Pitty-Pat Flurries vs Power Combos

[TitoFan]

Boxing is that unique sport where we all feel we're a better judge than the next guy.

The real judges, the ones who get paid to judge a professional fight, have a tough job. They have to accurately score the fight to the best of their ability... and are sure to get criticized by us boxing fans. Although sometimes they have no business judging a boxing match, as was the case of CJ Ross and her assessment of the Floyd-Canelo shutout.

Fighters know they're being judged. So many of them become adept at doing specific things in the ring designed solely to sway the judges opinion in the end. One of these techniques is the Pitty-Pat Flurry.

What's a Pitty-Pat Flurry? It's a huge volume of "punches" thrown with no particular intent or effect, other than to sway judges who may be swayed by that sort of thing. It usually happens toward the end of the round, where it'll be the last impression the judge had of the round. If done right, the other fighter is busy covering up... just in case one of those punches actually does have a little power. But mostly... they're just arm punches with little or no power. Most of the time they're not even punches, but slaps.

Who uses or used this technique to perfection? Some very good and famous fighters. To me the most famous ones are De La Hoya and Calzaghe. I remember seeing some perfect PPF's by DLH against Quartey... and by Calzaghe against Manfredo. But these guys did this constantly... and it swayed the judges (as well as the crowd, which in turn sways the judges as well).

But DLH and Joe aren't the only ones to use this technique. Other greats, such as Floyd, did as well. Ali and SRL in their time were pretty good at the technique also. Difference for me is that Ali and SRL's flurries rarely looked "slappy."

Personally, I hate the PPF's. Once in awhile is ok... but when a guy uses it constantly, it takes away from his performance, IMO. I much prefer the power combos, where the fighter throws punches in bunches... but they're powerful and effective. Roy Jones Jr. had probably the fastest power combinations of anyone I can remember. Now those were a joy to watch. Mike Tyson at his peak was famous for his powerful combos. Other fighters, like Alexis Arguello, who threw beautiful combinations designed to hurt people. Duran had pretty fast hands and obviously never used PPF's.

I suppose everyone at some point will throw the showy flurries.
But when it becomes noticeable among fans in general... and commentators call you out on it... you're probably doing it a little too much.

[Master]

Reminds me of the fight between James Toney v Mike McCallum 1, where Mike was landing the jabs and point scoring shots and Toney would land the bombs and impact punches. Made the fight difficult to score for me but I went with the body snatcher when most went for lights out.

[TitoFan]

Really?

[Master]

Did you see Manfredo punching back?

[TitoFan]

C'mon. He didn't get slapped not even once during that PPF. He was covering up, but was by no means a defenseless victim.
Not to mention Manfredo was crap and should've never lasted that long in the first place.

[Master]

Ali pitti patt punches v Foreman's bombs worked.

[Gandalf]

C'mon. He didn't get slapped not even once during that PPF. He was covering up, but was by no means a defenseless victim.
Not to mention Manfredo was crap and should've never lasted that long in the first place.

When has Cotto ever managed to throw more than 60 punches a round. He could have used some Calxaghe fairy dust against Mayweather. It wins fights. All this plod plod plod 3 punches at a time shit is predictable. You can't throw with a Calzaghe windmill. GOAT.