Quirky things certain fighters do

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Saintpat, Jul 25, 2020.


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  1. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I couldn’t really come up with a good thread title so I’ll explain as best I can.

    Some fighters have interesting, odd things that they do that are peculiar to them. I’m hoping we can come up with a bunch of them.

    I’ll start with Sugar Ray Leonard: he almost never does anything meaningful in the first minute or 90 seconds of a fight. He lays back, sizes his man up and plays defense to get a feel for his opponent — gauge his speed, power, etc.

    (I’m sure someone will find a fight where he came out guns-a-blazing but it’s not his norm — at most you might see him pop a few stiff jabs, but in more fights than not he doesn’t throw any meaningful punches until he’s give his guy a good look for a third or half of the first round.)

    I saw Leonard mention this in an interview back in his fighting days. It was totally by design. He wanted to get his feet under him and see what his opponent had.

    Another one: I believe Roy Jones Jr wore silver trunks until he won a pro world title. It was to remind him that he got robbed at the Olympics and won a silver medal instead of gold. So a motivational tool.

    What are some other peculiarities?
     
    Saintpat, Jul 25, 2020
    Saintpat, Jul 25, 2020
    #1
  2. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Santa Cruz’s hand twitch comes to mind.
     
    ChrisJS, Jul 25, 2020
    ChrisJS, Jul 25, 2020
    #2
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  3. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Marvin Johnson not washing while training for a fight...
     
    TBooze, Jul 26, 2020
    TBooze, Jul 26, 2020
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  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Ali used to make a saluting gesture with his right hand if he got tagged.
     
    mcvey, Jul 26, 2020
    mcvey, Jul 26, 2020
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  5. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The Starling Stomp
     
    scartissue, Jul 26, 2020
    scartissue, Jul 26, 2020
    #5
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  6. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Bobby Chacon wiping his face repeatedly during fights with his open glove.
     
    salsanchezfan, Jul 26, 2020
    salsanchezfan, Jul 26, 2020
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  7. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The Eubank hand/fist tap: (Sorry you have sit through the whole fight to see it ;))

    This content is protected
     
    TBooze, Jul 26, 2020
    TBooze, Jul 26, 2020
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  8. escudo

    escudo Boxing Addict Full Member

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    James Toney pulling up his pants. Evander Holyfield headbutting people. Henry Armstrong's shoulder bump.
     
    escudo, Jul 26, 2020
    escudo, Jul 26, 2020
    #8
  9. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Beat me to it. Well done, T
     
    Clinton, Jul 26, 2020
    Clinton, Jul 26, 2020
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  10. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Holmes most often had a very calculating look in his prime, but something that sticks out for me is the savage look he'd get when applying that nasty twist and snap to his jab. Check out the Berbick fight for some great examples of this, especially after he took his usual break in the middle rounds. He came back with the kind of jab that, as I think Alpert put it, "could ruin your whole day" and you could tell by the look on Larry's face there were extremely vicious intentions on those punches. Almost as if he was outraged Berbick dare last more than 7 rounds with him.

    Never saw jabs delivered so ugly, though Ali certainly had some wicked moments with both hands.
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Jul 26, 2020
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Jul 26, 2020
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  11. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sal, I thought of this and TBooze's Eubank glove tap but didn't say anything. Glad you guys were up on it. I would also mention Jeff Chandler and the way he would shake his right hand during a round.
     
    scartissue, Jul 26, 2020
    scartissue, Jul 26, 2020
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  12. Amos-san

    Amos-san Member Full Member

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    Felix Tito and Marquez Juan usually hit canvas in championship fights
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2020
    Amos-san, Jul 26, 2020
    Amos-san, Jul 26, 2020
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  13. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hearns did this tactically.

    He would work the jab and, as you know, keep the left hand low by his side. After he got the jab in a few times he would twitch that left hand a lot — when he caught his opponent looking down at it, he’d drop the right hand. Emanuel Steward mentioned this tactic a few times in interviews.
     
    Saintpat, Jul 26, 2020
    Saintpat, Jul 26, 2020
    #13
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  14. Eye of Timaeus

    Eye of Timaeus Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Ricky Hatton twerking at Mayweather and Wilder twerking at Jada Pinkett Smith
     
    Eye of Timaeus, Jul 26, 2020
    Eye of Timaeus, Jul 26, 2020
    #14
  15. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    Tony Galento is reported as refraining from attending to personal hygiene prior to a bout, as Max Baer is quoted as saying "He smelled of rotten tuna and a tub of old liquor being sweated out".
    Surely it can't be true, as Galento was always known for boxing within the rules in each and every bout...Not.
     
    KernowWarrior, Jul 26, 2020
    KernowWarrior, Jul 26, 2020
    #15
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