When did people start criticizing tall fighters for not using height/reach?

It's a good idea to use whatever tools you can. On the other hand it depends the fighter. Chico Corrales didn't use his height but he was an exceptional talent both inside and at midrange. Riddick Bowe was another that could fight inside or outside.

Maybe Wlad being an extreme case of needing to stay outside and being effective though we all went blind watching it. Lewis 10 years before that was mostly an outside fighter but he could hold his own.

Using your height and reach doesn't mean that a guy has to be a 1 trick pony or totally scared to mix it up.

The most important thing is sports is to keep your opponent off balance. Use everything though.


What happens if you only learn to fight outside and then you get an opponent who is taller? Your gonna be lost.

 

Paul Williams at welter.

 

Ernie Terrell gave away his height.

 

Good observation!

 

Teddy Atlas was the first commentator I ever heard mention it. I think "giving up height" can be bad, but there are exceptions. There have been tall fighters who were good on the inside like Bowe and tall fighters like Cooney who had an excellent hook and didn't rely on a jab and distance. IMO, the ideal fight for a tall fighter is to get the shorter fighter to back up and fight at the taller fighter's range.

 

When they started to spot the obvious.

 

The idea is to keep the opponent out of range because you can land as they come in like Foreman v Frazier, you don`t have to come inside, when you do you should use the jab to set up your inside shots. The jab is one of the best punches to use because it doesn`t have to travel far to land, it extends to your full reach so it`s easier to land, why cancel the jab out of your style?

 

But I read Tyrell was only about the jab!

 

Wow he had even more height than Hearns at that weight, shame he couldn`t use the jab like Hearns, he would of been special.

 

Bowe got hit too much on the inside though.

 

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Nicolai Valuev misspent all of his physical advantages, trying to Jimmy Young instead.

 

Yep.