My 12 year old cousin wants to box, which boxer would be best for him to watch?

he needs to learn the basics first

then it depends on what style would suit him best, but 12 is still a bit young to know how he will present himself, this will come in the next few years if he will continue to box

defensive style: Floyd or Wlad
offensive style: Manny or Lara

 

He just watch a bunch of fighters for now. If he's just starting out and he's only 12, there's no real way to tell how he's going to fight

 

jmm

 

im no expert but i would have him watch all the fighters, i think he could pick up a lot, as he develops his style. l

 

I like Bradley's style, a lot of good textbook movement and technique....your cousin can start by strapping pillows to his fists.

 

If you care about his well-being and health advise him to do it as a hobby and focus on his schooling and getting an education.


But watch boxing or train to get in shape, since your cousin is very young and impressionable I would recommend he watch guys that set an example outside of the ring as well as inside of it.



-Tim Bradley (great father and family man, responsible and great work ethic)

-Juan Manuel Marquez (came up successful business man outside of ring and great father and family man)

-Manny Pacquiao (we all know)

-Klit Brothers. (Both educated Doctors/Professors, and successful businessmen)


If Vernon Forrest were still alive today he would been great for young men to aspire to be like, his outreach and community charity work for Handicapped children showed a man that was devoted to his community a Gentleman and Christian to the fullest.

Alot of Boxers use their success in the ring as their platform to launch into other ventures, and do great things outside of the ring.


Boxing has alot of good folks, focus on positive, fighters again, at 12 he is very young and impressionable make sure he has the right role models.

 

That's not actually true.

James Toney fought with a similar style and even David haye uses elements of the Philly Shell defense from time to time.

If I were going to get someone into boxing, I'd have them watch and learn from multiple defensive fighters who use their brains. It would be important to me to teach safety first.

 

He should watch every fighter and study them, when he starts he will develop the best style for him you can not decide someones style before he starts to train boxing, you can not know what style suits him.

 

If he is serious..he should study as many of the greats as he can!

 

My advice would be to tell him to watch boxers who DON'T rely tremendously on their reflexes or athleticism for their styles. Manny, Floyd, Roy Jones Jr., and others would have to be eliminated immediately.

Ideally, you'd want him to emulate someone who is successful based off of fundamental technical skills as opposed to jaw-dropping athleticism. Part of who you want him to emulate would have to be influenced by his build, too. Is he a short stocky guy or a taller lankier fellow?

De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Marvin Hagler, and Roberto Duran would all be good picks in terms of versatility and technical skills. If he's a lanky guy, Hearns would probably be the best guy to watch and try to emulate. Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe would be good if he's tall as well.

 

Any text book fighter. First names that sprung to mind, Oscar De La Hoya, Vernon Forrest and Ronald Winky Wright.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are poor examples to follow. Both have their unconventional individual styles. To show a newbie these fighters as a basis to imitate would potentially be disasterous.