The Redemption of Primo Carnera (Video)

I love the slow motion part where Rez tries to illustrate Primo's jab, and the guy parries both jabs...

 

He’s probably talking about the two jabs around 2:13-2:14. Baer missed the first one but seemed to catch most of the second one. Did you find those punches impressive?

 

Interesting. I think this gets to the core of some of our disagreements. When I watch that sequence I see clumsy (dare I say, oafish?) mechanics and the reaching, pushing, and swatting that have led many observers to criticize Carnera for decades. The blows moved Baer’s head because of Carnera’s weight and strength, but they seemed to be thrown with poor leverage and no snap. The second punch in particular was basically an arm punch and largely deflected—I think it’s a real stretch to say that it did “damage.” They were effective enough due to Baer’s lackadaisical approach to defense (he was basically a squared, stationary target with no head movement and low hands standing in Primo’s punching range), but not at all at odds with the longstanding consensus opinion on Carnera.

 

Some nice punches thrown by Primo here, imo .. Nice hooks, nice snapping jabs at 1:25 and 1:30. Don't really know the criticism about the "reaching" is .. If it is meant by leaving the jab extended/or simply extended the arm to measure distance and blind your opp, that is very effective in boxing .. Monzon successfully used it a lot, and Hearns knocked out Cuevas doing it .. so what's the rub .. We all know he wasn't the best boxer ,, or Maybe I just love this video and feel like giving Primo some credit here … So well done Rez, it's one of my favorites … When he is in the streets gettin' mobbed and the crowd is going bananas .. simply awesome

 

I find it quite telling than many of the criticism's of Carnera's technique are vague and unmeasurable.

If there is a serious flaw in a fighters technical game, you can usually make it blindingly obvious.

 

I find the implication made above far more telling; that a 3 minute and 53 second highlight reel is a convincing measure of deserved praise for Carnera's 'technique'.

 

As I've always understood the term, "reaching" occurs when a fighter overextends himself while trying to strike a target outside of his punching range, instead of using his footwork to close the distance a bit more. The momentum of the puncher's bodyweight shifts too far forward and his head comes forward, sometimes completely exposed. It makes the fighter extremely vulnerable to counterpunches, as it throws off his balance and makes it hard for him to defend himself. It also takes the power off of straight punches thrown with good mechanics, let alone the pushing/pawing punches that Primo is throwing in that sequence. It's something anyone who takes up the sport even casually learns not to do very early on in the gym (if they get individual instruction), and if you ever watch a pro fight where someone is doing it, the smarter commentators like Manny Steward, Pauli Malignaggi, or Andre Ward will tend to call it out. There were no consequences in that particular sequence, because Baer didn't react in time, but from a technical perspective it's a flawed punch that opens him up to unnecessary danger with little payoff. Got it?

 

Kev already gave the time stamp and it's exactly as I said. Baer deflects part of the first jab, but it still lands a little, but the second was almost totally deflected. Point being, what was impressive about this.. when your jab being slightly parried and almost totally parried?

 

Nice punches thrown here in comparison to what? Your average Joe with no training what so ever? When compared to any trained professional boxer, you think these punches look impressive? These are the types of things that are said to exaggerate what we can all see, he simply wasn't that impressive with much of anything besides his size, and range/jab if I'm being generous.

 

I see a giant who is consistently walked backward by smaller men. Baer Seemed more than willing to eat a few these mighty jabs to get into position and load up to throw his haymakers. Granted his ability to touch his toes was awesome.

 

So the scales are level and we've reached a balanced conclusion on his skill level?