Is George Foreman a pure arm puncher?

Where are you getting your "actual" definition? Source?

 

Honestly, I've seen both you guys's definitions of "arm punching" used at various times by different people.

I did actually check the USA Boxing official manual from the 90s / early 2000s, but I didn't find a definition of arm punching specifically. (It said that punches should involve your legs/hips and core, which could apply to either definition.)

I don't really have a stake one way or another in what you call it. I'm not a coach or boxing authority, and do not play one on TV. If you can find me an authoritative source that says arm punching only applies to the definition you're using, then I'll be happy to change my terminology accordingly.

 

Thank you. This is the first time you've answered a direct question in over a week.j

I just provided THREE different world level boxers and all three of them disagreed on how to throw a hook. FOUR if you add Roy Jones because he has his own take on it.

A hook. One of the most basic fundamental building blocks of the entire sport.

But you're insisting Hasilet's definition is the only one that is correct.

Actually you didn't provide a direct quote.

But it doesn't matter the point is there are hardly any rigid definitions for terms in boxing.

You still have yet to show me where I said Foreman never used his hips or the ground.

 

Well some terminologies in boxing are obviously not meant to be literal but can be reasonably interpreted. like feather fisted, glass chin, heavy hands, etc.

Foreman could at times exemplify a reasonably understood arm puncher who could still hit very hard relatively.

Other times, I thought George could be seen punching with that much more of his body from the ground up.

For one example at the least, I thought he did exactly that for the final KD in Jamaica, stance, hips and shoulders. Please call me out if you think I’m wrong (though I am a tad sensitive to criticism even when due ). jk.

Anyway, it’d be nice to have visual examples of the two extremes (arm punch vs full body shot) that everyone can hopefully agree on.

The contribution of arms is getting an undue bad wrap also. Sure, take away the other components of the kinetic chain, not ideal, but still…see GF.

Otherwise, full body commitment means zip If the final translation of power is via a short stump emanating from the shoulder. Creepy yes but it won’t hurt you.

 

Hey, I'll have you know that Marciano was a murderous puncher!

 

His feet kind of tell a different story though.

Definitely wouldn't call him a "pure arm puncher" but for such a murderous puncher, Big George sure threw quite a few punches that didn't appear to get as much force from the ground as you would expect. Plenty of instances where he threw punches without seeming to get much torque from his feet (he stood fairly flatfooted a bunch and even lifted and moved the foot on the same side he threw from at times instead of digging it into the ground and rotating it). No idea what to call that though.

 

He reminds me of Baer, in the sense that he doesn't seem to be boxing sometimes so much as just strolling into the ring and repositioning/adjusting his opponent like a heavy bag. Like he's comfortable enough in the ring that he doesn't really feel the need to do any of that formal "boxing" stuff.

 

Then there's this

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In the cooper fight he literally has his right foot off the ground.

In so many fights he's either completely flat footed and getting hardly any weight or snap into his shots, or he doesn't even have both feet planted when he swings.

 

It's an interesting issue whether you could, in theory.

I remember seeing a sports science study that did a breakdown of relative force contribution for the upper body, core, and legs/hips for a punch. It was pretty evenly divided, IIRC. So in theory, you could probably generate enough power even from your definition of an arm punch if you were freakishly powerful. Which Foreman was.

 

Yeah, it would require someone with a robust frame, arm strength, and heavy hands to generate power that way. I can't think of any boxers that fit that description tho.