Part of the fun of boxing is seeing how each man goes about solving the puzzle of the other. How they approach the opponent’s style within the limitations of their ability. So how about a thread to explore strategies that weren’t from the cookie-cutter playbook. Maybe someone went against type, utilizing methods that he hadn’t shown before (or weren’t a huge part of his game), or made an adjustment to turn the tide in-fight or in a rematch. Or maybe just an unorthodox approach to a particular opponent. I’ll start with a couple: Leon Spinks vs. Ali I: Neon Leon had a perfect antidote for the Rope-a-Dope — when Ali laid on the ropes and covered up, Leon battered his arms and in particular the point of his shoulders. You can watch him do it and see it was a deliberate tactic (and was discussed as such after the fight). Instead of hitting Ali’s gloves and wearing himself out, he wore out Ali’s arms and left him with little snap later in the fight. Mike Rossman-Victor Galindez I: Rossman’s game plan was to attack the scar tissue above Victor’s eyes and make him bleed. It worked — he left him a bloody mess and won by TKO in 13. (Ironically, this was on the Ali-Spinks II undercard.) Are there others that you favor?
Willie Pastrano's strategy of not leading vs Harold Johnson Carlos Ortiz's plan of just throwing lefts...jabs and hooks...but no right hands vs Joe Brown.
Liahovich throwing all those right hand leads to Brewster's body. It was going to take a ton of rounds for that to exact a toll on a tough guy like Brewster. That and the danger of the left hook by Brewster coming over that right hand---could have been a Krasniqi type ko victim. He must have thrown 10 of them or more, a round. Definately a game of russian roulette with like 3 bullets in the chamber. But he pulled it off.
Roy Jones targeted Eric Harding's right shoulder with shots during their fight. Harding's tight defence and southpaw stance with his right held high and made things a bit frustrating for Jones early on. So he started landing jabs on Harding's shoulder which (along with a slight injury according to Harding's corner) brought his guard down, left him more open and soon enough Jones was well on top.
Chiquita Gonzalez turning fleet-footed boxer against Michael Carbajal in their 2nd and 3rd fights. Tommy Morrison's 12 rounds of non-engagement with George Foreman Likewise Michael Spinks non-engaging Dwight Qawi and sticking with the jab. Ali's rope-a-dope, which was obviously concocted on the fly, that wore out big George
Duran outboxing DeJesus III Duran outboxing and outfighting Leonard I Schmeling working his game plan around Louis dropping his jab Barerra befuddling Hamed Spring to mind off the bat
Klitschko slapping down Ibraigmov's southpaw lead and repeatedly stepping on his foot. Completely nullified Ibragimov's ability (and willingness) to utilise his jab or close the distance.
