Let's talk about inside fighting

As I was reading this list, it hit me how rarely I see any of these tricks anymore. As a kid in the 80s/90s I remember hearing the term "crafty" used to describe the fighters who used them. "Crafty" isn't around much anymore.

 

it's almost a bad word as people are getting used to more stand up type of fighters. The outrage against Molina and the crap that Ward is taking are recent examples

 

I missed both those decades! Literally, Hopkins and Toney are pretty much the only guys I've seen who can do all of this.

Boxing is a progressive sport these days, 99% of fighters start as amatuers, and they aren't taught these tricks, meaning it's so rare that they aquire them by the time they are established professionals. Khan was a silver medalist, how many of those tricks do we see from him?

EVERYONE rants and raves about Rigondeux. Put him in with an old school fighter who roughs him up as designated above, see how he gets on.

 

Excellent thread, great posts. I say Ward is the best inside fighter at the moment. Very high ring IQ and the physical tools and will to put that ring IQ to work.

 

There are some perks to getting older. Khan has none of the tricks, Peterson used a couple against him.

Some of the crafty guys I remember were John Mugabi, Duran, Hagler, Mancini, Muhammad Qawi, and a guy with the last name Muhammed. I know there were more, but hey, I'm getting older.

Your hip punching trick is totally illegal....and effective.

 

As people have mentioned, Ward is clearly at the top. Hopkins is still a knowledgeable operator. Floyd is very good on the inside as well.

Marquez (defensively) and Cotto (offensively) fit the bill as well. We've seen Marquez do very well in the pocket, and Cotto's performance against Mayweather showed a lot of craft and ability in positioning his body and his opponent's body where it favors him.

Inside fighting is probably the hardest, most complicated thing to do.

 

+1

 

there's no one in his division that can do that at the moment. he'll have to give up some serious size for that to happen. dude is a 2 time gold medalist. that doesn't happen by accident. freddie roach and ronnie shields have both said rigondeaux is very smart when it comes to boxing. freddie said he learned more from guillermo than anything.

 

Khan is a great inside fighter






















You must of known I was kidding

 

Cotto(e)'s swarming skills greatly contributed to his competitiveness against Mayweather.

very good example of high level inside fighting in the modern era

 

People do as they can and want. Hopkins will always dominate inside. But believe me, I give a great credit to body punchers and hookers fighting in close such as Mike Tyson ( body punch-uppercut with the same arm), the body snatcher Mike McCallum. Nigel Benn ( specially against G Man), JCC Sr, Aaron Pryor, Barry McGuigan, Ricky Hatton believe it or not or call me insane, and again... Another controversial pick, Antonio Margarito...

 

Great call. :good

 

Great thread. Needed it. Examples like Floyd-Cotto have been said which bar none is the best display of inside fighting from both parts in this time. Another is Marquez-Katsidis.

JLC is a good example as well as his Johnston 1 and Corrales 1 fights are some of the best inside fights I've seen from 00's

 

molina that just fought kirkland? good call!!! yes he can..he's very cagey on the inside.

 

watched both as amateurs. they were both excellent back then and they've both come a far way from those days. i remember thinking ward wouldn't make it in the pros with his olympic style defense. it was awful. but what he and virgil hunter have done by going back to school...and flying under the radar so to speak to develop properly has been nothing short of amazing. it kills me to hear ppl **** on ward and call him boring when the truth is...they do not know what they are seeing. good posts btw.