Top fighters who neglected the body?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by horst, Mar 21, 2010.


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  1. horst

    horst Guest

    I have always loved infighting and bodypunching, and most of my favourite fighters are very adept at going to the body (Duran, McCallum, and sporadically Pacquiao). Also, since I have been boxing myself I find it a very, very effective means of attack, so I think I am becoming more and more focused on bodywork as time goes on. I now watch fights to specifically observe the bodypunching going on.

    It has led me to think to myself - what top boxers never really placed much importance on bodywork? And why not?

    I could be wrong as I don't own many of these guys' fights (not a fan), but I don't recall guys like Calzaghe or Hamed paying much attention to the body. Nor powerful heavys like Foreman or the Klitschkos.

    Any more/better examples?

    And my question: can a fighter be a great one if he isn't an effective bodypuncher?
     
    horst, Mar 21, 2010
    horst, Mar 21, 2010
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  2. bladerunner

    bladerunner El Intocable Full Member

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    Ali is the first guy that comes to mind,a guy like Chavez probably threw more bodyshots in one fight than Ali in his entire career.
     
    bladerunner, Mar 21, 2010
    bladerunner, Mar 21, 2010
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  3. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    Is that a serious question? :think

    Muhammad Ali is the first name that came to mind. Of course, he went to the body a bit in the Williams fight, but in the context of his whole career, Ali didn't really go to the body much or effectively as it were. Considering nobody has ever or will ever question whether or not Muhammad Ali is a great fighter, that's your question pretty much answered.
     
    Addie, Mar 21, 2010
    Addie, Mar 21, 2010
    #3
  4. horst

    horst Guest

    Yes but I don't know about you, but in my mind Ali operates in a separate sphere from everyone else. He was a complete one-off, not only as a boxer but as a human being. There will never be another Ali, it just won't/can't happen. If anyone ever tried to replicate his style, they would rethink their strategy when they woke up in the ambulance. Ali did everything wrong! He often pulled his head straight back rather than slip n slide ffs, no-one else gets away with that ****!!

    Leaving the great man aside for a minute, what other top fighters can you think of who never did bodywork?
     
    horst, Mar 21, 2010
    horst, Mar 21, 2010
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  5. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali is the obvious first choice, wonder if it would of added go his game or if it was a conscious decision to not employ body shots. I've got to say i didn't see Ali in the 60's but new of his reputation (the greatest) Watching him in the 70's I was a bit disappointed in this glaring neglect of body punching.
     
    AlFrancis, Mar 21, 2010
    AlFrancis, Mar 21, 2010
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  6. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

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    Buchanan and Laguna.
     
    lora, Mar 21, 2010
    lora, Mar 21, 2010
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  7. BENNY BLANCO

    BENNY BLANCO R.I.P. Brooklyn1550 Full Member

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    Roy Jones early in his career use to get accused of neglecting the body.
     
    BENNY BLANCO, Mar 21, 2010
    BENNY BLANCO, Mar 21, 2010
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  8. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Foreman could be a murderous, if amateurish looking body puncher. Didn't make it look good, but he could punish you there.
     
    Boxed Ears, Mar 21, 2010
    Boxed Ears, Mar 21, 2010
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  9. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Dick Tiger earlier in his career had a bad habit of head-hunting and neglecting the body - which is a shame too, because he had devastating body punches when he used them.
     
    My2Sense, Mar 21, 2010
    My2Sense, Mar 21, 2010
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  10. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    Roy Jones did go to the body especially with hooks. I'm not sure if Holmes ever did though I'll have to see for myself if I get his career set:think
     
    techks, Mar 21, 2010
    techks, Mar 21, 2010
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  11. pare

    pare Active Member Full Member

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    i think focusing on the body may have hindered him, especially the 60s version, because body shots require you to plant your feet and put more of your body in the punch and would require him to be closer to the opponent - which would have taken away from his main defence (his feet).

    and his punches are more "bewildering" rather than devastating so opponents would be able to shrug them off for their own offense.
     
    pare, Mar 21, 2010
    pare, Mar 21, 2010
    #11
  12. Lobotomy

    Lobotomy Guest

    Larry's body punching was a key to his final successful defense against Carl Williams, especially in the eighth and ninth rounds. Late in his career, he sent a massive right which ripped through Paul Poirier's body, separating his rib cartilage and resulting in a delayed knockdown. That shot wound up producing a stoppage for Holmes, and Poirier has described it as by far the hardest punch he was ever hit with. Larry also doubled over Ali with an uppercut to the body.

    After Ali, the first great fighter I think of as neglecting the body is Aaron Pryor, a headhunter all the way. I don't think of Benitez as doing this much either.
     
    Lobotomy, Mar 21, 2010
    Lobotomy, Mar 21, 2010
    #12
  13. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    Benitez did go to the body watch the Palomino fight. Even against Leonard he would go to the body sometimes. Thanks for answering me about Holmes:happy
     
    techks, Mar 21, 2010
    techks, Mar 21, 2010
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  14. Lobotomy

    Lobotomy Guest

    When I did watch it, I was looking for Palomino's body attack. I don't doubt that Wilfred did it, but Holmes determined outcomes with his body punching.
     
    Lobotomy, Mar 21, 2010
    Lobotomy, Mar 21, 2010
    #14
  15. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    Also most of the times he fought younger guys so he did go to the body to rid them from stamina later in the fight. I forgot Holmes went to the body thanks for reminding me. Benitez did go to the body just rewatch the Palomino and Leonard fight dude:good
     
    techks, Mar 21, 2010
    techks, Mar 21, 2010
    #15
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