Lamotta's Jab wasnt special, but the way he used it was...

One of the better examples of a fighter actually utilising his lack of height to maximise his opportunities with the punch. Qawi is another.

 

It bears reminding here that Jake was originally a southpaw, and known to occasionally switch to that stance, as he does on film late in his rematch win over Murphy. It's likely that his left jab may have had something of an extra kick behind it not typical of most orthodox jabs.

 

Surely the case that someones jab isn't special but the way they use it is, applies to most of the greats.

 

He even outjabbed Robinson quite a bit in the early rounds, that alone should say loads about his jabbing ability.

 

Well said. It would seem also, in response to the posts author, that you would have to have a decent jab to have jabbing ability. Gerry Cooney comes to mind, he didn't score well in either catergory as his jab never ended right and often didn't land at all, though he threw enough of them. Both Jake and Willy Pep showed me in my golden glove days how to outjab longer armed opponents.

 

i agree with all those points.i was impressed with lamotta and his boxing brain when he moved up to light heavy and outpointed bob murphy in their return..murphy had all the physical advantages

 

LaMotta's left jab was a series of left, fast and accurate blows to the face of his opponent.
I think his jab flurries were so effective from the squat Jake, was his total lack of fear of
his opponents retaliation.Other jabbers, jab defensively,and get away before danger strikes. Not LaMotta,because he had no fear of his opponents return blows. Zilch...
Willie Pep,a different egg than LaMotta, threw jabs in bunches,then skedaddled away
from danger.Jake is one tough dude...

 

If Jakes's jab was special in way he used it, then it was special.

 

He was good in his side-to-side movement too, and with that he can prepare his attacks well with that jab........that worked perfectly for his style also with his good upper body movement.....

 

That´s interesting man !
Please, tell more to us.....

 

He used the jab to smack around and school a young upstart middleweight named Anton Raadik. Raadik had beaten Jake's brother Joey and the Bull wanted to teach the young tough a lesson, giving him a protracted clinic in the manly art.

His jab was used quite a bit in his title winning effort vs Cerdan as well. Jake hurt his knuckle mid-fight and couldn't hook as effectively with it as he had in earlier rounds. So he used the left to jab and set up his right hand smashes to the head and body.

 

I do mean by watching films of them of course,,,not in person. Now that would have been something as a g.glover to have had a lesson or two from Willy.

Jake knew distance so well and from day one had a arm length disadvantage he just grew into. He never threw his jab or other punches out of range, he was always right there when they came off. Some other short arm fighters in the past did well jabbing to the chest but Jake scored well to the head with his. Willy was another matter altogether as you would have to be somewhat of an accrobat to land some of the jabs he threw against taller opponents. Bottom line though as with Jake he understood distance and it let him land often to the head and body with his jab,,,,from incredible angles too!

 

Thank you !
:good