Destroying the high guard defense | Breakdown

That’s why Emanuel Steward said the high guard sucked

 

Winky wright was a master of the high guard, even Tito couldn't get thru it.

 

Tito was never a volume puncher or one who punched to create openings though. Although Emmanuel steward said he was the kind of fighter who could still hurt you through your guard, winky's high guard was like a brick wall.

 

Talk about an anomaly. How many HOF used such a style?
It's crazy to think that he got it to work so well.

But the best example of that style having massive limitations would be Abraham. His offence struggled mightily because of it, especially at 168 where he couldn't just overwhelm his opponents with sheer explosive power.

 

Winky's high guard didn't work against Hopkins.

 

To destroy the high guard defense you have to hit the guy at his arms until he can't raise them.

 

Hopkins is one wily coyotoe

 

And I remember it being quite the competitive affair.

 

It was pretty close. It wasnt really a fight where the loser lost any stock. Wright was upper echelon for sure.

 

Hooks and volume punching. Get them covering up all round and before you know it, bell rings

 

Winky's "elite" guard was definitely different from nearly everyone else's.

From the outside, he did keep a high guard up, but he also parried shots while he had the guard up. He would ever so slightly push his guard forward to meet the incoming punches (Oscar did this too, but not quite as well). This is also one of the reasons his counter jab was so effective, his right hand was already in the position to immediately fire off the guard. He would also move his head behind the guard (something else most high guard guys never did). He stopped doing that as much once he got older but if you pay attention to his mostly forgot about fights while he was in obscurity, this is absolutely how he fought every fight.

When inside, he was extremely tight and would shrink up so there was not a lot of body to hit. He could also move his elbows downward or upward anticipating where the punches would land. He rarely took any damage on the inside at all.

Winky's high guard >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> everyone else's high guard.