I realize it takes a lot of fitness and training to pull it off. But this whole style was taught by Cus D'Amato to several champions - and it can be devastating. Why don't fighters use it today??
Not sure maybe it wasn't passed down effectively From cus came Rooney and atlas Rooney had tyson then kind of fell off I'm not sure who hes trained since the 90s and if his students became teachers Atlas trained guys but became a commentator. I cant remember atlas training anyone in that style The style seems designed for young fighters of a certain body type so it's not something you can teach everyone Does seem weird though that many trainers/fighters emulate very popular fighters. In the 80s you saw a lot of Ali impersonators and in the 2010s a lot of Floyd knock offs. You would think a generation of fighters would try it
There are now some really good Youtube videos that explain it properly. It is built around watertight DEFENSE - which then enables all-out ATTACK from a place of "safety" so to speak. Truly it is "hit without getting hit".
I don't know how many trainers these days can effectively teach that style. Usually shorter pressure fighters either plow their way in with a high-guard or a couple jabs and work on the inside. Or you see a lot of shorter guys only work when they're able to corner their opponent or get in-close. Too many also get in-close and then willingly take a step back to a range that doesn't suit them. Not too many are able to time taller fighters with counter jabs, avoid shots on the front-foot without a simple high-guard, and utilize slips and ducks to counter the openings. Defensive pressure fighting is a hard skill to master; the very act of coming forward and letting your hands go more often that rangier boxing stylists gives opponents more openings to take advantage of. Takes excellent reflexes, great trainers, and fantastic stamina to utilize more upper body movement.
Only works for fighters of a certain build. Not everyone can fight compact. Its a strain on the knees too doing all that explosive punching, turning, pivoting and creating angles.
There is a reason both Patterson and Tyson were very very young champions. To teach Cus D’amato’s system correctly took time... both Patterson and Tyson started with Cus at young ages. Twelve for Tyson if I recall correctly. But at its peak it is a young mans system. The window for success is short due to the systems physical demands on the fighters. 1: The peek a boo system requires slipping the straight punches and weaving the round ones to get inside. Not as physically easy to do once you lose reflexes. I could not imagine any fighter in their thirties using it effectively. 2: Next problem is fast twitch muscle. The peek a boo style requires a lot of it. More than most heavyweights have. Again both Tyson and Patterson had this in spades. Both are thought of as some of the fastest heavyweight champions. So it just makes more sense to learn different ways to box.
Again - I disagree It is literally insane that no modern boxers are using well-tested methods that have created great champions.
Because it's prepicious poetry in motion. Highly compact, speed, movement, never taking a backwards step. It's defence would be better served called an offence: dipping, diving, moving forward the whole time. No time for rest, no backward steps no playing defense unless on the offensive. No time to take breaks, supreme conditioning, punches in bunches. The only thing is in the gym it looks nice but in real life there is a guy hitting you back. Imagine feeling tired or hurt. Just suck it up and keep moving onward.
Most young fighters don’t have the patience to learn it. Times have changed. Trainers that push fighters too hard get fired nowadays. There are a lot of idiosyncrasies that take a lot of time and patience to master to use the style effectively. Even good footwork is a rarity in boxing today because it takes a lot of time to learn it properly. Cus D’Amato demanded things be his way or the highway and Tyson listened, which is why he achieved what he did. Trainers nowadays to stay employed often have to compromise on many of the training methods, since many fighters these days go through trainers like hand towels. A great Cus D’Amato quote. “You do what I tell you to do and if it doesn’t work, then you can leave.”
FAT_A - I don't see Diaz slipping and weaving side-to-side enough. But he does keep his gloves up. He is like "halfway"
Jacko - I think the true, full "Peek-a-boo" style was a kind-of "secret" that only Cus had for a long time It almost died with him But it is not that hard to train - for a fit fighter
