Gene Fullmer's reverse cross guard explained- Beating the GOAT - Technique breakdown

I personally think so. It was the same guard used by greats such as Archie Moore, Norton, Witherspoon, and George Foreman and Joe Frazier occasionally. It was super effective and drove good boxers like Ali and Holmes crazy. I actually wrote an entire essay on the cross defense a couple of yrs. ago.

 

I tend to not lump Joe in quite as much tho cuz he used the guard sparingly. But it was very noticeable in the FOTC and the Thrilla

 

Watch how he falls in; his left elbow first, then the top of his head. He's looking to land his 'jab' on the heel of his hand. That's 3 pretty good reasons why a guy would pull his head back and take his chances with Fullmer's right hand. The point of his elbow or the top of his head would bust you up, and catching the heel of his hand on top of your head would hurt.
Every time Fullmer was closing distance and coming inside, in this video, he was real aggressive with where he was putting his head. And he's coming in low and bringing it up; that way he's bringing the crown of his head into your nose and eyes.

 

Very nice breakdown. Very very tough night for anybody

 

Is there any way to see this essay?

 

Yes. I still have it somewhere on another computer. It is pretty long essay though and I will probably have to post it in a few parts. It was written a long time ago and probably full of loopholes, but I'll find it and post it.

 

Did you catch the thread where I posted those Jayday?

 

I for one would appreciate that. I argued with someone (not on this forum) where they insisted the cross-guard was an overrated stance that did more harm than good and was outdated in the modern boxing game. I really didn't have the knowledge at the time to argue with him other than point at the likes of Archie Moore or Norton and say, "worked well enough for them." Super-frustrating.

 

Wasn’t Fullmer’s different than all those other guys you mentioned though? He had his lead hand on top, whereas most put the rear hand on top.

 

Yeah, like most of those guys actually, he had has own little twist on it that made it distinctly the Fullmer cross guard in this case.

 

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/the-cross-arm-defense-essay-part-one.664773/
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/the-cross-arm-defense-essay-part-two.664774/

Enjoy.