Thread: Southpaws: Any with an excellent Jab?

Left-Handed fighters, I find, are usually more one-handed than Right-Handed fighters (Kinda like in Football).

I'm just trying (and failing) to think of any Southpaws that had a great right hand (jab)? Something they could work behind for the majority of a fight?

Majority of southpaws with a decent jab today are rightys that fight in the southpaw stance

Originally Posted by jabvargas24

Majority of southpaws with a decent jab today are rightys that fight in the southpaw stance

Yeah I was actually thinking of putting up a

No Converted Southpaws

sign

True though, about the right handers (Winky, maybe Moorer? etc)

Seriously?

Winky Wright first and foremost, then Pernell Whitaker, and Joe Calzaghe all spring immediately to mind. Michael Moorer came to mind soon after. Chad Dawson, Ivan Calderon, the guy Martinez fought before last... Dzinziruk has a pretty good right jab, which also makes Martinez's jab quite good.

Most people don't notice it but Pacquiao actually has a very fast, hard, accurate jab. It sets up most of what he does, and its very underrated. I think that would be the punch that would give him the best chance Mayweather because he moves in so well behind it. To really appreciate his jab just watch it against David Diaz.
Winky and Pernell had some of the best jabs ever not just for southpaws.

The problem is that you generally don't see a southpaw control a fight with his jab because it doesn't come at as solid of an angle, the way a jab against someone facing you in the same stance does. When an orthodox fights an orthodox you are straight into your opponents body/back going right through them in a way that they are vulnerable, while your right hand cuts across them. Southpaw's have their jab generally cut across while they cross aligns with the path the orthodox figher's jab would normally take. Fighting somebody in the same stance as you allows you to jab them to the head or the body and steal their momentum going forwards by knocking them back a little bit. The only guy I've seen with a really crushing jab against the opposite stance is Wladimir Klitschko, but thats because of his pure size and strength. he is using entirely different angles because of his height.

Originally Posted by Taeth

Seriously?

Winky Wright first and foremost, then Pernell Whitaker, and Joe Calzaghe all spring immediately to mind. Michael Moorer came to mind soon after. Chad Dawson, Ivan Calderon, the guy Martinez fought before last... Dzinziruk has a pretty good right jab, which also makes Martinez's jab quite good.

Most people don't notice it but Pacquiao actually has a very fast, hard, accurate jab. It sets up most of what he does, and its very underrated. I think that would be the punch that would give him the best chance Mayweather because he moves in so well behind it. To really appreciate his jab just watch it against David Diaz.
Winky and Pernell had some of the best jabs ever not just for southpaws.

The problem is that you generally don't see a southpaw control a fight with his jab because it doesn't come at as solid of an angle, the way a jab against someone facing you in the same stance does. When an orthodox fights an orthodox you are straight into your opponents body/back going right through them in a way that they are vulnerable, while your right hand cuts across them. Southpaw's have their jab generally cut across while they cross aligns with the path the orthodox figher's jab would normally take. Fighting somebody in the same stance as you allows you to jab them to the head or the body and steal their momentum going forwards by knocking them back a little bit. The only guy I've seen with a really crushing jab against the opposite stance is Wladimir Klitschko, but thats because of his pure size and strength. he is using entirely different angles because of his height.

Yeah seriously, I was drawing a blank.

I think it's because I was trying to think of a more stand up boxer/ boxer puncher, some one not overly dynamic (like most great Southpaws are... Except maybe for the converted) but then as you have excellently explained, there's apparently a good reason for the lack of what I'm looking for. ( for that explanation btw).

Nut funnily enough, someone like Klitschko would of been perfect...

(Getting slightly more contrived now but) Is there anyone more stand up like and actually left-handed?

Tony Thompson? Most southpaws tend to be more dynamic, athletic guys, the guy Dzinziruk is that type of tall, jab focused fighter. I think you need to look more in eastern europe with guys who were good amateurs for that. It's their bread and butter in the amateurs against faster, more athletic guys from Cuba, USA, etc.

Unfortunately the jab is a dying punch, guys nowadays I think with the modern scoring system in the amateurs have no really understanding of the punch, and they rely purely on athleticism and jumping in and out on opponents. It's the most important punch, but guys are losing that skill just like they largely lost inside fighting, which makes sense because you need a good jab to "walk" in on an opponent and get to the inside without being off balance. Pacquiao and Freddy Roach have developed a system where his hoping is very effective, but he's doing a specialized version of it where he is still keeping his weight and balance low enough to change directions quickly, but even at that he is still wide open quite often because of his footwork.

Alas we are in an era where there are very few "true" jabs.

Marvin Hagler what a jab need I say more,just ask Minter.

True about Hagler, but as mentioned before, he was naturally right handed.

Does Cory Spinks count

I second Thompson, he really uses his height and reach well plus he has great defense.

Yeah sorry, great shout on Tony Thompson.

I've been busy watching Winky Wright fights