DeForest on Corbett ..

I'm not comfortable enough yet to put my gym out there. But there's at least one world class pro there.

He continually fights the best at one of the heavier divisions. He's had some major wins.

 

I'd like to know when was De Forrest involved with Joe Gans. I don't recall his name ever mentioned in connection with Gans, not as trainer, conditioner, second, manager or anybody.

 

I think Reznick is right. Initially I did not like the way Corbet pulls his head back, turning away but accounting for the stunted motion I was impressed with the accuracy and stepping in and out of safty to do it.

I think it is unfair to say this is inferior or primitive. Gloves were new then so punches were not wasted. Efficiency was key. You could smash your hands up. feints were way more important in opening up targets. It was more of a different kind of martial art back then. Not better. Not worse. Just different. A champion was still world level.

A modern fighter would have to fight more like that in order to be successful under those conditions and likewise a pioneer would have to fight more like a modern fighter to make it today. Not better just different.

 

Allowing for the fact that it s an exhibition in a tiny makeshift ring ,I don't think Corbett looks much at all, he has decent reflexes here no doubt ,but his technique is poor .He pulls away with his head stuck up like a lamp post,and his defence is terrible.
Courtney looks like he has never seen a pair of boxing gloves before.You can say that Corbett knew what was in front of him was God awful, and that's why his defence is lax, but his head carriage is terrible ,sorry that's what I see.



"In an interview with the New York Sun reporter prior to the fight with Corbett, Courtney claimed he had KO'd Ed Warner, the New Jersey champion in one round in his very first fight. He then stated he had knocked out Jim Glynn in 2 rounds, Jim Dwyer in 3 rounds, and Jack Welch in 4*. He also boasted he had stayed 4 rounds with Bob Fitzsimmons that same year, a claim later denied by Fitzsimmons"

* There are no records for these three," fighters ,"in box rec.

 

Of course he's serious. This guy has demonstrated time and time again that he lacks an even basic appreciation of the technical aspects of the sport. Between that and the rose-colored lenses that these guys wear when watching heavyweight "greats" of old...

 

:deal

 

Always love reading the opinions of the old trainers. Great find. Corbett always seemed to get respect from people who say him live.

 

Here's some later footage I found of Corbett. You're right. He was damn fast...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HT06pPCnBA

 

Who the heck agrees with me? I feel like my opinions are unorthodox

No, I've seen Maywesther turn his head away from a punch. I know because when I saw it, I immediatly thought about how people here would criticize and old timer for doing that. The memory is burned in

 

What is interesting, and what should be arresting your attention, is that people who saw Gene Tunney were still very impressed by Corbett.

It seems obvious that Corbett in the flesh, was a highly effective, if unorthodox fighter.

 

Any man without crooked eyes will see that Corbett keeps his chin as, if not lower than Mayweather when he fought Cotto.


Go look at the tape right now if you want to see what kind of BS these old school detractors spew. It's hilarious.

 

Are we talking speed, and reflexes or refined boxing skill. They are different.

If we are talking speed and reflexes, Corbett was faster/quicker than Tubbs.

You'd have to watch Fitz vs Corbett, am 1897 film that runs slow, or see Corbett 50+ years old have a World war 1 sparring session with Kid McCoy to see his speed. The McCoy film is much cleaner and up close.

The link you posted ( Corbett vs Cortney ) ran at 12 frames per second I think, which is very slow, and doesn't capture speedy parts of the action well. By contrast, a modern film runs at 22 or 26 frames per second. If you shot Tubbs at 12 frames per second, he'll look slower too. Ask a film guy if needed.

How fast do you think Dempsey and Johnson were? Do you think they compare to Tubbs? The reason I ask if DeFroest along with others think Corbett was as fast with his hands, and faster with his feet.

 

The kinds of accusations these detractors think they can get away with are hilarious lol

 

They have half a point.

A lot of these old timers don’t look good at first glance.

That does not however excuse them for being lazy in ****ysing the film, and reading into it what they want to see.

 

I think I remember the exact moment Mayweather turns his head away from a punch, wait....

If I actually remember the moment, that's crazy. I'll be proud of myself