1) Styles make fights
This is often said in response to an assumption that Boxer A beats Boxer B due to their form against common opposition. Remember, though, that Ali beat Foreman, Foreman beat Frazier, and Frazier beat Ali. Why? Styles make fights.
2) A puncher’s chance
This is said when a fighter is considered out of their depth against a far more skilled and seasoned opponent. It is usually said by a promoter or TV commentator wanting to maintain the audience’s interest.
3) A black eye for boxing
This is said when something awful occurs either in the ring or outside the ring. Yet, rather ironically, if there’s perhaps one thing that wouldn’t be noticeable on the face of a sport like boxing it’s another black eye.
4) A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter
This is said by a boxer when switching trainer and is used to both motivate them ahead of an upcoming fight and offend the trainer they have just left. There is, however, no proof of a correlation between happiness and danger.
5) You need a knockout to get a draw
This is said when a boxer has been let down by the scorecards, or expects to be let down by the scorecards, and is typically heard whenever a boxer is fighting on foreign soil.
HBO commentators Jim Lampley and Lennox Lewis at FedEx Forum on May 19, 2007 in Memphis, Tennessee (Joe Murphy/Getty Images
6) You must rip the title away from the champion
This is said, somewhat annoyingly, by commentators to excuse a bad decision getting announced in favour of a champion. It is also said by the champion whenever they get away with one.
7) It’s what you like
This, like number six, is another cliché said by commentators and another attempt to make peace with the ineptitude of the three judges sitting ringside.
8) I’ll fight them for free
This is usually said by a boxer after a fight – when adrenaline prevents rational thought – and is a promise to which few boxers would stick if such a scenario was actually presented to them.
9) Sparring’s sparring
This is said by a boxer trying to play down what happened when they once sparred their next opponent, the suggestion being that sparring and competitive fighting are two very different things.
10) Teak-tough Ghanaian
This is said by commentators whenever an unknown Ghanaian competes in a British ring for a Commonwealth title. It is a sweeping generalisation used to conceal the Ghanaian’s lack of credentials.