Fighters that could achieve proper balance regardless(Ali)-guys you never see get set

I think it's both. You have to have outrageous talent (like Ali and Jones), but you also have to hone that in training, get those moves down. No one, no matter how talented, simple walks into a gym and pulls off those moves.

 

I always liked McGuigans balance for some reason.

 

So basically this thread is asking who had the best footwork. I think we've seen a few of these before.

 

I don't think Cotto has good footwork. He doesn't even know how to move forward properly. A lot of the time he just walks, and for some reason his legs never look very sturdy to me.

Anyways, what you said pretty much goes hand in hand with having good footwork. Arguello had impeccable footwork technically (check out the difference between he and Cotto when both are fighting off the front foot), but I'd never consider it among the best because of his lack of footspeed and inability to switch up the pace with it. Perfect technique doesn't always lead to perfect results, that applies for both footwork and boxing in general. All of the guys who'd be mentioned in a footwork thread are mentioned here. It's all about the opportunities your footwork opens up, i.e. proper positioning, leverage, range control, etc.

 

Max Schmeling. Remarkably good footwork from a bygone age.

 

The point remains, all of the usual suspects are found in this thread, as noone really seems to be able to make the distinction. Probably because it's so very minute.

 

Ali is a legend, but if you think he had proper balancing and positioning to throw punches you need to revisit the gym.
Cus D'Amato regularly pointed out how Ali's feet would come together when leaning away from shots and countering. This is poor technique. He often threw his punches when off balance and threw arm punches triggered from hs shoulder not his torso, thereby lacking power.
Ali was a gifted athete with stunning reflexes and a warrior's heart but he did many many things technically wrong including not having proper balance and he is probably responsible for many aspiring fighters learning bad habits and gettig KO'd trying to emulate his style!
A man with near flawless balance and power was Louis. Or a young LH Archie Moore.

 

Ah, but you see what is often termed 'poor' technique can prosper for the simple reason it operates outside of the box. Being 'textbook' can be particularly satisfying to ardently leer over (Joe Louis) yet it may be guilty of lacking that unorthodox edge, that experimental spice; those pugilistic curve balls if you will that rupture the rhythm to your advantage.

Whatever one may say of Marciano, he possessed an innate ability to slug a killer wherever he stood - punching with power was his speciality. He stepped to it with both hands and made every single one count. The man could hurt you from anywhere, even if the punches he threw which may be deemed 'poor' he managed to get enough of his compact body behind them to dent the target.

Similar to Cotto, but to a greater degree spells M-a-r-c-e-l C-e-r-d-a-n. Where Cotto takes a pause, bangs his gloves together or drops his hands and bounces, Cerdan would be finishing another one of 'dem 4-7 punch combinations and then throw another 2 seconds later. Cerdan took the workman like method of Cotto, evicted the breaks and shook off the stiffness of his delivery, so he was not only pressing but splicing effective aggression with educated pressure. He played the smart shots and he did not allow for a retort. Cerdan was one helluva tin opener.

 

Good post.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVCI332QjQI
6:45

 

Good clip. Must have been Robinson in his prime. Some footwork.