Innovations in boxing - the innovators who didn't change a thing

So this thread is inspired by -

1 - by CT's "weird thread"

2 - by GP's and PP'S "innovator" threads


This thread is about guys who made innovations in boxing in terms of style or execution, but did not change boxing and it's course.


As an example, I will offer Harry Greb. Greb's style was the subject of much debate during his time. The public, the press and even his fellow fighter's were all bamboozled by it. My favourite example is Harry Wills, who "shook his head and smiled queerly" when asked about Greb's style. Greb's "windmill attack" wasn't based in balance. Greb wasn't grounded for a lot of his punches, he would even "leap in" to close the distance rellying on speed and natural instinct to keep him out of trouble, and flash KD's were really, really rare, regardless of the size or the class of opponent.

So concerned was Greb about the public's reaction to his style that when he finally pinned down Wilson to a title fight he changed that style, taking a more technically correct approach for fear that he would freak the judges out.

NOBODY, either contemporary (?) or after him tried to copy his style. He was far and away the best of his time but nobody really copied him...an innovator who proved the success of his alterations to traditional style who nobody seems to have wanted to copy.

Why?

Nobody else was gifted enough!

Anyone else? Doesn't have to be so far reaching...what innovators were not copied because their innovations just didn't fit for other fighters?

 

Mode or delivery?

Can you, or anyone else, think of fighters who delivered specific punches in a unique manner, not broadly copied?

 

Think? I think Froch is more your "hard man". I'd bet his father is a bigger influence than Naz...what I mean by that is that Froch makes his name taking the punches, Naz made his name by dramatically trying to slip them (and sometimes taking them).

Hand position is often identical though, you're right. But I wouldn't described Naz as a stalker.

 

Very much so.

Fitzsimmons, from defensive positions he would sometimes become suddenly lethal with one punch...the spefics of his footwork here seems to be a crucial factor.

Do you think Fitzsimmons "reclaimed" his balance (traditional) when counterpunching?

 

You know what I would love to do with Sugar is break down his balance. He was so well balanced. Creepily well balanced. I harp on about that fight to much, but against LaMotta...such a great punching display and from the back foot. You need pre-natural balance to achieve such a thing. He would move off a guy and come back with a triple left hook. What a guy.