The all things technical thread.

:good

He also didn't let Kirkland punch while he was set. And this relates back to Trinidad/Vargas we were discussing previously, where Vargas allowed Trinidad to punch while he was set. Guys like Kirkland almost tip off their punches because they tell you when a power punch is coming. He always has to be set and Molina read that.

Kirkland is not in their class, but he's similar to people like Trinidad and Diego Corrales in that sense. They were levels above him, but they still had the same problem. They liked to be set to punch. Everybody does to a degree. But some more than others and with guys like that moving/smothering targets throws them off. Where as guys like say a Jose Luis Castillo or a Jeff Fenech, could track you down and not worry about punching you. Kirkland tries to power punch all the time and Molina did a good job of not allowing him to do it.

Where as someone like Vargas allowed Trinidad to punch while he was set. Which was a big mistake because it made the fight a high contact fight which then of course gives Trinidad the edge because he is stronger in that area. If Molina made it too high contact he would've been playing right into Kirklands hands.

Someone like Vargas showed his immaturity by fighting the exciting the fight, instead of the right fight. He chose to excite, instead of fighting right. Let’s say Vargas fought Trinidad across between how, Barrera fought Hamed and Molina fought Kirkland. He could have won. That’s also what the corner is there for. You have to demand obedience from the fighter. They let Vargas fight the wrong fight. Vargas should have kept jabbing and turning Tito. Then Smother him on the Andre Ward tip and he would have had a helluva chance.

 

I really don't like the excessively high, holding the gloves in front of you stance. Don't know what anyone else things about it.

The stance i prefer is a Ricardo Lopez or Ray Robinson one. They both held their hands perfectly to me for their given styles. Robinson and Lopez had a similar guard, Robinson’s was just lower. I understand why he did that though. Everyone can try this. Hold your hands above your eyes and try to punch. Then hold your hands around throat level and try to punch. I’m sure you will get more leverage around throat level. Robinson got off better from down there so he baited guys in and knocked their heads off.

For me Finito Lopez had arguably the best stance and balance i've ever seen. His feet and hands moved in sync. No holes in his guard whatsoever and his punches rolled effortlessly from a stance and guard where the left shoulder was held up, but not holding the guard up to his face. He would slice his target and fight off centre to the point where his shoulders were almost diagonally in line. You will hardly EVER see him square on.

 

Floyd sparring for the Cotto fight. If anyone hasn't seen it. Notice how he's working on things and not just trying to beatdown the sparring partner. It's a rehearsal and his sparring partner is doing a job of immitating Cotto. From this it's almost certain Floyd will try and walk Cotto down and potshot him over the top.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFmunaSGgBg[/ame]

 

I'll tell you guys someone who is a minefield to analyse technically. Eusebio Pedroza. One of the trickiest, dirtiest, craftiest fighters i've ever seen. He knew every little trick in the book.

It's a shame we didn't see him against the likes of Gomez and Salvador Sanchez. They would've been great fights.

All three of them fighters were in the featherweight division along with Azumah Nelson. I think Pedroza is an all time great featherweight and perhaps doesn't the credit he deserves.

I think the problem with assessing how a guy like Pedroza would do in hypothetical matchups and the reason he's not brought up a lot, is Pedroza is well rounded but not dynamic. Dynamic fighters are always more pleasing to the eye. But it does not necessarily mean they are better. For example Archie Moore is well rounded but Roy Jones is dynamic. People would youtube Roy more because he’s more pleasing to look at.

For those that are not familiar with Pedroza, I would describe him as a right handed Joel Casamayor with a little twist of Bernard Hopkins. Pedroza was great and dirty. I believe he would given Sanchez and Gomez both hell. Salvador Sanchez had a great short reign before died at 23 years old but people overlook sometimes he struggled a little bit with Patrick Ford and Pat Cowdell.

Pedroza was much better than both of them and he out performed Sanchez vs. Ford. Ford held Sanchez to a close fight and Pedroza stopped him in 13 rounds. Not that it tells us who would win between the two.

I do feel that Sanchez would edge Pedroza. Sanchez had wonderful feet and I believe he would slide around Pedroza enough, in a tactical, intense intriguing type of fight, one which some people would probabily find 'boring'.

As for Gomez, i think it would also be nip and tuck. If I had to pick I would say Gomez by late stoppage in a great fight. Pedroza was tall but he liked it on the inside and I think he would get caught in there. Gomez was arguably one of the best punchers of the 80’s. That’s saying something when you consider Tommy Hearns, Edwin Rosario, Julian Jackson and Mike Tyson all fought during that time.

I really like watching Pedroza.