Thread: Best inside fighter to learn from?

Apart from Henry Armstrong? Also, exclude Tyson

Any theory of infighting like the centerline theory?

There ius some great footage of some real greats;
Mike McCallum
James Toney
Roberto Duran
Bernard Hopkins

Battling Torres was terrific.
Pipino Cuevas was very good inside.
Hank Armstrong was a machine.
Shame that we dont have na lot of footage of Greb.
The eras of LaMotta, Basilio, Zale and Fulmer saw some vicious inside fighting - but was a bit blood & guys for my liking.
The 90's had some good inside fighting - Chavez for aggression and Whittaker for more slick stuff. Michael Nunn could do it and do it well.

Watch Buddy McGirt. How he would pull in, left shoulder first. How he would let his hands go and then tie up or turn the guy and get out.

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

Watch Buddy McGirt. How he would pull in, left shoulder first. How he would let his hands go and then tie up or turn the guy and get out.

Well, I will, apparently, when studying Whitaker, but Buddy is not the super top fighter.

Originally Posted by NVSemin

Well, I will, apparently, when studying Whitaker, but Buddy is not the super top fighter.

Super top fighters.
I assume you are referring to the elite.

These fighters are gifted. If you look at the "creme de la creme" there is always something a little exceptional. Handspeed, Punching Power, reflexes, stamina, Foot speed...
They are blessed with that little bit more physically.

However- it is the ordinary athlete that achieves highly who demonstrates the best technique and the best appreciation of the sport.
McGirt is a better coach than Whittaker... coincidence?

James Toney was an A-level fighter.
Roy Jones was the A+

But if I could have the skill set of either fighter- I'd pick JT 10/10.

I've been thinking on this a bit. I think that studying southpaws fighting inside is counter-productive. Generally it is a bad spot for a leftie to be as he loses the advantages of angles. Like LaMotta said, in close they are all the same. Even southpaws like Andy ganigan- who liked to get close and fight- weren't inside fighters. He did his damage coming in, more than inside.
Maybe Chiquita (Humberto) Gonzalez. He fought mostly southpaw and liked to fight in close. For style points, Georgie benton, Emile griffith. Sandy Saddler and Little Red Lopez were tall guys that could fight in close, and Saddler knew all the tricks. The Charles Williams v James Toney fight was fought real close.
watch for things guys do at that range. How you can pull/push his glove aside to land a punch. chavez used to do this- hit a guy's right elbow with his left glove to mis-direct a punch.

Originally Posted by IamInuit

ok, tnx, I watched this video before. What is your point?

Barrera against Morales is worth watching for the occasional natural reflex things you can catch him doing when they stood toe toe I forget the rounds or which fight maybe no 2 He turn to face punches sometimes and uses his lead arm upside down like a runway so Erics blows would go over or the power dissipate without losing distance. Forearms combined with body position to nullify or take the power away from an attack.Some of it seemed like instinct.
Id be looking at some of the greater lighter weights going at it in their nose to nose rounds to see if you can capture a rare technique or so. Like Grey said Humberto Gonzales was another nose to nose fighter he had some doozies as did his nemesis Michael Carbajal.

Ya have to watch close but 6:16 here you see Marco land a body shot and with the left arm left extended out on the way to stepping out, he just turns his body and checks Erics reply with his elbow. He gets up to a lot of that kind of stuff when its really on and tight. Reaction and experience mixed.Dont know if you can teach that.



He seems to only sometimes and its subtle but land a good shot but leaves his arm out floating for second and makes it get in the way of the counter reaction to his own shot by facing the reply.

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

Watch Buddy McGirt. How he would

pull in, left shoulder first

. How he would let his hands go and then tie up or turn the guy and get out.

walking in with his shoulder pointed towards his opponent?

Originally Posted by BCBUD

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

Watch Buddy McGirt. How he would

pull in, left shoulder first

. How he would let his hands go and then tie up or turn the guy and get out.

walking in with his shoulder pointed towards his opponent?

Not 'walk', you never walk in boxing. When he- Toney did this as well, among others- would come behind a jab, for example, he'd pull in close, his left shoulder in the opponent's chest. It is easy not to get hit in that spot. His right hand is behind you and you pick your right glove up to block his left, which you can see coming because you are looking right at it. You are also in a very good spot to do what you want to do offensively.