The best example of range-control in boxing? Video. Lopez KO2 Lin

Watch this. Watch how Lopez controls the distance with lateral movement and feeling out, fake jabs - Lopez has an absolutley ideal feel for his opponents range and movement by the end of round 1. In the first, he leads with the right, with moderate success and blocks his opponents left beautifully. He employs his jab and looks for the uppercut in the final minute of the round.

But the defining clinic is the one on range. Look carefully. Lopez absolutley controls when exchanges occur. He moves easily out of range at will and also moves in at will. He uses a fey jab as a range finder, and an extended left as an exploritory probe. Most of all he uses footwork to test his opponents mobility and speed. It's a masterclass in generalship.

Note how calm he looks between round one and two. He doesn't take a deep breath.

Note Lopez takes a tighter circle at the beginning of round two. He's still moving and on the toes but he's also leaving less between him and his opponent and looking for the right on the end of the jab more frequently, as well as leading with that lethal left upper more often. He's gone from pure boxer to box--puncher with pay off at around thirty seconds with a serious left hook which was posing as a jab. The left hook on 50 seconds is pretty hard, but Lopez does not get excited. He reminds me of Louis, job in hand he goes about it.

I love Lopez. Note the way he momentarily goes southpaw when he moves across an opponent. Note the way he identifies the killer punch not at random but by way of use. Not his change of tact when he identifies a superior one.

Great, great fighter.



http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=[yt]vn7A5TrV4A8&feature=related[/yt]



If you are watching the video you can skip the first minute as it is just the introductions. Lopez is in white.

 

The Cobra, my new favourite poster.

This is Rocky Lin.


http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=001236&cat=boxer

 

In my last Lopez thread it was suggested that he gets a bit high when moving forwards on occasion.

My answer: no.

 

When I been drinking #1 seems reasonable.

Objectably, taking into consideration weight classes and opposition, i've struggled to place him higher than #50. He's a real Roy Jones Junior, but my man doesn't have the chin issues.

Ricardo was a wonder. He needed Carbajal or Gonzalez though, to push up.

Still, he's a Study alright.

 

Spooky, I had him at #53 last time I updated my list!

Better than Jones? Marginal. Imagine Lopez outgunned by an opponent - he's probably done, doesn't have the WHAM that Jones has, if you see what I mean, that very sudden, very definite attack. If some imagined opponent at a higher weight had the beating of Lopez (and obviously they would get to big for him at some point) he wouldn't have that magic touch.

On the other hand, Jones suffered late in his career from his lack of fundamental soundness. It's quite possible Lopez would still be champion!

 

Excellent point well made.

Hopkins is consistantly lauded for his multiple defences against relative non-entities famous for their division.

 

:good

 

There is some level of parity though Allen may edge it.

The big difference? Lopez blasts his man out of there with near-perfect boxing.