I have the wonderful privilege of coaching middle school boxing. My school is small and doesn’t have a gymnasium, so we train outside. On particularly rainy days we have to go into a classroom and can’t train on those days. So I like to show them classic fights on those days. But I’d like to be more thoughtful in the matches I show them. That is, I’d like them to watch with a critical eye and be self reflective in their own boxing styles. So I’d love some recommendations on classic fights that you think could demonstrate some important boxing lessons (note: I’m not trying to teach them boxing history, so I’m not looking for fights just for the sake of showing them some interesting aspect of boxing history, but rather demonstrations of strategy). Some types of fights I’d love to find (and not just a fighters name, but a specific fight that demonstrates these): A swarmer beating a boxer puncher A swarmer beating a slugger A boxer puncher beating a swarmer A boxer puncher beating a slugger A slugger beating a swarmer A slugger beating a boxer puncher A boxer eviceratibg an opponent with a jab. A boxer using various strategies to exhaust an opponent. Great headmovement/level changes. Great pivoting and footwork. Awesome shows of grit/heart A sizeably shorter fighter using various strategies to get in and beat a talker fighter. A sizeably talker fighter using range to pick apart a smaller fighter. Great/clever in fighting. A fighter who is losing but makes smart adjustments to comeback and win. Any lessons you can think of.
I would suggest an adjustment to your categories. You should probably say that there are four broad categories: Classic boxer Slugger Swarmer Boxer Puncher In general terms, classic boxer beats slugger, slugger beats swarmer, swarmer beats classic boxer scissors paper stone), and boxer puncher falls somewhere between the three. You could find examples to support this rule of thumb, and perhaps offer examples that contradict it. You could also offer examples of fighters that were hybrids, or even employed more than one of these styles.
My articles would make an excellent teaching tool for these kids. The gif format makes it much easier to see solid technique when it repeats every 15 seconds or so. Check a few out and tell me what you think. https://imgur.com/gallery/DW2Q5, https://imgur.com/gallery/dFdsN https://imgur.com/gallery/JkLfn
