The Cross-Arm Defense Essay, Part One

Crossing Over (Into the Boxing Zone)

To people that have absolutely no knowledge of boxing style and technique, the cross-arm
defense is a ridiculous-looking position. To some who are more familiar with boxing, it is a style
that has a few advantages, but is ultimately inferior to more orthodox positions. In boxing, the "cross
guard" is referred to as one of three main defensive positions that is used. Although this position has
been changed by certain fighters to suit the particular needs of their style, the position has mostly
remained the same. The most common application is to merely hold one arm above the other, in a
horizontal position, and can be placed anywhere from the stomach to the head, but is usually placed
higher up. This guard is inexplicably one of the most neglected techniques, not just in modern boxing,
but throughout boxing's long history. It has numerous uses, including blocking, slipping/ rolling/ ducking,
infighting, tactical uses, and energy conservation. We are going to focus on its three primary uses:
defense, infighting, and tactical uses, as well as some common objections that people have to the
technique.

The most common and probably the most obvious use of the cross guard is defense. This is
the first, most basic, and probably the most beneficial use of this position is blocking. This in itself is
definitely the most common use of the cross guard. Archie Moore, the first pro boxer known to use the
guard, George Benton, Tim Witherspoon, Trevor Berbick, Bert Cooper, George Foreman( in the 90s
comeback), and Joe Frazier(particularly in his first and third fights with Muhammad Ali) were all known
to use the guard when blocking. One simple objection that people often raise is that the cross guard
should only be used by "thicker fighters". They often point out that Moore, Berbick, Cooper, Foreman,
and Frazier were all very thick in build, and that their arms were also much thicker than most boxers'. While it is true that the cross guard does seem to be used best by bigger men, Benton and Witherspoon provide good examples against that argument. These two fighters were much rangier when compared with those previously mentioned, and they both had equally successful careers. A second objection that is often raised, is that something as awkward as the cross guard could not possibly be as practical as vertical blocking. What people really mean by the word practical is easy. The cross guard is just an awkward position, but it is maybe even a more efficient method of blocking than when done vertically. The vertical blocking that is used by most fighters does not protect the whole head as much as the cross guard does. Although many advocates of vertical blocking will admit this, they will defend their position by saying that few punches can be thrown effectively from the horizontal-arm position. This is a myth. When in this guard, a fighter is already in position to throw the hook, and thus, the cross. Mostly, it has been said that neither the jab, the overhand, or the uppercut can be thrown from this position with much effectiveness. Ken Norton, one of the most notable practitioners of the cross guard, and certainly one of the most awkward, landed all three of these punches with great regularity and effectiveness. The final defensive use that we will discuss is when slipping, rolling, or ducking. Slipping and rolling are done well in this position, because they require little or no backward or side movement. Archie Moore, George Benton, and even Muhammad Ali were masters of this technique. The reason that most fighters hold their arms over the body is because slipping and rolling requires movement of head and shoulders, but this does not reduce the risk of body shots. The cross guard has also proven to help reduce the age-long problem of ducking. When a fighter ducks a punch, and comes back up, he risks getting struck with what may be a really good shot. If he is covering on his way up and down, the jab is the only punch that can land, which is unlikely to hurt a fighter that badly.

 

Here it be @Jayday. Enjoy.

 

@Saintpat

 

@George Crowcroft

 

The original paragraphs were really that long.

 

I don't agree with all of what I wrote anymore either! lol

 

No, I just think Ali had a really fine philly shell, like Archie Moore.

 

You should know this was an essay I wrote three or four years ago and freely admit is flawed in a lot of points. I only posted it cuz a few people requested it.
However, if you don't think Frazier ever used it, I would seriously suggest rewatching FOTC and the Thrilla in Manila until you see it. It's there.