I was thinking about this adage the other day and it got me thinking, what if both fighters have monster left hooks as there main weapon they'll have to have a shoot out of left hooks until one goes down or until a fighter changes tactics because he isn't having success with his usual weapon. It does not necessarily mean a fighter is being submissive if he has more weapons in his arsenal but it is intriguing to think about. David Tua vs Mike Tyson- both of these gentlemen have devastating KO power in their left hooks, however Tyson has many more weapons so he might simply avoid playing tua's game and beat him using a more diverse variety of punches. As for raw power i might give tua the edge but its very close. Tysons is faster, more accurate and he sets it up better and can spring out of a crouch with a lunging left hook. Tua's hook is a WMD however he doesn't have the head movement or jab his way in to use it, he usually sets it up with hooks to the body before coming upstairs for the KO. Tommy Morrison vs Joe Frazier- another great battle of left hookers, both Morrison and Frazier's sunday punch was their left hook but again morrison threw uppercuts and overhands as well as the hook. Joe really just tried to time you with his bob and weave defense and a big lunging hook. Tommy's chin is a factor here and as long a joe doesn't get caught with any bombs early I see him wearing Tommy down and eventually knocking him out with his left hook. Razor Ruddock vs Jack Dempsey- This is a very interesting fight for me, Ruddock appears to be the much more physically strong specimen and he lived and died on his "smash" left hook/uppercut hybrid that almost killed an aging Michael Dokes. Jack Dempsey has perhaps the greatest or one of the greatest left hooks of all time. He could throw it with devastating power tight on the inside or loop his hook and throw it from a distance with great power. Dempsey would have to get inside but he wasn't known as a giant killer for nothing. Honestly I see Dempsey bobbing and weaving his way inside and preoccupying Ruddock with sharp body punching and then throwing bombs upstairs. He definitley will have to eat a smash or two but Ruddock is just too limited and Dempsey tears him up on the inside with body shots and tight hooks to the jaw. Also Ruddocks smash is way too wide and telegraphed for Dempsey I believe. Mix and Match any of the left hook artist and analyze an outcome or comment on my assessments
Kind of comes down to who lands first. Weve seen both guys get knocked out at the same time from lefthooks. Speed, accuracy, chin and who lands first have a big part of it.
Tommy Morrison vs. Razor Ruddock is a good example of evenly matched boxers who both have monster left hooks. Ruddock had some success due to his greater range of big bombs, dropping Tommy with a sweet short right uppercut, but Morrison's superior pacing, combinations and defensive skills allowed him to hang in until opportunities opened up. So, unless one has a poor jaw, I think it really comes down to who has the better ability to land the left when the time is right or who has the better range of alternative punches. To take your examples- 1. Tyson. He has about four other KO worthy punches, and while I don't see him KO'ing Tua, he either punishes Tua into his shell and makes him quit inside, or he stops him. 2. Frazier. Even if Tommy gets lucky and hurts Frazier badly, he's not going to finish him off and it's just a matter of time before Frazier breaks him down. 3. Dempsey. Jack loved a big, stationary target with no head movement, and after a few rounds that's exactly what Ruddock would be.
frazier and morrison are the only 2 fighters ive seen get there whole shoulder into a short left hook.
The adage originates because of form and technique. A left hooker will throw the hook well; That is, put his hips and shoulders, and well as his turning legs, into a shot. He'll also be sharper and more accurate, as he likely just throws the punch more than the other guy. When you combine those together with this key element, you have a boxing idiom; A good left hooker properly defends himself. He's thrown the punch so many times in sparring, the response to an opponents instant counterattack is muscle memory; Either his right hand never drops, his chin tucks, or he rolls with his own punch. When you hook with a hooker, his shot will be more powerful, but more importantly, you will likely be defensively out of place, and get tagged. The low right hand of a less seasoned fighter is the most common culprit.
Yes when two guys throw lefthooks at the same time they are leaving themselves open for a lefthook. Thats where the sang came from and someone more proficient in landing their lefthook is why you dont lefthook with a lefthooker.