styles of various defensive masters

Yeah Red, I don't know what I would do at work without ESB Classic!

 

he definately can't. So how would you label the defensive stylings of Archie Moore/Mayweather/James Toney? All that stationary movement, blocking punches with side of the arm and shoulder.

 

I think Whitaker could class among them, perhaps even better than Benitez, as Benitez was never much for footwork in a strict, defensive lateral movement sense. He was just very balanced.

 

Locche wasn't much of a speed demon at all, just a master of anticipation and the fundamentals. He knew exactly what to look for and when, and how to react within a microsecond.

 

This is a really cool post. :good

 

Yeh you are right there.

 

I think James Toney would be closest to the intuitionist camp. But fighters like he and Archie Moore and Joey Giardello were never really 'defensive' fighters in any substantive respect imo. They were guys that were willing to take a (non-clean) punch to land a cleaner one in return. There was definitely some fundamental soundness to their games as well, but defense was always a means to an end for these guys and by no way an end in itself.

Mayweather was pretty well rounded, and had aspects of being a fencer (especially early on), fundamentally sound and a fair bit of intuitive defense too, really.

 

See how he positions two arms out in front of him, nullifying Holyfield's left hook?

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Then, here is what amazes me. It's an overhand right, that naturally falls into an armpit block:

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The things that are being done in this fight are...All we can do is enjoy.

Also, let me throw a shout out to a type of defense that I like, that I couldn't call "masterful" but I find interesting. Old, crafty Glen Johnson. The way he deflects with his ever rotating forearms is very interesting to watch. As a pressure guy, he's going to take his shots, but even as durable as he is, he wouldn't be around this long with that pressure style unless he deceptively took less punishment than it might appear. I see a lot of shots never quite making it to him.

 

Well done. I would also add the very tall / lean back style, and the polar opposite, the very short / crouching knees bender types that can duck well.

If you consider clinching part of defense, then you can add a few names too.

There are also the shoulder defense / cross armed types.