Near every RJJ thread they ogle over his talent and act as if everything he did was the result of it like it’s some impossible thing. Those same people forget he and “Wunderkind” Benitez both trained since they were barely walking.
But do you have the otherworldly power to slip a punch without your hands statically pressed to your face?
Against pros before the heart surgery, yes. Now, no. Against normal people? Yes. Why would I have my hands against my face if I'm going to slip the punch? I would drop the hand to make you throw the punch.
Brian Mitchell, the South African super featherweight champ who had to defend his WBA title all over the world (almost always in someone else’s backyard) because the WBA banned title fights in his home country due to its apartheid policies, had a neat way of ending most every combo with a jab — especially a 1-2-1. It allowed him to control distance by always ending up back at longer range rather than being drawn into brawls. It’s one reason he looked so smooth boxing. Marciano famously pounded on the arms of opponents when they covered up to make them arm-weary, opening them up later. Leon Spinks used a form of this to beat Ali, pounding away at the points of Muhammad’s shoulders when he rope-a-doped. I liked how Larry Holmes would use the extended left hand to both measure for his right hand but also to block the opponent’s vision to know it was coming (until too late often). Only saw him do it a couple of times, but Thomas Hearns had a sneaky way of backing off from close range to set up his right, kind of tapping his opponent’s left glove down with his own left as he slid away to set up the right, leaving him a clean path for the right to torpedo the opponent’s jaw. Ray Leonard’s shuffle would dazzle and entertain, but look at when he does it when he unloads a barrage on an opponent. He’ll throw a flurry, drawing himself in where he’s a bit too close, and when he shuffles he actually backs away to create space and optimum range to resume the barrage so he’s set as soon as the feet plant. Roberto Duran had a nifty step-over move where he’d throw a lead right and swing his right foot forward with the punch to set up a southpaw left cross. Not necessarily a powerful punch but man it was crafty. I love this topic @Journeyman92 — Bravo.
Wonder if anyone ever told Cus: Patterson’s chin isn’t getting any better, he needs to learn some defense.
If I'd been hit the way he was by Jack it'd have had the same effect as a revolver to the jaw. Sick power!
Oh man definitely. There are some on here that actually deny Jack could hit that hard! Like Willard was getting cracked by the ref up close????
Hearns jab to the body followed by the overhand right. Tyson's right hook to the body followed by that viscous right uppercut. Leonard's lead right followed by his hook , combo punching. Ali's double jab followed by his straight right hand. Jones Jr jumping lead left hook. (Incredible display of timing and speed) Holmes power jab, (How powerful? Ask Ossie Ocasio) Fraziers ability to slip or parry a jab and immediately counter with the hook.
