The all things technical thread.

Want to hear someone elses break down:deal

 

:hammertimeStill Waiting!!

 

Body punching is the single most under-utilised skill in boxing today.
It's the ultimate equaliser for fighters and here's why: it slows any fighter down, it does more long-term damage over the course of a fight, it's a god-send for lighter punchers and it sets up more offensive opportunities than any other individual punch style other than the jab.

I think it's been neglected for a couple of reasons. 1, it's leaves a fighter more open when on the attack, and 2, it isn't consistently rewarded in the amateur ranks. The second is valid, but the first is wrong when it's done right.

A good body puncher has two major targets - the solar-plexus and the ribcage. It is hard to get down the middle without getting clipped, but rib work is effective at all times. You can rip a left hook under the right cross, you can bring the right under a jab and both these shots discourage an opponent from throwing.

Also, it's ideal against defensive opponents since it forces them to bring the guard down. Perfect the hook to body then head combination and you have a major tool in your arsenal.

It's also ideal coming off a jab because that blinds the opponent and brings the hands up.
But it also requires good footwork to get on position, and since very few trainers impart that knowledge now, sweet body shots are becoming a thing of the past. Inside fighting relies on body work, but that's a dying art too.

I'll try and find some good clips and provide some comments.

 

I love Michael Spinks. The leverage he got on his shots, from the positions he threw them was just amazing. His short shots, thrown on the inside were so perfectly executed. I mean, if most other fighters threw punches from those positions, they would have no where near the velocity, technique or impact of a Michael Spinks shot from the same position. Technically amazing, whilst also so unorthodox and tricky, it's a blend that is almost completely unique to Spinks IMO. Very, very hard fighter to outfight, it's not ridiculous to think you'd either have to be a sublimely skilled fighter to beat him (Maybe Jones Jr, or Moore?). Or someone who could take heads off with his punches, like Iron Mike did :yep

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEAY4VzRH6E[/ame]

Tyson was great at using body punches in combinations to set up openings. Especially the right-hook to the body followed by a right uppercut.

 

De La Hoya also liked that combination, but didn't use it that often.

Tyson mastered it. Hit Ribalta I don't know how many times with it, not many could take it and remain standing.

 

:good I've seen lots of guys use it but Tyson was the master.

Tommy Morrison used it a lot against Mercer, with both hands & in combinations, sometimes following up with a hook.

Mercer's chin was ridiculously good :yikes

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NYjJchO1Lw[/ame]

 

Morrison's left hooks probably ended up hurting Tommy more than they did Mercer :yep

What a chin the man had.

 

The one thing I draw on from all our criticism is that fighters just aren't well rounded enough. You get the few guys who can box and brawl, fire off good combos and go to the body etc but the Mayweathers, Lewis etc of this world are rare.

Boxers don't evolve enough. They don't work on their technique or skillset enough. Too many yes men around them, too much money, too much time off and too many fighters deterioating from who they once were as amateurs.

 

:deal

I don't know why everyone even cares about Burley, it's not like it was just him that got shafted.

Henry Armstrong wanted NOTHING to do with Cocoa Kid. Eddie Booker, Bert Lytell and Holman Williams, all on Burley's level, were all overlooked as well. It just wasn't all gold being part of Murderers Row :yep :good

 

:good:good