If a southpaw is an elite fighter such as Spence or Lomachenko, will they have an advantage against an elite orthodox fighter for any reason?
Yes. Most fighters are orthodox, so an orthodox fighter to a southpaw is his bread and butter. But a southpaw to an orthodox fighter is usually awkward, simply because of the irregularity that they’ll face one. Just my 2 cents worth.
yes southpaws can be awkward to an undisciplined orthodox fighter but if said orthodox fighter is truly elite and confident that straight right is hell for a southpaw. it takes a lot of balls and confidence for a southpaw to counter an elite straight right. there's so much more that goes into this other than southpaw v. orthodox that it's oversimplifying a bit to make a blanket statement either way.
In the most basic and simplified scenario yes the southpaw has an edge for the reasons stated above. But in reality it's far more complex than that, otherwise Pac would of beaten Mayweather. Boxing is far too complex a sport with too many variables for such a simple generalisation to be true.
Yep, being southpaw isn’t everything. There are so many other factors to take into consideration. But I think the question isn’t about having the overall advantage by being a southpaw, but just that it is usually an advantage. Or not, depending on your opinion. Ultimately it boils down to experience. Technically, if both elite fighters are carrying a generic style, similar height, reach etc, then technically both stances are going to offer each fighter the same benefits. The question then goes to experience.
Guess you’re referring to Lomo making himself southpaw right? Makes so much so sense and I know from the few times I’ve had the gloves on that whilst I’m right handed it actually feels right to jab with the right hand,guess it’s a trade off between having more power in the jab and less power with the left but also it enables him to do more with the jab like when he doubles up and triples up on it,not sure he could do that with the left as good. Don’t Cubans teach the same thing?
Only just seen the Lomo fight as I’d been away,have to say that Linares was everything I expected and still lost but that straight right hand was a thing of beauty.
shortest distance between two points is a straight line and many southpaws...good southpaws....just got caught with a well timed cable of a straight right. that being said, that left counter can leave an orthodox fighter in a pile of himself like paul williams was. but there is so much more that goes into it. i do, however, truly believe that it's more impressive to be an elite southpaw than an elite orthodox. for many reasons. i just do. not saying i'm more of a fan of southpaws just saying, i think it's harder. if it were easier there would be more of 'em.
The fighter who adapts will have the advantage. If you are orthodox that learns southpaw then I believe that guy will have the advantage ,as southpaw do not dominate boxing. knowing both angles are a advantage. I remember trainers used to laugh at the notion learning both.....
History hasn’t been kind to southpaws. Do you remember the quote, “southpaws should be drowned at birth”? The truth is that firstly there are fewer left handed people than there are right handed people, and secondly, believe it or not, southpaws, back in the day, were forced to train and fight orthodox. There’s legitimate reasons we see and have seen fewer southpaws, and it has nothing to do with a lack of skill/technique, and a disadvantage in stance.
