Old timers did almost no pad work and almost all bag work…Is that true ?

Frank Erne once claimed that Ike Weir, the Belfast Spider, encouraged him NOT to hit heavy bags. His feeling was that it slowed up punching speed.

 

Going back to the '40s 'n '50s at Stillman's Gym -- where the best fighters in the world trained -- never saw one use pads. Shadowboxing came closest.

 

I've heard that many early trainers resisted using the heavy bag because they thought it encouraged bad habits.

And I think they're right if the trainers just let their man hammer the bag without concerning themselves with defense.

 

That's Bernard Hopkin's line of thought.

I like hitting the bag but you have to keep in mind a decent guard, footwork and bringing your hands back quickly.

 

Pads are as much of a skill as boxing itself is.

I wonder how many old timers could actually hold them in a way that would benefit a professional. Likely not many.

 

Regardless, old timers knew how to teach.

 

This reminds me of the time Tony Sibson knocked the heavy bag of it's fixings training for the Minter fight. On hearing about it Minter "that's all right, the heavy bag doesn't punch bag". As you know Sibson went on to knock Minter out in 3 breaking his nose in the process.

 

Absolutely.

Many of them were boxers themselves. I find it shocking how many trainers today have no real experience in the sport at all- I saw a guy running a boxing gym with a Golden Title to his name. Its truly appalling.

A former pro is less likely to have learned how to hold the pads well. Alot of trainers today have guys whose specialty is pad work, known as facilitators, because they themselves do not know how to do it.

A lot of it is what the boxer responds to best, as well. To many trainers have a vanilla training routine, that everybody does. A fighter is an individual-His training regime should be catered to him. If the heavy bag helps him, do more of it. If the pads help him, do more of them. Old school trainers really took the time to KNOW their charges, and this helped them mold these green youngsters into competent professionals.

 

interesting about pad work

i have seen charlie goldman hold pads

and some coaches earlier then that too

i know guys from russia and europe in their 70's and they said
pad work was always done by coaches

interesting to know its history

i do know that lazy coaches try to avoid holding pads lol

 

interesting about pad work

i have seen charlie goldman hold pads

and some coaches earlier then that too

i know guys from russia and europe in their 70's and they said
pad work was always done by coaches

interesting to know its history

i do know that lazy coaches try to avoid holding pads lol

 

maybe this is a reason why so many so many pre- 50's looked so sloopy lol

 

Insightful 'n well-expressed, MN.

 

They were the exceptions to the rule, h, everybody at Stillmans -- The University of 8th Ave -- pretty much had the same regime -- some bustin' their butt, others goin' through the motions...showin up drunk, just to spar.