Contains Sparring, Speed Bag, Running, Double end bag - abdominal work, stretching and a 6 round bout. All excellent quality, take note of how he uses the speed bag and double end bag. This content is protected
Good video. Mathis looked like he had good fundamentals and technique. For that fight with Stallings in 1965, he won a UD and he weighed over 270, then he fought Stallings in 1966 and got his weight down to 250 and the fight was closer, he only won by SD. I think that second career Foreman was ahead of the game and realized that a heavyweight boxer doesn't have to be thin to box. Mathis might have been better off to leave his weight wherever it was naturally as long as he was training hard. I've seen a lot of fighters work the speed bag like Mathis but before the thick latex bladders, speed bags would bust easily. I'm surprised that in 1965 the speed bag didn't bust when Mathis was hitting it with hooks, right hands, and uppercuts. The old bladders I've seen were thin, almost like balloons. The thick latex ones of the last 25 years or so can take a beating, they last almost as long as the outer bag. Wasn't Mathis trained by D'Amato for awhile?
You’re on it Mathis was trained by D’Amato, Cus wanted to get him slimmer or more conditioned one or the other and yeah agreed, contrary to general initiation slimmer & conditioned aren’t always the same. Cus wanted to build up Busters confidence to take his career slower so they got rid of him (CD) I assume it was when an opportunity to make money was passed over or something.
@cross_trainer thought you might like this brother, checkout the guys channel to it has loads of stuff, interviews, unseen (in my time) sparring footage - including the only video I’ve seen of Benitez getting work.
Man, I wish Mathis did more with himself. Didn't get so out of shape, kept his opportunity at the Olympics... I think he had tons of potential.
Mathis dwarfed Frazier and he seemed to have a nice jab and movement. But did you see the right uppercut BM threw at about 15 seconds from way too far outside? He got away with it, but it was a dangerous punch for BM. Reminds me of another Buster...Douglas vs. Holyfield. I'd like to see the entire 3 rounds of that BM-JF amateur fight. I wonder what JF weighed in that fight, he was thinner than I've ever seen him or maybe it was just because he was next to BM? I'd guess below 200 pounds. This content is protected
Agreed on that uppercut, lots of good fighters seem to do that, that or just not “get” it (the punch) Ali was timed numerous times by Frazier for dropping his uppercut, little details make a big difference especially when the consequence is concussive. About Joe Frazier he used to eat his way up in weight I believe, it is possible he was below 200lbs by a bit.
