RJJ and Ali: Comparison of styles

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bokaj, Aug 19, 2010.


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  1. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Stylewise; Jones and Ali seem to have a lot of similarities, so why not break these and also the differences down.

    Similarities: Both kept their hands low and liked to lean back from punches (Ali more than Roy, though). Their respective defense was mainly about using their speed, reflexes, balance/footwork and judge of distance to control the range. They also used a lot of angles for both offense and defense, in punching as well as in movement. They seldom worked within range, in "the pocket". The showed at times that they could work there, but perhaps Jones did so more and was more comfortable there?

    They both threw unorthodox combinations, and varied flurrying with more solid punches.

    Difference: Jones went to the body effectively, which Ali didn't. Ali on the other hand worked mostly behind the jab, which Roy seldom did. Ali liked to lead with the right, but Jones' also often lead with a leaping left hook.

    Ali was vulnerable to the left hook, but Jones seemed to be more vulnerable to the straight right.


    Anything you think I've missed or got wrong?

    Ps. This is about styles, so differences in chin etc doesn't come into it.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 19, 2010
    Bokaj, Aug 19, 2010
    #1
  2. lefthook31

    lefthook31 Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    I think Jones threw more singular power shots, did not use his jab as effectively, and his movement was completely different.
    I would say Jones did like to fight in close quarters, particularly coming off the ropes.
    The biggest similarity was both of their styles relied on natural speed. Ali was more of a textbook boxer relying on the basic mechanics to setup his punches, jab, footwork etc. Jones was all about speed and finding the openings and lot of his shots were completely unorthodox. I call his style fighting in position. He was very good at getting in and out of range falling in and stepping off.
     
    lefthook31, Aug 19, 2010
    lefthook31, Aug 19, 2010
    #2
  3. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    I think Jones was more open to a jab than anything, which Griffin and Tarver had success with and perhaps the straight left that Tarver ofcourse landed. Ali ofcourse was susceptable to jabs from Norton/Young/Jones (the other 1). This is mainly because the jab is the easiest punch to land ofcourse

    Ali's best punch was the right, Jones the left hook

    Jones would sit or get full body torque in his shots, Ali would be happy to throw arm punches and usually punched in flight on his tip toes

    Ali was tall for his weight, Jones short for his weight at 175lbs

    Personally I don't think the styles are that similar though, more that they could both get away with dropping their hands due to their athletic defensive ability
     
    PowerPuncher, Aug 19, 2010
    PowerPuncher, Aug 19, 2010
    #3
  4. kmac

    kmac On permanent vacation Full Member

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    when both fighters were in their primes, you knew you were watching something special. that's the #1 thing they have in common.
     
    kmac, Aug 19, 2010
    kmac, Aug 19, 2010
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  5. mrbassie

    mrbassie Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Nothing alike.
    Ali was a jab and straight right merchant with superlative footwork and good reflexes. Jones was (I stress was) a super steroid fast lead hooker with fast feet but poor footwork and ridiculous reflexes.
    I really see no similarity other than they're both fast and on the darker side of pale.
     
    mrbassie, Aug 19, 2010
    mrbassie, Aug 19, 2010
    #5
  6. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think Jones' footwork was very good. I haven't watched him extensively, but from what I've seen it was very good.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 19, 2010
    Bokaj, Aug 19, 2010
    #6
  7. Senya13

    Senya13 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No similarities whatsoever.
     
    Senya13, Aug 20, 2010
    Senya13, Aug 20, 2010
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  8. itrymariti

    itrymariti Cañas! Full Member

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    Person I'd compare to Ali in the lower weights would be Ray Leonard, though Leonard is better-rounded and technically superior. (Funny, Jones was compared to Ray Leonard early in his career... not sure about that.)
     
    itrymariti, Aug 20, 2010
    itrymariti, Aug 20, 2010
    #8
  9. Boxinglad123

    Boxinglad123 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Ali had cheen
     
    Boxinglad123, Aug 20, 2010
    Boxinglad123, Aug 20, 2010
    #9
  10. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Leonard was, as you say, a very fundamentally sound boxer. He was flashy but had no real technical flaws. Jones and Ali much more suited their styles after their physical attributes. Jones perhaps even more than Ali.

    You could show a young boxer films of Leonard as an example how you should box (but with higher guard); Jones and Ali (especially when young) would rather be good examples of how not to box.

    What I can say about Leonard, is that he also employed arm punching at times just to score easy hits. He did this against Hagler in the late rounds.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    #10
  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The rythm was different; Ali's movement was smoother and Jones' was more about bursting spurts. But they both relied on angles and non-economical movement to get in and out of the opponents range.

    Perhaps Ali was better at employing more standard, economical movement when he needed to than Jones, though. I would have to watch more of Roy to say for sure.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    #11
  12. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Jones threw more power shots (especially singular power shots, which Ali just about never threw) and Ali punched more when moving, but both could use arm punches when it suited them. Ali more than Roy, though. He could go through whole fights using almost exclusively arm punches.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    #12
  13. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    And Ali could and would change tactics to win fights. And he was a finisher of the highest order. Jones is no finisher in there once he meets top level competition. Always the decision win no matter how dominating. And once Jones got behind in a fight he basically just puts in cruise control to a decision loss. He sure doesn't take chances or come up with a different plan for the come from behind victory.

    Ali also fought a much much better level of competition and was the rarest of breeds that fought and won against the hungry pedigreed up and comers when he was the old guy in there. Jones sure didn't wear those shoes and didn't even fight all of his contemporaries, let alone the pedigreed up and comers.
     
    zadfrak, Aug 20, 2010
    zadfrak, Aug 20, 2010
    #13
  14. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    True or not, this really hasn't that much to do with styles.

    You could argue that Ali was more versatile in terms of style than Jones was, though.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    Bokaj, Aug 20, 2010
    #14
  15. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Of course he was. Stylewise, this is a horrible comparison. 1 guy is a jabber and mover and the other guy is a plant his feet throw lead right hands or lefthook guy.
     
    zadfrak, Aug 20, 2010
    zadfrak, Aug 20, 2010
    #15
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