As someone who started boxing not too long ago, I've tried to incorporate techniques from a lot of the old guys like Sugar Ray Robinson, Pernell Whitaker, Duran etc.. and although someone like Duran's style would be closer to modern day boxing, guys like Frazier and SRL have styles that we rarely see nowadays. Why? I get that Frazier's bob n weave requires extreme stamina, as does SRL's constant circling of the ring, jabbing and turning, non-stop movement. But is there any other reason other than the stamina requirement? How would these styles fare against modern boxers?
All these styles are active now in boxing. If, for some bizarre reason, some trainer is telling you not to box like Ray Leonard, you should change trainers.
I agree that these styles are still around. However, due to the domination of ex Soviet boxers, their styles are a bit more prudent than the likes of Hagler, SRL, Duran etc. There are exceptions to this , like Beterbiev, but a lot of the ex USSR fighters have a more safety first approach.
If I were to seriously approach boxing training with an elite trainer, I’d specify that I’d want to be trained to the letter to fight exactly like Joe Louis. I wouldn’t take that training and necessarily box anyone though. If I could simply execute as well as Joe did in training, I’d be a happy man. That is just my own flight of fancy. Joe is one of the few fighters whose training is as entertaining to watch as many good fights. Sometimes even more so. Could anything actually be added to Louis’ style without upsetting or taking from the pre-existing ideal balance and integration of skills that Joe upheld? Personally, I don’t think so. Joe was def. not broke, no fixing required. We need another Louis to come on to the scene.
If you could execute like Joe Louis you would do pretty well fighting just about anybody. One of the first things I do with a fighter is introducing him to Joe Louis. The mechanics are the same. With Louis, he is so methodical that you can see what he is doing, and the mechanics are the same, whatever you weigh.
That’s excellent Grey. I don’t know if these are the best terms to describe it, but Louis’ executions were not just technically on point but singularly definitive and absolute also. I guess that’s why Louis is so aesthetically pleasing to watch with his fights also making for a great, educational film studies. There are even numerous still photos of Joe throwing certain punches that can be utilised to exemplify ideal form, stance, balance and execution - even better than the photos that are specifically and statically posed for in boxing manuals. Also, Louis’ two handed power really put a terrific exclamation mark on the perfection of all his executions etc.. There aren’t many fighters who have that all going on for them all at once - and perhaps none as well as Louis certainly did. Joe could actually miss a punch and still look great in terms of the execution, follow through and maintenance of his balance. Lol. I hope I’ve kept a reasonable lid on my admiration for The Brown Bomber. Ha ha.
Boxing is far more globalized now. Some trainers are simply gone. Inside game is dead. Some of those techniques were quite unique to the boxers. Frazier's Armstrong style, rhythm heavy bob and weave is not easily replicated, and you will not learn it in Soviet-school countries. Same goes for rear-hand long guards, crossguard, the aforementioned inside game. Old boxers used to wrestle as well to get a new vintage point on energy transfer, leverage, and breaking optimal punching positions.
Some boxers nowadays go for "low risk, medium reward". They will sometimes prefer whatever will get them the win without opening up too much and risking getting countered or losing the decision, KO's be damned. At heavyweight, it's all about the jab and grab if you're a taller guy. If you're a big hitter, it's better to be a boxer puncher. Fast guys are counter punchers. Swarmers are basically extinct (Chisora was the last half decent one and Kownacki was a big fat disappointment), and sluggers don't make it in this era (look what happened to Arreola, Joyce, Whyte, etc). Big guys weighing 240+ don't have the stamina to stick and move like Ali/Holmes and they're often too big and fat/musclebound. Usyk is the only active top 15 HW I know of with a busy energetic style. As for light heavyweights, many of them were historically very tricky guys with more than one skill set. Foster could box with his strong jab, or let his hands go to brutalize opponents. Ward was a spoiler who could switch between a gritty rough style, to a cagey defensive style, to a more traditional boxing style. Today's Bivol has some of the throwback skills with a high volume of shots and a speedy elusive style. Beterbiev is a throwback rough and tough fighter, but doesn't have the finesse of other skilled bruisers such as Moore. The best middleweights were often strong, rock solid boxer punchers with good fundamentals. Golovkin was heading in the same direction of Hagler/Monzon in that sense, but he is clearly not cut from the same cloth and was a bit disappointing. The Charlos and Andrade are...well...not need to get into that topic. For the lower weights, Mayweather was in many ways a throwback to the sweet science skills of the past. There's a lot of copycats and nobody has yet to reach his level of skill, but for a while Crawford seemed to be heading there. Unfortunately, Crawford really squandered his career and is too old to get to that ceiling.
