On the ropes?

Reader question:

What does “on the ropes” (what ropes?) mean in the following passage from a story about the American gangster Dutch Shultz (The American Mafia, Onewal.com):

Schultz was surprisingly successful in his court battles. After a deadlocked jury in Syracuse and an Aug. 24, 1935, not-guilty verdict in the small town of Malone, NY, where Schultz threw some money around in advance of the trial, it appeared the gangster had the government on the ropes.

My comments:

In the above example, when the gangster is said to “have the government on the ropes”, it simply means the courts appeared to be hopeless in its attempt to convict him.

“On the ropes” is a term borrowed from the game of boxing. The ropes refer to those that ring up the canvas, a raised square stage in which two boxers fight. As they fight, they dance and punch in the middle of the ring, avoiding the corners and the ropes. If a boxer is forced into the corner or onto the ropes, there’s no room for them to swing their arms and throw counter punches. Hence, to be forced on the ropes often leads to big trouble and often outright defeat.

The great Muhammad Ali by the way used to, as a strategy, deliberately lean on the ropes to conserve energy and absorb punches from the opponent (in order to let the opponent tire himself out). A most dangerous tactic to be sure, and even Ali, arguably the greatest of them all, used it only in the dire-most circumstances. Therefore, using the ropes as a strategy is an exception, not the rule. As a rule, avoid the ropes.

Anyways, you now know what it means to be on the ropes in the boxing ring. Metaphorically speaking, that is, when anyone outside the game of boxing is said to be on the ropes, they’ve put themselves in a similarly disadvantaged, defenseless, helpless and often hopeless position.

Here are two media examples, first from inside the ring, second outside:

1. Cotto, who was caught for quick knockdowns in both the third and fourth rounds as things quickly began to turn Pacquiao’s way, was being watched closely by Bayless as early as the eighth round.

“Cotto was taking quite a bit of punishment,” Bayless said. “He was still landing jabs, but they weren’t doing anything. And Pacquiao was just relentless.”

When Bayless stepped in and smothered Cotto in a protective bear hug, Pacquiao had him on the ropes and was pounding away. Lighting was flashing from the left, right and center.

There had been discussion as early as the eighth round in Cotto’s corner about whether it was time to stop. Cotto said he told his young trainer, Joe Santiago, that he wanted to carry on. Pride, more than common sense, prevailed.

“I tried to do as much as I can for the fans,” Cotto said.

After the fight, Cotto headed for the hospital for tests. He said he was fine, but wanted to be checked “because my health comes first.”

- As Pacquiao throws, Cotto goes with flow, Los Angeles Times, November 15, 2009.

2. As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama repeatedly said he would reinforce the U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Now, as commander-in-chief, however, Obama has thus far failed to heed the request of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to send more troops to that country.

In a 66-page assessment of the war-situation in Afghanistan, which was leaked to the media, Gen. McChrystal said he needed the extra troops within a year or the war “will likely result in failure,” reported The Washington Post on Sept. 21.

In July 2008, then-candidate Obama told CNN, “We allowed the Taliban and Al Qaeda to regenerate itself when we had them on the ropes. That was a big mistake, and it’s one I’m going to correct when I’m president.”

On Mar. 27, 2009, Obama announced a “comprehensive new strategy” for Afghanistan, saying that this policy came after careful review by military commanders and diplomats, government officials in Afghanistan, NATO allies, and members of Congress. “The situation is increasingly perilous,” said Obama, and “the safety of people around the world is at stake.”

- Candidate Obama Repeatedly Said He Would Reinforce U.S. Troops in Afghanistan, CNSNews.com, September 30, 2009.