I re-checked two of Pea`s bigget wins at lightweight after watching this vid because of Whitakers rep, but against Nelson and Ramirez Pea wasn`t really slipping off the center line like expertboxing suggested, but it was his foot movement and constant punching that kept his two opponents off-balance, seen a highlights vid of pea that was a lot better though.
Ole-timers perspective: Mike Gibbons, Jock Malone, Billy Petrolle, Willie Pep, Tony Canzoneri. Nicolino Locche was pretty good too.
Man their were so many back in the day, prime Pedroza was excellent at slipping and countering. So was prime Tyson, Camacho sr made so manyvvery good fighters look below average at Jr.lightweight, Hagler was excellent also some how he'd slip a punch and switch stance almost at the same time and seamlessly in his prime. Ali of course, when he wasn't leaning out the way, which is what he usually did. W Gomez before he lost discipline and started depending on his power. Sal Sanchez was beautiful to watch and could put on a clinic at times. Though he never won a championship, ( well he did but he wouldve had to kill Monzon in Argentina to win) Bennie Briscoe in prime was very good.
Boxing radar comes into play. You also have punch deflection to consider. Not just slipping as the tactic most guys try to utilize. The ability to recognize what the opponent is going to do and throw before they do it. And the quickness of mind to think and make so many rapid decisions and having to be correct for 36 to 45 minutes of a fight. Huge concentration factor. But that radar is a thing of beauty. Geez, how many guys through the years could have benefitted from that? It kind of makes you appreciate the old guys from years ago without the benefit of film study of fighters. They'd climb in the ring and have to figure things out quickly. And accurately. I thought Chris Eubank and Chris Byrd had great radar. I also think they along with Leonard/Whitaker/Toney and so on, benefitted a ton from the world of boxing tape. They were fantastic at recognizing opponent's traits and prepared pre-fight. Read guys like a children's novel when the fight started. And I think it definitely played into their matchmaking and opponent selection process as well. A guy most others do not like at all was Sven Ottke. But he held those arms up so high and had the tightest guard in there. Gave you absolutely nothing up the middle. He wasn't a master at slipping punches but he sure was at deflecting punches. Probably the best guy I've seen in quite a few decades at the art of deflection. A real interesting thing that rears it's head is which defense does the best against body punching? Dedicated body punching and not the minimal 2 or 3 shots a round. That's the area the slip punches type defense guys seem to have problems with. that style lends itself far more to the headhunter type opponent.
Alot of boxers today aren't taught how to slip and try it mostly with just the head or chest up while the old timers would dip the right or left leg and turn with it from the waist. If there's a secret that's part of it. Jack Johnson was great at blocking and parrying but not a prime slipper as his back foot was placed sideways preventing him from turning the knee and waist. I used to practice slipping against a double end bag which works pretty well for developing it.
