Adaptation

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010.


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  1. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    I was reading an old boxing manuel and in it the author stressed the need for variation and adaption in a bout. Saying that changing the stance slightly and different offensive and defensive manueavers keeps an opponent on his toes.

    I even notice in my gym, that certain guys can adapt better than others when an opponent offers a variation to their boxing, some guys seem to do it naturally.

    What fighters do you think adapted well during rounds or bouts? How did they do? What specific fights? And what changes did they make?

    And on the other hand, which fighter do you think struggled to adapt during a contest? Why do you think this?
     
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Liston had very decent adatptive skills. Against Machen, he lost the first two rounds. Machen achieved this by staying just out of range taking very small steps to arrange things so he couldn't be timed and was less likely to walk onto anything ridiculous. He does well making Sonny miss and then countering him as he's coming in, good strategy against Liston who uses the jab to cover for his lack of handspeed. He comes in behind that punch and uses shorter technical punches or closes the gap for longer punches, longer punches in the technical sense.

    Liston's response, from round three, was to put the bigger punches he'd been missing with straight to bed. He looks for opportunies to land short punches only, and when he's throwing longer punches, he looks for speed and a score rather than putting the hurt on his man which was his way. This is not a small adjustment for a man who traded on KO's - Liston might have lose this fight without that adjustment.

    He also stopped headhunting and went after the body more. This was something you would see Liston do throughout his career, right up to the McMuarry fight. It's a standard adjustment, but how many times do we see the slower figher fail to make it?

    He also made interesting adjustments against Henry Clark. Clark fought Liston very very aggressively, and so Liston, way past his best, slowed the pace right down. His post fight interview was class. He explained he had taken his time with Clark because "He was fresh. When guys get fresh...they get sassy."

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezTsLHHPNdM&feature=channel[/ame]
     
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
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  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Tyson struggled to adapt. This was primarily because of his physical limitations, physical limitations really limit your strategy.
     
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
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  4. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    Interesting, thanks for that McGrain, never really appreciated Liston.

    To answer your question, you very rarely see it until you get to the world class guys, and thats is what makes them world class.

    Definitly, its hard especially if you are like Tyson and a physical anomalie in your weight, it is maybe not equally as hard for a tall freak like Valuev to adapt but it is limited.

    One adaption I think is phenomenal is Robinson when he fought Lamotta.

    I love the way he starts of boxing, takes his time, picks shots and moves alot. Circling Lamotta looking to keep it at range and make it a boxing match.

    As soon as he feels weakness in Lamotta, he turns into an offesnive moster. Letting dazzling combiantions away and forcing back Lamotta at times. Fantastic adaption.
     
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
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  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, you're preaching to the choir there my friend, bang on. Also, the way he starts throwing those round the corner body shots on LaMotta's blind side when they're up close.

    Do you know who else is good? Zarate. He's really good and fast at finding the right punches against an opponent. Whether it's uppercuts versus Amores or the beltline stuff versus Fenech, he's never long in finding the right kind of punches to get to his man.
     
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
    #5
  6. itrymariti

    itrymariti Cañas! Full Member

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    Yeah McGrain, nice one on uploading the Clark fight - I enjoyed it. I think Liston really exhbited some fantastic infighting skills in that one (even past prime); it's making me consider picking him over e.g. Tyson now. I didn't even know that fight was available on film.
     
    itrymariti, Feb 24, 2010
    itrymariti, Feb 24, 2010
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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    No problem, i'm quite enjoying uploading stuff. I love Liston-Clark. Good little fight.
     
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
    McGrain, Feb 24, 2010
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  8. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    adaptation....;O)
     
    GazOC, Feb 24, 2010
    GazOC, Feb 24, 2010
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  9. lefthook31

    lefthook31 Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Your last opponent. He took away your reach and height by making you the agressor in the last two rounds.
     
    lefthook31, Feb 24, 2010
    lefthook31, Feb 24, 2010
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  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Adaption? Do you mean Adoption ? Liston adopted a child.
    Adaptation :goodCmon lads ,you are letting the UK down.:lol:
     
    mcvey, Feb 24, 2010
    mcvey, Feb 24, 2010
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  11. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    Yeh Robinsons performance is magical, one of the best observations I heard was from a guy who is a boxing fan just not been heavy into boxing for a long time. And he says he loved how 'robinson got close and threw a shitload of fast punches.' But it was amazing

    Zarate is a great pick, feels his guy out, sees what needs to be done then lowers the boom.

    Yeh he did, good example.

    :lol::lol:

    Come on lads this is a boxing forum no a spelling forum. Sorry I got it wrong though, its lazy to speel it wrong
     
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
    #11
  12. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

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    Though it was a horrible fight in some ways, Calzaghe vs Hopkins showed a lot of subtle changes in style from round to round.From both men, not just Hopkins as is often said.
     
    lora, Feb 24, 2010
    lora, Feb 24, 2010
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  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Only joking mate:good
     
    mcvey, Feb 24, 2010
    mcvey, Feb 24, 2010
    #13
  14. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    I'm not crediting the win or anything classic so don't have a heart attack, but Mayweather vs De La Hoya is a very nice example of adaptation, also Mayweather vs Judah. Calzaghe vs Kessler also, and Rudkin coming out of his comfort zone to slug at Lionel Rose is epic.
     
    teeto, Feb 24, 2010
    teeto, Feb 24, 2010
    #14
  15. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    I love that, Rose boxes beautifully and its no lookign good for wee Rudkin then al of a sudden he comes out for the 7th or 8th and outslugs Rose in a war.

    Also McGowan ad******g to Rudkin in the second fight is awesome. He really is getting a bettering then gets up on his toes and outboxes Rudkin and starts unloading on him, Rudkin wises up and turns up his pressure.
     
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
    GPater11093, Feb 24, 2010
    #15
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