Boxers who were notorious for thumbing of the eyes?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MixedMartialLaw, Oct 26, 2025.


  1. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Combat sports enthusiast Full Member

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    Eye pokes are often an issue in MMA due to the exposed fingers, with some fighters more associated with using that tactic than others. In boxing, it wasn’t until the 1980s that gloves were mandated to have thumb attachments to control their movement. Before that, were there fighters who became notorious for using thumb pokes as a tactic?
     
  2. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

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    Holmes got in trouble a bit
     
  3. PrimoGT

    PrimoGT Active Member Full Member

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    Holmes, Ali, Pedroza, Duran, Pep, Saddler, Zivic ..... were good at that, allegedly.
    ..... but everyone really. When the gloves were the real ones, the thumbing and lacing was common-place. You can't always see them doing it. But it went on a lot. Part of the game. The advanced boxers could thumb them, lace them, then spin them face-first into the ropes and rub their face in the rope too. Real skills.
     
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  4. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Holmes was the most notorious from my era, easily.
     
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  5. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold The Hype Job Spotter. Full Member

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    Sonny Liston have a funny way of doing something like that?

    F*** me that so called UFC HW title fight was a total s***show.
     
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  6. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    Galento was open about using his thumb to gouge opponents in the eye...
     
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  7. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

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    Ali complained that George Foreman thumbed him in the post fight interview. Not unlike Foreman to be very dirty, kidney punches, shoving etc he was taught to fight by a Saddler lol.
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2025
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  8. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Fred Hutchings complained about Thomas Hearns thumbing him.
     
  9. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Duran in his middleweight years Moore and Hagler fights.

    Fritzie Zivic might have thumbed a few people, laced a few, butted a few.

    Harry Greb after being a victim of a thumb learned his way around the art of the thumb.