Professional boxing analysis with T-Patterns

Abstract

Identifying performance indicators in professional boxing trough T-pattern analysis (TPA) was a priority objective of the present study. We accessed data through the boxrec.com portal, where 15 boxing fights were selected. All these fights concluded in the first or second round and belonged to champions (lb. for lb.) of international organizations recognized in professional boxing. The boxers' interactive decisions were approached through an observational methodology. For the conformation and behavioral record, a mixed registration system was agreed upon by two former exprofessional boxers. The data were analyzed through Theme (TPA) to reveal differences relating to the outcome (Winner vs Loser), in terms of temporal regularities and number of occurrences through Chi-square (χ2). More percentages of individual T-Patterns were found in winners than in losers, and winning boxers showed greater decisional complexity than the losers. However, these differences between both groups of boxers were not supported by Chi-square (χ2).