Punch and Clutch - [Technical Article]

Hi folks,
Thought some of you might like my latest article, or at least have something to say about it :p

Punch and Clutch' is a term you hear from veteran commentators and coaches from time to time and is a rather old school strategy of punishing an opponent without giving him the chance to counter with combinations or outpoint you. While many times you will hear the term used in a derogatory way; criticizing a fighter who is clearly trying to stall, properly executed punch and clutch makes for exciting, brutal fights. Punch and Clutch is a method wherein a power punch can be thrown without fear of retaliation. Normally a looping right lead or a powerful left hook is thrown and the clinch is established immediately after. Floyd Mayweather is not a big puncher, but can cause damage by jumping into his shots and clinching. Take a look at this short highlight of his right hand leads against the southpaw Sharmba Mitchell. At 0:09 he lands a huge right hand and immediately moves to clinch, smothering Mitchell's counter. At 0:15 he does the same again, this time dropping Mitchell, but he is clearly already moving in for the clinch, watching the slow motion replay one can clearly see him react and change stances to punch again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc_EJ...layer_embedded

This is not something he does only against southpaws either (he's fought so few of them). Watch his performance against Hatton, a much harder puncher and an expert infighter, whom he managed to land power shots on and tie up with ease in the middle and later rounds of their contest. Watch at 1:29 where he throws the right hand, leaping in to clinch with Hatton, then when Hatton attempts to hold him, Floyd cross faces him and lands some free shots on the way out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hhhh65TP14&feature=player_embedded

If you like it please give me some feedback, and if you don't please give me even more feedback! ;D

Nicely done. The only complaint you will hear about it is that people hate that style of fighting but the videos point out exactly what you are trying to draw attention to.

Personally I am really beginning to get alot more respect for these techniques, only because at its core boxing is supposed to be about hitting and not getting hit and this this accomplishes that.

Good one I like fighters like this. At least he isnt a spoiler first then a hitter, he mixes it up with hits on both ends of it, quite masterful really and those hits on the way in bring the weight and power forward.

Mosley was a stand up leaper too, made him look faster than he was with his great timing with Mosley it was like he would count the space in between the other guys timing and go then,like the off beat in music.

Rjj in his prime more snake like and fluid with it and could launch it undetected from any level low high whatever.

Isn't this a technique Hopkins employs frequently?

This is that shit Amir Khan needs to learn.

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

This is that shit Amir Khan needs to learn.

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He'd have to learn to keep his mouth shut on the way in though ;).

Good vids. Seeing the highlights from the Hatton fight, couldn't help noticing how he (Hatton) didn't belong in the ring with Floyd any more than he belonged in there against Pacquiao. Floyd just allowed him to last longer, is all.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Good vids. Seeing the highlights from the Hatton fight, couldn't help noticing how he (Hatton) didn't belong in the ring with Floyd any more than he belonged in there against Pacquiao. Floyd just allowed him to last longer, is all.

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Funny I can remember thinking that Joe Cortez didn't really belong in the ring on that night and then again and again and again and again and again :headscratch:

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Originally Posted by Greenbeanz

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Good vids. Seeing the highlights from the Hatton fight, couldn't help noticing how he (Hatton) didn't belong in the ring with Floyd any more than he belonged in there against Pacquiao. Floyd just allowed him to last longer, is all.

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Funny I can remember thinking that Joe Cortez didn't really belong in the ring on that night and then again and again and again and again and again :headscratch:

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Oh yeah dude. It's definitely Cortez's fault that Hatton lost to Floyd that night.

;)

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Good vids. Seeing the highlights from the Hatton fight, couldn't help noticing how he (Hatton) didn't belong in the ring with Floyd any more than he belonged in there against Pacquiao. Floyd just allowed him to last longer, is all.

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Respectfully disagree.

There's a reason Mayweather chose a 23 foot ring and ran backwards for 10 rounds. He didn't "allow" anything.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Good vids. Seeing the highlights from the Hatton fight, couldn't help noticing how he (Hatton) didn't belong in the ring with Floyd any more than he belonged in there against Pacquiao. Floyd just allowed him to last longer, is all.

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What a load of bollocks.

Hatton fought a good fight up until the deduction when he got sloppy.

So you think Floyd could have stopped Hatton in 2 or some nonsense like that? You underestimate Hatton. Revisionist drivel.

Floyd was more cautious than he needed to be. The Hatton that Pac fought had already had the aura of being this relentless, unstoppable attacking force destroyed so of course both fighters went about fighting him differently.

Hopkins and he rather good at it I must say.!