"His hands are too low!"

You make a very logical argument and I agree with your conclusion.

Boxing in that period was more of a clinching type of affair. The idea was to shut down the offense of the opponent. The stance allows for the fighter to control his opponent's arms as he bulls his way in.

 

I think this could be an effective strategy in today's game, but it would make for incredibly boring fights.

 

watch the fighters the right hand is often around the chin which is the correct way these days.

My reasoning is the gloves was smaller so if you put your hands up in front of your face and took punches on your gloves the thin leather of the gloves wouldnt protect the base of your hand tearing your cheek bones. Even the 10oz gloves do it but they arnt as basd

 

i didnt think it was like te Johnson thread, a very intresting thread this

i know nothing about Karate so whats a horizontal karate block?

 

yreh i get you

stil when i see footage of the era i see alot of parrys with a high right hand

infact upon some research i came across the name of Mick Dunne who according to some accounts was teh first boxer to use a 'High Left lead' block.

 

Lots of great fighters held their hands low, not just old-timers. Modern fighters too.
It's angles and techniques that protects the chin, not holding the hands high.
It's amateurish to stand square on and just drop the hands in a show of arrogance, but it's not amateurish to fight out of a correct stance that carries the lead hand low.
It's often amateurish to just hold the hands high in a peek-a-boo and think that's going to suffice to protect the head.

Besides, the body is the bigger target.

 

The peeka boo sometimes works against you because it restricts your view. Floyd Patterson?

Low hands ?
Jimmy Slattery
Tommy Loughran
Gene Tunney
Jack Johnson
Dulio Loi

Some thought they could box a bit.

 

Fighters who were good at controlling distance and had exceptional reflexes. Also, think Ali & Jones, Jr. The style suits these fighters.

On the otherhand, it is always sad (read: hilarious) to see fighters not as gifted try to pull this off.

 

You usually need fast feet too.
Kirkland Laing fought with his hands down, I watched him easily out point Colin Jones in two fights only to lose concentration late on, and get blasted out both times.

 

just watched benny leonard fight tendler on you tube ,leonards hands are low but he is fast on his feet,fients well and clinches quickly

 

It is the feet that are the key, IMO.

 

Once in a blue moon you get a fighter whose reflexes and ability to judge distances are so good that a high guard would just get in his way. Muhamad Ali is the obvious example and there are others such as Jimmy Wilde.

Short of this ideal you will always get fighters who prefer to use a lower guard to draw their oponents punches and set up counters. The better ones will get away with it far more often than not.

It is certainly inapropriate to make a general and unqualified criticism of all fighters who use a lower guard at the absolute elite level.