The Cross-Arm Defense...do you like it? It is generally a high-guard defense where the boxer crosses his arms. George Foreman used it effectively on the latter half of his career, and I think BHOP also uses it sometimes. If there is another name for this defense, please mention it. Thanks.
It's definately a defense that you really have to know what your doing cause Boom_Boom is right..so many disadvantages.
Archie Moore and Frazier did it too but I always saw the cross arm defense being susceptible to uppercuts. I prefer to use the philly shell and the high guard.
Frazier pulled it off so well, because he had fantastic body movement. That's really an essential part of getting it to work because without it, you are open to body shots and uppercuts. Qawi was another who pulled it off.
I thought about this too, but then why hasn't anyone ever been successful at uppercutting George Foreman? To me, the main problem with the Cross-Arm defense, is that it is purely a defense guard. There's no counterpunching possibilities with it since each of your arms are crossed over your body. Foreman essentially would let you hit him on his Cross-Arm defense, and wait until your flurry of punches was over, and then he would resume his regular guard and stance.
Also, I think for those boxers worried about being uppercutted while using the Cross-Arm defense, I think it helps to simply just tuck your chin in, and crouch your back/shoulders forward which also helps protect more areas of your body. Foreman seemed pretty comfortable and effective with this defense. I'm not a boxer so please all comments and criticisms are welcome.
Well Foreman was not a smaller fighter than most of his opponents. You saw what Foreman did with the uppercut against Frazier? Just makes me fear using it once I start sparring or get in competitions. To be fair, Foreman had a little bit of power too(lol) so maybe the Foreman-Frazier example was bad.
I like it. Actually, I instinctively used it in some fights I had as a kid. And it worked pretty well too, kids don't often use uppercuts and/or body attacks. :yep But yes, it has disadvantages and one needs good movement to be able to utilize it with maximum success. Oh and NBA, don't you have some nuts to hug?
Seems it'd make it harder to penetrate the guard and land a good shot to the head, but it would also leave the body shots to the sides of your gut much easier to land..................your body would be there for the taking.