Harry Mathews As A Heavyweight Contender Today?

Training trends have changed over the years.

What was Tomasz Adameks best fighting weight?

174?
197?
225?

At age 31 Adamek was a career lightheavyweight. Just 174lb when he lost to Chad Dawson. Four months later he "grows" 23lb more muscles and wins a cruiserweight title. Later he beats a load of modern sized heavyweights. Giant guys of 260lb weighing 220-225lb. This, from a career lightheavyweight.

Marciano was 197lb in his first fight and came down in weight. Just saying.

 

Matthews perfected the st Pauline's school of boxing style. That's how all the greats of pre 1930 fought gibbons brothers Tunney. I'm surprised people here are critical of Matthews skills

 

It is not his skills that I an critical of, I just think that he was carefully managed.

 

The way Matthews took that first round against Marciano you could tell he was a well schooled, seasoned hombre. That st Paul style is very slick. Love the way Mathews leans back to make space, pivots and comes in with that cute tight angle right hand all in one move.

If he was a west west coast hype job he had some moves.

 

I don't like the way he leans back. As someone who boxed for 4 years and sparred a lot, that technique would get you killed today. The style is outdated.

 

Well it never worked for me either but it looks good when you see it done right.

I disagree about it getting somebody killed today . Leaning back has always been frowned upon. Some guys get away with it some don't. Always been the case. and remember this is not leaning back whilst backing up in a straight line. He circles whist doing this. It's really leverage.

Giardello and Ellis used the same move. I would say old fashioned rather than outdated. It worked for them. And versions of it worked for Johnny Nelson and Prince Naseem Hamed too. They're still alive.

 

Good points..except I think leaning back when you have low hands is recipe for disaster..unless you have speed reflexes of Roy jones or Muhammad Ali

 

Agreed. Speed, timing and cunning.