Boxers who 'switched' their feet with regularity?

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I've bee trying to justify a little notion that popped into my head ever since watching the Evander Holyfield/ Sherman Williams fight. (The Micky Ward film helped too!).
Now I know Leopards can't change their spots and I realise the fight wasn't exactly present a dynamic strategy form either fighter but the way I immediately saw it, was that a fighter in Evander's situation could of easily benefited from switching to Southpaw and moving around his Op's left hand side. A simple solution that then presents it's own set of problems but at least it presents some openings too...

Anyway, this got me thinking... Who 'switched' their feet with regularity?
What fighters utilised their stance to create openings for them selves, or even nullify openings for their opponents?

I never really studied Switch-Hitters for what they are and to be honest, I can only think of about three 'Switch-Hitters' (Naz, Graham, Witter,) but as you can see, they are from the Ingle camp... I know Hagler did it too but to be honest, the whole feet thing is a facet of his game that I have left undervalued... I'll give him another look.

But who else did it? But more importantly HOW and WHY?

[Fenster]

The man in your AV (great name by the way) did it to take the piss out of John Thaxton before stopping him. Thaxton was another Ingle merchant though.

[The Fightfan]

I was going to say Emmanuel Augustus. Back in the older days I would say Jersey Joe Walcott. Hell he would even turn around and walk away from his man just to get them to come forward and land his dreadful left hook.

You would have to add the Dirrell brothers and Andre Ward.

[bzkfn]

Loving the new name Jim. I thought you'd started this because of our conversation about Augustus hangin' up his gloves after Saturday. I am not a big fan of switch hitting, as few can make it entertaining to watch. Most Ingle fighters in particular are ugly to watch. Naz did it well because of his speed, but Witter & McIntosh in particular are so boring to watch.

[Taeth]

The best guy I've seen at switch hitting regularly is Andre ward. If you have good coordination and the right core principles in your boxing the only real change is the angles you have to work with, both stances have their advantages, but most guys don't apply the same pressure both ways. There is a slight shift in their mentality. Like Marvin hagler against Leonard in the early rounds. He thought of himself as more of a boxer in the orthodox stance and it
cost him early rounds.

[greynotsoold]

Former 108lb champ Chiquita Gonzalez fought both orthodox and southpaw. In some situations Mike Tyson would shift sides to land particular punches

[Andre]

The best guy I've seen at switch hitting regularly is Andre ward. If you have good coordination and the right core principles in your boxing the only real change is the angles you have to work with, both stances have their advantages, but most guys don't apply the same pressure both ways. There is a slight shift in their mentality. Like Marvin hagler against Leonard in the early rounds. He thought of himself as more of a boxer in the orthodox stance and it
cost him early rounds.

The best time to switch is when the opposition is attacking and you switch out around the outside of their attack blindsiding them. Yet to see it done in boxing other than bouncing off the ropes and switching out to the side.

Sam Soliman is another.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Loving the new name Jim. I thought you'd started this because of our conversation about Augustus hangin' up his gloves after Saturday.

Thanks man Definitely the reason why I changed me username.
I'm an Augustus fan for one more fight and then that's it

The best guy I've seen at switch hitting regularly is Andre ward. If you have good coordination and the right core principles in your boxing the only real change is the angles you have to work with, both stances have their advantages, but most guys don't apply the same pressure both ways. There is a slight shift in their mentality. Like Marvin hagler against Leonard in the early rounds. He thought of himself as more of a boxer in the orthodox stance and it
cost him early rounds.

Andre Ward... There's a fighter I should go back and watch. Also, good points about Hagler man. Makes perfect sense. Mentality... Hmmm. That's too revealing... I'm just think out loud... I kinda wish more fighters switched more fluidly and functionally Not just ''okay, now I'm gonna be this guy''.

The best time to switch is when the opposition is attacking and you switch out around the outside of their attack blindsiding them. Yet to see it done in boxing other than bouncing off the ropes and switching out to the side.

I know it's totally unfounded to say this but I can see how a fighter could benifit from more dynamic footwork. Like in the scenario you've just pointed out, there are a few times where a fighter could truly benefit fro manoeuvring over to (or pivoting on) the opposite foot.

I mean, of course it would have to be done at the right time, not just for the sake of bamboozling your opponent via flashiness. It's all about calculated risk... Wladimir Klitschko is an excellent boxer but he probably only throws 2 or 3 uppercuts per fight.... Because of the associated risk.

I dunno why I'm ranting on... I'm just glad I've been given these fighters names so I can go and do some research.

Oh and Fen.. I'm starting with Thaxton v Augustus

[Taeth]

The best place to switch is where you don't get hit in the process of switching. There is no best specific strategy just like in a fight in general anything can be countered, thus switching up what you do and adapting properly to the situation is the key to success

[Andre]

[QUOTE=Jimanuel Boogustus;939043]

I kinda wish more fighters switched more fluidly and functionally Not just ''okay, now I'm gonna be this guy''.

[

Im not sure: but with the advances in mind- body coordination exercises that are being developed as we speak (By Scrap mostly). I think theres a chance that by practicing a certain verbal /mind exercise to gain a whole brain thinking pattern, combined with eye exercises: some fighters in the future will be able to balance out their dominant eye with their non dominant one and flow at ease fighting both ways balanced in and out.

Then you would really see set techniques being practiced that involve when to switch in reaction to the opponents moves for advantage in action in contact range not just switching for the sake of doing so out of range, then engaging.

[Andre]

The best place to switch is where you don't get hit in the process of switching. There is no best specific strategy just like in a fight in general anything can be countered, thus switching up what you do and adapting properly to the situation is the key to success

There are strategies. They are not practiced by boxers at the moment.

The strategies are moving from the inside of someones guard to the outside of someones guard maintaining control over their lead arm while you switch stance around them.

this allows you to end up on the outside (bodily) on their lead arm and so you have two arms against their none for that moment and it is them who has to readjust to where you are,so that is also a benefit to you.

Also you are switching feet which takes you away from their rear arm while taking you to the outside of their lead arm.

Of course this can only be done in certain circumstances) as other strategies are done in other circumstances.

[Taeth]

The best place to switch is where you don't get hit in the process of switching. There is no best specific strategy just like in a fight in general anything can be countered, thus switching up what you do and adapting properly to the situation is the key to success

There are strategies. They are not practiced by boxers at the moment.

The strategies are moving from the inside of someones guard to the outside of someones guard maintaining control over their lead arm while you switch stance around them.

this allows you to end up on the outside (bodily) on their lead arm and so you have two arms against their none for that moment and it is them who has to readjust to where you are,so that is also a benefit to you.

Also you are switching feet which takes you away from their rear arm while taking you to the outside of their lead arm.

Of course this can only be done in certain circumstances) as other strategies are done in other circumstances.

But controlling front arm can easily be countered if somebody has done other martial arts and applies them to boxing. If you rely on one thing you will figured out and beaten.

[ElTerribleMorales]

Hagler, Cotto, Donaire is trying to, Whitaker did it, quite a few really just am half asleep

[amat]

Giovanni segura and Pirog both do it alot in efforts to cut the ring off and both do it really well. Ward and cotto do it in spots just to change it up occasionally.

[No Contest]

I remember Gatti doing it, but it never really seemed to work for him. Andre Dirrell does it alot. Cotto used to do it, but I doubt Manny Steward puts that into his training. Didnt Arguello used to switch up alot as well?