Outboxers with a short reach?

Alberto was very talented and the model example of “short” boxing if only he could punch but the lord doesn’t hand out all to all.

 

Almost like clockwork with comments about certain fighters, you will be informed whether you like it or not that XYZ also had an underrated ABC unless you specify everything every time… Tyson had a good jab now you say?

 

Haugen was going to be my call. I'm glad someone else thinks so, too! He had a great way of stepping back to draw leads and then advancing inside with a counter or two.

 

I don't know if he had a SHORT reach overall for a middleweight, but most of Sumbu Kalambay's best opponents had a longer reach than he did. Even stubby-armed Irish Steve Collins had a reach only one inch shorter than Kalambay's.

 

Vilomar Fernández was 5’6 with a reach if 59 inches. The fact that he beat Alexis Argüello who was 5’10 with 72 inch reach with just his boxing skills alone, as well as holding his own against other taller fighters with reach advantage like Howard Davis Jr and Hilmer Kenty, is astonishing.

 

I’ll echo the mention of Jack Johnson - a reach of just 74” - the same reach as the much shorter Sam Langford and just 1” more than the equally shorter Tommy Burns.

Tommy and Sam often gave away plenty of height but they were blessed with terrific reaches relative to their heights.

 

I think Jack Sharkey can reasonably fit the bill…and his reach was only 72” - though I didn’t necessarily perceive his reach to be that short.