Thread: "Typical European Boxing Style" - what does that statement mean?

Just curious as to what is the typical European boxing style? Who personifies it? Do people consider it good or bad? Do different gyms teach European style boxing? Did it derive from the boxing schools in pre-1989 USSR?

Is there a typical American style of boxing?

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Just curious as to what is the typical European boxing style? Who personifies it? Do people consider it good or bad? Do different gyms teach European style boxing? Did it derive from the boxing schools in pre-1989 USSR?

Is there a typical American style of boxing?

Basic stand up straight style with hands help up heigh.

right... best example would be Kessler i'd think..

Hands held high as opposed to low. Does the style rely more on defensive skills?

It follows that Carl Froch does NOT have a typical European style?

straight up, hands high, lots of jab right hands, usually not putting on a ton of pressure, its a generalization really but there's some basis too it.

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Hands held high as opposed to low. Does the style rely more on defensive skills?

It follows that Carl Froch does NOT have a typical European style?

As someone said Mikkel Kessler is the best example of a typical European style, or Frank Bruno. And yes Carl Froch does not have a typic European style. Carl Froch's trainer is Brendal Ingle i believe who had Naseem Hamed, Herol Graham, fighters with that low hand unorthodox style like Carl Froch.

I'm thinking the distinction between American and European styles isn't as pronounced as it once was, especially in the pros. It's still there though.

Where you really saw a sharp distinction in styles was over the years in the amateurs, Olymics and World Championships, between American and Eastern European boxers, USSR especially, at the heavier weights.

It seems to me that the styles of the Cubans, such as Stevenson and Savon, were closer to the Europeans than the Americans.

This Eastern European style not only had the hands up high, but farther out from the body than the Americans

Originally Posted by Nonito Donaire

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Hands held high as opposed to low. Does the style rely more on defensive skills?

It follows that Carl Froch does NOT have a typical European style?

As someone said Mikkel Kessler is the best example of a typical European style, or Frank Bruno. And yes Carl Froch does not have a typic European style. Carl Froch's trainer is Brendal Ingle i believe who had Naseem Hamed, Herol Graham, fighters with that low hand unorthodox style like Carl Froch.

Gotcha. Thanks for the help. I'm just trying to make sense of it, please excuse my questions is they are dumb.

If I follow correctly, it isn't a bad or good thing, it's just a style?

Clottey has that style in a way, right? Abraham holds his hands up high too, does he have the European style? Did Winky use that style? Are there American examples of it?

Originally Posted by OumaFan

straight up, hands high, lots of jab right hands, usually not putting on a ton of pressure, its a generalization really but there's some basis too it.

Yeah, usually not too aggressive or a big puncher either.

Guys like Calzaghe, Kessler, Froch, Hatton, etc. are much more aggresive, interesting & better punchers than your typical Europeon style.

Sven Ottke might be the prototype - safety 1st. Maybe Cory Spinks isn't really from St. Louis?

Originally Posted by Nonito Donaire

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Hands held high as opposed to low. Does the style rely more on defensive skills?

It follows that Carl Froch does NOT have a typical European style?

As someone said Mikkel Kessler is the best example of a typical European style, or Frank Bruno. And yes Carl Froch does not have a typic European style. Carl Froch's trainer is Brendal Ingle i believe who had Naseem Hamed, Herol Graham, fighters with that low hand unorthodox style like Carl Froch.

Agree with Kessler being the best example. Ingle ain't Froch's trainer though, it's Robert McCracken, who I don't really know much about apart from that he trains Howard Eastman as well.

Ive always thought it was a pretty lazy way for commentators to describe fighters. Seems slightly outdated now as well.

Robert McCracken fought Eastman too. As well as losing a "world" title fight against Keith Holmes. Spent a period of his career based in the states after winning Brit and Commonwealth titles*

His mum died the day of the Froch-Pascal fight, yet he went through with the fight without informing anyone until after. Pure class.


*That looks like a wiki copy and paste job. It's not

the americans take on effective lifestyle within europe also applys to our boxers.

Strong, efficent, predictable - to be fair as far as the central/eastern european fighters it seems to be spot on ie:klitschko bros, ottke, abraham etc

We in britain tend to sway towards the american side of things in that we take to our flair fighters just that bit more as it puts bums on seats ierince naseem, eubank

I'd actually have to say Kelly Pavlik has a typical European boxing style.

Stands straight up. Hands high. Flat footed.

Originally Posted by Hulk

I'd actually have to say Kelly Pavlik has a typical European boxing style.

Stands straight up. Hands high. Flat footed.

Yeah, good one that!

Originally Posted by Fenster

Seems slightly outdated now as well.

Completely agree.

Yes, the Euro style is there but as we've seen theres been a HUGE change in that as the years have passed. I would say mainly from the mid 90's and on is when the shift/change happened.

I do believe the actual term as stated by Fens is outdated...