I was re-watching this video this morning: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81non05aKX4[/ame] And I got to the section on distance (2:10 for anyone who doesn't want to watch the whole video, guard you against the heathens and bless your black heart), specifically the line on "purely functional movement." To paraphrase: "Lots of fighters use to much movement creating space thus giving up the initiative...Burley's movement was purely functional." So moving where not necessary (when considering box-movers as in this case) gives up space allowing your opponent to invade that space forcing you to react to their movement rather than vice-versa - giving up the initiative. It's a fundamental point, beautifully illustrated in this video on the perfect subject for revealing the insight. It got me thinking though. Purely functional movement in any style, is rare. Who would you nominate?
This guy might just be a genius. I wonder if he posts on ESB. It's a concept I don't know if I'm entirely grasping. For for modern fighters, I think Bernard Hopkins fits the bill, and maybe, just maybe Sergio Martinez. Perhaps Tony Canzoneri as well. As for aggressive fighters, I think Frazier against Ellis in that final round is just a brilliant display of angles and in-fighting footwork in a purely functional way. Chavez might be a decent shout for aggressive fighters on the subject. Not an easy question, and it appears Burely was truly the master of this. What was the line the video used of Archie Moore describing Burley, "serpentine motion" or something like that. I'll cringe if anyone mentions Joe Louis.
some times giving up the initiative is really just drawing your opponet in for a counter. (like Joe louis)
Burley is for me the antithesis of the showboat,every movement has a purpose.It is a modern tragedy for contemporary boxing fans that we have so little to admire of his work. Loved the music too, I wonder what it's called.
Joe Louis. :yep I like that Burley video. Hopefully whoever made it will come out with a sequel showing all the flaws in Burley and how to exploit them.
I remember this jumping out at me the first time I saw this vid too. I mean, he is right, but **** it would take balls to fight like that. Wilfredo Gomez did it at times. To me (and this might sound strange) it's like it is the ultimate pressure fighter. Not in the sense of swarming or constantly aggressing, but because it constantly has you under pressure because the opponent is always hitting you when you make a move, if you try to move sideways etc he steps in the right direction to cut you off and bang etc etc. It's like a ****ing killer chess player who is just superior to you. I've always thought of it as pressure myself, although it is not commonly regarded as a 'pressure' fighter, which is more of a Chavez in laymans terms. I have to go the gym now, great thread.
We will all look forward to that, but I doubt there were too many flaws to exploit since in 98 fights over 14 years ,Burley only lost 12 times.
I dunno McGrain.When talking about fighters we would all consider good to great i think i find it easier naming those who would use obviously over the top\unnecessary movement. Ali/Legra and their various clones Virgil Hill Herol Graham Sugar Ray Leonard Terry Norris Aaron Pryor Benitez(well kind of, he was often stubbornly, deliberately flat footed when it would have suited to use some footwork here and there)maybe Locche here too from the looks of some of his earlier footage like Ortiz, then again maybe the legs just went. Top notch purely functional movers imo: Roy Jones jr Jose Napoles Rodolfo Gato Gonzalez Carlos Ortiz John Conteh Duran deserves a mention Wilfredo Gomez Fidel Bassa Eder Jofre Donald Curry Bernard Hopkins Ayub Kalul Masao Ohba Alfonso Lopez Yoko Gushiken Orlando Canizales Even the deliberately hyperactive pogo stick rhythm of Luis Rodriguez\Laguna was all done purposefully, though it lacked the same minimal economy of motion thing you might be looking for. From slower footed guys, Louis, Zarate, arguello, Kingpetch, Watson, Marquez never moved their feet without purpose but didn't have the same positioning options marvin Hagler could be both.Lots of purely functional efficient half-steps and clever angle work epsecially earlier in his career, but employed more overt "keep him at distance and feel him out" against Hamsho, Antuofermo, Sibson, Roldan early on...IN fact his first fight with Vito is one of the better examples of a top fighter not using his movement capabilities in an efficient manner.
x2 although using functional movement that controls distance well and has more nuances to it, ability to keep out of striking range and to force errors is the mastery of it I also think while it is welcome footage and can give some insight, we can over analyse the Burley-Oakland footage
Nothing wrong with that if he does make a comment. Duran is not an outright call here, as Lora said, maybe a honourable mention
Carlos Monzon..his style was, despite being devoid of all flash and flourish, deceptively efficient and coldly functional, as his record indicates..and I echo Napoles and Carlos Ortiz.
What about Mayweather Jr as a welterweight? It seems has an extrememly high hit percentage and a very low getting hit percentage. All of that and he doesnt move around the ring as much as he used to as a lightweight agasinst say Corrales and Castillo.