Possibly there's a link to Joe Frazier? Obviously his defence is considered more to be the cross-arm defence but that is a precursor to the "Philly Shell." I'm clutching at straws here to make the Philadelphia connection.
i thought the Philly Shell defense was coined in the Fight Night video game series. That type of defense is better known as the Shoulder Roll Defense or the Kronk System.
Yeah that's what I thought. Not sure when Phillly shell was first used, but I've always thought it was just the same as shoulder roll defense. I think I've heard Philly shell used when watching James Toney a few times.
I certainly never heard the term until those games came out. Always seems to be michigan fighters that do it.
Honestly I think I actually remember the first time I heard an announcer using the term Philly Shell, it was HBO the night of Toney vs Jirov describing Toney's defence. Anyone heard the term used before 03?
It actually originated from a type of pastry shell that the Pennsylvania Dutch would make and...no, I don't know either.
Benton has one of the most notable claims to it from a philly fighter, but likely it was being done in various incarnations before and even alongside him.
