I think this is fair to post in Classic - Mike is Classic and here, he is in the role of trainer - plus there are clips of 57 yo Mike hitting the heavy bag himself. Amazing the footage that gets “Leaked” these days. Lol. This isn’t posted in delusion - meaning, a number of YouTube comments suggest that Mike could still viably compete amongst the HWs of today. Err, as impressive as Mike appears in abbreviated training vision, I would say no. First port of call before anything else - Mike simply wouldn’t have the gas tank to box more than a round or two if that. Also, his resilience would be degraded and his willingness to take a punch these days wouldn’t be there - naturally. But still, nothing wrong to observe and wax positively about the form Mike can still display. Those hands still look damn fast, the old combos aren’t impossibly removed from prime and there is also still some dangerous oomph behind those shots. It’s great that Mike is keeping himself in shape - very therapeutic for mind and body. Without requiring the view to actually getting in the ring and fighting someone, I think rounded boxing workouts and training present as a terrific training and fitness regime. I believe Carlos Palomino still does his boxing workouts and one couldn’t look any fitter or healthier than Carlos, especially for his age. I don’t know how much time Mike really puts into Ngannou - but Mike in the role of trainer is utterly fascinating nonetheless. Some believe Mike is erring in trying to teach Francis to fight exactly as Mike did - Fancis being so much bigger than Mike. However, Mike’s style didn’t necessarily translate in the style that Ngannou brought to the ring against Fury. There are core features to the game that Mike can certainly impart to Francis for excellent outcomes without Ngannou necessarily adopting Mike’s actual style or having Mike expressly trying to impose his own style upon Francis. Anyway, enough ranting, some might find this an enjoyable watch - suffice to say, I did. This content is protected
I found the full hour long video of this last week and got so inspired I went and benched 365 for 3 sets of 3, then did Foreman-crazy heavy bag training. I thought it was wonderful.
Tyson fought 8 hard rounds against RJJ in 2020 so Tyson could at least fight 4 rounds about now according to my basic math skills. I don't think tyson is trying to make Ngannou fight like him. From what I remember Francis is the one who wants to replicate Tysons shift movement and foot work. I read somewhere Francis was asking Tyson for years to train him. In all I agree that Tysons style wont fully translate to Ngannou but at least he has a strong foundation to grow on.
That’s great, and that’s part of what it’s all about - inspiration. Cool. I’ll have to check out the full vision. Mike’s also not just “telling” Francis what to do, he is leading by full on example, with gusto. If I was a boxer, that’s a trainer I could really get on board with and totally respect. Fortunately, the joint Mike and Francis shared as “due” reward after their hard workout was tactfully edited out. Nothing wrong with that, of course, it’s just that some people wouldn’t understand.
Well said - and half the battle I guess would be having a pupil who listens to you 100 % because they actually want to listen to all you have to say and impart. As Francis views Mike, it seems he’s the ideal pupil in that regard - and the deference Francis has toward Mike would also positively feed back to Mike and express itself via Mike’s efforts to lay it all out in his training and personal investment in Ngannou’s future.
I didn't get the idea that Tyson was trying to teach Ngannou a particular "style" of fighting, I think he was trying to work on Ngannou's fundamentals. I heard MT tell him once to pivot while punching like he was "putting out a cigarette", he was also telling him to not back up after punching and to move laterally. If FN listens and learns from MT he'll be a better puncher in terms of putting punches together and maintaining his balance. The difference between the best fighter and the novice is how well they do the fundamentals. I saw a video of Beterbiev, a man who has been boxing for many years, punching the heavy bag, his trainer had a swimming noodle and was using it to correct his right foot pivot. Pivoting the foot like a man putting out a cigarette or squashing a bug is advice all good trainers give and it will help a fighter put punches together and maintain balance. Fighters who lift their heel high off the floor will have balance problems and will find it harder to put punches together. FN like a lot of fighters wanted to punch and then back up, MT was trying to get FN to move left or right instead so that he wouldn't get hit but he would still be in range to punch. These are the same instructions that people get their first week in the boxing gym but the good trainers like MT and Beterbiev's trainer watch their fighters and remind them when they forget the basics.
Yes, I liked the advice not to back up after punching, rather, employ left or right lateral defensive movement (including head) in order to remain in the kill zone. Pretty sure Liston had that practice down pat also.
Well if I thought for a nanosecond Joshua had a strong corner, he'd exploit the hell out of the guy. Lets say Freddie Roach is working with AJ and doing the pre-fight preperations. But the way things are now---the gap between corners is not as large as it should be. Another factor is defense. I think AJ will exploit this defense. Lots of holes. Tough to teach defense especially when the fatigue factor enters the equation. Almost makes it one of those fights we see all the time with the hitters---get the results quickly to get the win. Longer it goes the worse it will get. Do not want to be throwing a lazy telegraphed jab and bring that hand back slow and low against Joshua. Those big muscular shoulder heavyweights..............
