Do the gallagher camp actually do any work on defence?

I don't see him as a 'chancer' but his work is very one dimensional going by way his fighters go about work. He's like many trainers he's found a formula and he's over doing it.

 

I think he does alright for his fighters offensively (variety) and getting them in shape, but yeah, can't say I've seen a Gallagher fighter and been overwhelmed by defensive quality. But then again he works with a lot of fighters predisposed to fighting that way. The only one I could legitimately say he's turned that way would probably be Crolla, but Anthony's on a superb run so it would be unfair to start picking bones out of a guy thats possibly doing better than anticipated after losing to Hamidi.

Quigg got caught a bit tonight but its possible that Arthur was simply his best most live opponent to date and a few weaknesses got exposed. I don't think you can suddenly pin that on Gallagher after relatively little time together, sometimes the simplest explanation is the correct one.

All this said I wasn't too pleased seeing Quigg going to Gallagher based on what we've seen from fighters in that gym, without being critical of Gallagher there were trainers more suited.

 

You can't call any trainer a 'chancer' unless you've seen him do his work behind the scenes and you yourself know what you're looking for. As T says he just happens to work with a lot of fighters who fight that way. I mean John Murray wasn't ever ganna be anything else. But a hands up, square up and walk through the front door type. I don't see Quigg fighting any differently either just the level going up. He's always been like that as well, what being from a kick/thai boxing background.

It's more interesting to see what he's doing with someone like Joe Murray. A kid who's shown a little flexibity or fluidity early on in his career and i guess you could say he hasn't really developed or done a great job with him as of yet, but then again what really is Joe Murray's talent level? is he ever ganna be above average? probably not. So he shouldn't take this type of stick. His hands maybe just tied with what he's got to work with.

Is he a great trainer? no, i don't think so. But it doesn't mean he's a bad one either. probably somewhere inbetween, but you really have to see a guy work to see how good or bad he is. It wasn't that long ago that he was the flavour of the month lets not forget as well. The same flaws i see in the fighters in his gym i also see in fighters who work in so called great gyms like the wild card. What you're seeing in these fighters is indicative of the modern game.

One thing that probably rings true though is that he favours a defence that is mostly predicated on blocking as it's first line. That is absorbing the punches on the gloves without turning the shoulder or offering a different look. This is by far for me the weakest of all the defensive techinques as it doesn't inable you to transition well from defense to offense, but it's also the most easiest and natural to use as you don't require a high skill level and work. So again that could comeback to what his fighters are capable of displaying and taking in and what he's got to work with. That's probabily his biggest flaw though. I don't know whether he teaches it but his fighters don't tend to employ a parry, slip or roll. A fighter should ideally have a mixture of those. But at least master one of the others apart from taking shots on the gloves constantly, the feet come into it here too.

 

What a dick

 

Has anyone seen Gallagher training in the flesh or at least on tape for long periods?

 

No, I haven't to be honest.

I agree with the OP, aside from the bit about being a chancer I think his methods could do with a bit of tweaking.

He's not going to turn one of the lads into Floyd Mayweather, it seems most Manchester lads fight in the same come forward way, but even Hatton in the Pac fight was harder to hit than most Gallagher fighters at present.

 

There's actually very few trainers that are flexible and versitile. Not just Gallagher. Most trainers train every fighter that walks through their gym doors exactly the same way. With the style and philosophy they either learnt or believe in. No matter what the fighters makeup or even if they have differing strengths and weaknessess. Even the good ones like Roach and Steward. The difference is what levels are you teaching at what you're teaching. In other words, if we're both learning the same job but i have the adequate tools and the better teacher and you don't. I'm ganna achieve a higher level of learning. For example Mayweathers will teach defense the same to EVERY fighter they come across but they will teach a higher level of defense then someone like Roach or Gallagher do. I hope it makes sense.

 

PISH,each boxer has strengths and weaknesses and a good trainer wouldnt train everyone the same way its impossible,although you would imo teach them all the basics the same way.
Joes a good trainer and doing well with his fighters and should with the lads hes got:good

 

TBH when Quigg was being cagey and not leading first, he was getting caught alot more often. When he started becoming agressive he looked like the talented fighter he is.

 

Most trainers have a philosophy and style they teach everyone to, Billy. Maybe you're in the minority and train each fighter to his preferred style. You telling me Brendan Ingle didn't train everyone the same? that Steward and Roach haven't got a preferred style? I know you know more about the game than i will ever learn Mr Nelson, but with all due respect and i think i'm right on this one. Let me tell you that when Manny Steward works with you the first thing he'll try and work is your balance. He does that with EVERYONE he teaches.

I do admit that my post probably wasn't clear aswell. I was trying to explain how people could be teaching the same thing but at different levels. That's what i was getting at.

Oh and btw, I respect Gallagher, in fact i respect all trainers even if i don't agree with their methods. I agree that Gallagher is a decent trainer, so perhaps i'm not the person in this thread you need to be having a go at. :good

 

If you dont have balance you wont have anything its common knowledge thats the the case

 

Would you agree, Billy that there are different defensive techniques i.e Blocking, Parrying, slipping, bob and weaving or rolling? okay. Would you also agree that the primary defensive technique that Joe Gallagher teaches to almost everyone is the blocking technique? Tell me if you disagree and i'm more than willing and happy to be corrected if this is not the case as you obviously have more knowledge on the matter than me.

Now, for me blocking is the most basic and easiest defensive technique because it requires less energy and skill and virtually no twitch fibres. I think Joe employs it because he either has fighters who can't/don't have the tools to do it any better way or that's his philosophy on how one should defend. I can see why he would think that too. Blocking doesn't leave you open to follow up punches as it covers pretty much most of the target area. I can see why he teaches stalking behind a guard.

However, i'm just saying that there's flaws with using this for everyone in that gym. I'm not saying he does that neccesarily, but that's the perception and the proof is in the pudding when his fighters step through those ropes. As i also said how much of that his him and how much of that is just them not knowing or not having the neccesary tools to be able to do better, i don't know.

The flaws are that it leads to a certain negative disposition of trapping yourself in a shell. You can't transition from defense to offense that well. You can get outworked in certain fights. You tend to square up more. Punches even if partially blocked still get through on you, through the course of the fight plenty will get through. Blocking doesn't help you much when you are trying to change and close distance, especially against opponents with a longer reach and good jab and footwork or those who have a very fast recovery after they punch not allowing you to counter and finally you blind yourself with your gloves.

I believe he teaches this defense technique to pretty much everyone in his gym and there's a lot of drawbacks from that. That's all i'm saying.

 

Blocking and Parring are the 2 easiest ways to defend imo but it takes a lot of work and practice to perfect it,the problem with only blocking is that its difficult to stop punches in volume ie 3's and 4's and especially hooks behind the gloves