb he can’t hold his hands up and then you can finish him off in any way you want. Finally learn to become unpredictable, don’t let your movements telegraph your next shot, throw them off with your rhythm and catch them by surprise!

There are many different forms of boxing played across the globe. For instance, boxing is shown in Sumerian relief arts during the 3rd Millennium B.C, while an ancient Egyptian relief at Thebes; it depicts the spectators with fist fighters, both arts depict bare fisted contests. In the year 1927 an archaeologist, Dr E.A Speiser discovered a stone tablet in Iraq showing two men gearing up for a fight, the stone is believed to be at least 7,000 years old. Boxing or Fist fighting is also described in various ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, Mahabarata and Ramayana, as well as during the excavations made in Harappa and Mohenjadaro.

In 1989, the International Boxing Hall of Fame was opened in Canastota. The first inductees in 1990 included famous boxers like Benny Leonard, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Other world class boxing figures are Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran, Eusebio Pedroza, Ismael Laguna, Carlos Monzon, Rocky Marciano, Azumah Nelson, Pipino Cuevas and Ken Buchanan. The Hall of Fame’s induction event is held every year in the month of June as part of a four day ceremony. Fans who visit Canastota for the Induction Weekend are treated to various events such as autograph sessions with the boxers, boxing exhibitions, a parade featuring present and past inductees and also an induction to the boxing ceremony itself.

Boxing, often called “the manly art of self-defense,” is a sport in which two competitors try to hit each other with their glove-encased fists while trying to avoid each other’s blows. The competition is divided into a specified number of rounds, usually 3 minutes long, with 1-minute rest periods between rounds. Although amateur boxing is widespread, professional boxing has flourished on an even grander scale since the early 18th century.

Pretty Boy versus The Golden Boy in (arguably) the Boxing Capital of the World — and a pair of U.S. Olympic medalists to boot.

Undefeated challenger Floyd Mayweather (37-0, 24 KOs) will face Oscar de La Hoya (38-4, 30 KOs) in a long awaited, much anticipated WBC title match on Saturday.

They’re jawing like Ali and Frazier, Sugar Ray and Hearnes and Tyson and anyone, and it has been well documented by media across the world.

The bout will be the day’s second major sporting event, following on the hoofs of the Kentucky Derby, which itself annually lures huge throngs to Southern Nevada.

De La Hoya, 34, won a gold medal at Barcelona in 1992, while Mayweather, 30, took a bronze in Atlanta four years later.

Mayweather has sought the meeting for years.

Professional Handicappers League member Jorge Gonzalez considers boxing one of his specialties and he’s giving readers of this site his very strong opinion about the outcome.

“”I think Mayweather is going to dominate him,”" Gonzalez said, citing the younger fighter’s age advantage as a major factor in selecting him to win.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena sold out quickly once ducats went on sale and, with pay-per-view tickets costing in the $60 neighborhood, the bout is expected to produce Sin City’s biggest boxing payday ever, while possibly spawning a rematch or two.

Both boxers anticipate rich paychecks, with de La Hoya receiving as much as $25 million and Mayweather $10 million.

De La Hoya has won championships in six weight classes, Mayweather in four.

Mayweather was roughly a 2/1 choice in weeks leading up to the fight.

Monday night Sin City’s Mirage had Mayweather a minus $1.80 favorite, de La Hoya plus $1.60., the same as offshore Olympic.

The line at CRIS was plus $1.55, minus $1.85.

The Mirage’s 12-round proposition was “”Will go”" minus $1.70 and “”Won’t go”" plus $2.30.

De La Hoya was plus $5.00 to win by a knockout and plus $2.20 to triumph by a decision; Mayweather’s prices were plus $5.50 and minus $1.30.

A draw was plus $14.00.

Gonzalez says choosing Mayweather — described by the handicapper as pound-for-pound the planet’s top boxer today — was fairly easy.

“”Do you want a fighter who is in his prime or one whose prime is over?”" he asked.

“”Oscar’s glory days are in the past.

“”Floyd Mayweather is in his prime.”"

De La Hoya lost a pair of decisions to Shane Mosley, a major decision to Felix Trinidad and was knocked out by Bernard Hopkins in September of 2004.

The adopted Las Vegas son scored a comeback of sorts with a sixth round TKO of Ricardo Mayorga last year and went on to finally accept Mayweather’s showdown challenge.

While de La Hoya is expected to have a large Cinquo de Mayo crowd behind him, Gonzales reminds that Mayweather’s from Sin City and will have plenty of backers.

Gonzalez also is swayed by the Mayweather family’s deep ties to the sport and the fact that Uncle Roger, a champion himself, helped train his nephew for the match and that father Floyd Sr. is in his corner.

“”The whole family’s behind him,”" Gonzalez said.

His introduction to the handicapping world’s inner workings came when Gonzalez began patronizing the now-imploded Stardust and started rubbing elbows with the group of betting insiders who later became his peers.

Relying on a series of steps, Gonzalez gradually carved out a niche in sports gambling’s jungle: setting up a Web site, joining ProCappers, starting a radio show, landing Stardust and other broadcast and touting gigs, all while proving his handicapping abilities by winning online contests.

Gonzalez is most proud of the PHL NBA title he won a few years ago.

Current broadcasting duties include regular appearances on “”Just for Openers,”" a show sponsored by Las Vegas Sports Consultants that airs on FOX Radio, and another hosted by the Leroy’s sportsbook chain that’s heard throughout the Western United States and Canada on KDWN (720-AM).

Gonzalez, 37, gives a handful of associates assists for helping him get established, with PHL founder Brian Gabrielle prominent among them.

“”Brian showed me the way,”" he said.

While Gonzalez freely shares his thoughts on the big boxing match, don’t look to him to complete a Cinquo de Mayo daily double with a winning Run for the Roses pick.

“”I’ve never made a horse bet in my life,”" he said.”