Often, old school boxers receive criticism for mistakes in the ring. These mistakes are typically attributed to the sport being unevolved during their era. In this thread, post examples of modern fighters making mistakes that could be interpreted as "unevolved technique" had they been old school boxers. This thread could shed some light on possible double standards, and could help refine our understanding of the sport.
I'll kick it off with an example I just came across: This content is protected Lennox Lewis crosses his feet, gets forced into the ropes, and leans back with a wide open ineffective guard to protect himself. After he gets off the ropes, he keeps his hands low, and then overleverages a lead overhand right that forces him off balance, where he once again crosses his feet. How would "modernists" critique this sequence? How would "classicists" justify it?
Being orthodox in a combat sport, is all well and good up to a point, but sometimes you just need to get out of the way!
Don't think people realise how much video quality plays a factor when it comes to discussions like this. To use your own video Rez This content is protected This content is protected
When he crosses his feet, he was out of his opponent's punching range, therefore it's such a big deal, especially when you consider his opponent wasn't very fast.
As I often say to people, who talk to me about boxing in clinical terms: "I know it might be referred to as the 'Sweet Science', but it's not an exact one and there's not too much sweet about it!"
The second video here was also produced by former member GreatA. He was an excellent and knowledgable poster who uploaded lots of footage to his excellent YT channel. He disappeared about 6 years ago. Hopefully he just got into freestyle wrestling or something.
Have you guys heard the legend of Marcos Maidana? He gave Floyd Mayweather Jr one of his toughest fights. He was a force for his time. However, we only have a 15 second sparring clip from him This content is protected
This content is protected Mayweather crossing his feet and clumsily running into Marquez. Then he tries to avoid punches with a low guard and tries to paw at Marquez with an ineffective punch. Look, he was great for his era. Raw speed and some athleticism to boot, but the game has evolved too far. I have 9 year olds at the gym I go to that know how to hold up their guard and not cross their feet. See, let me explain it to you. When you move your front foot forward 4 inches, you need to move your back foot forward 4 inches. All the amateurs at my gym have this ingrained into them from the age of 3. They would look at this clip of the so called legendary Mayweather and laugh.
