Want to Learn what to look for in Succesful Boxers

[marbleheadmaui]

Good footwork has several elements (in no order)

1. To move forward (for orthodox fighter) push off back foot and step with front (short step), to move to right, push off left foot and step with right (short step) and so on.
2. Be on the toes of both feet at all times but with more weight on back foot until one punches, then weight shifts to power the shot.
3. Do NOT move in straight lines, move in arcs when enagaging. It makes one far less predictable. Explain this point a little if you dont' mind.
4. Move the MINIMUM necessary to accomplish the immediate objective. It takes less energy and keeps one in punching range.
5. Do NOT cross your feet unless well out of range.
6. Stance at every moment in time should enable one to move in any direction and stay on balance.

Danny Little Red Lopez is a great teaching tool regarding footwork for two reasons. He used excellent technique and he was SLOW so it is pretty easy to see.

Feet should be shoulder length apart?

More or less. To some degree it's a comfort issue. The key is to be able to move in any direction at any time without losing balance or the ability to punch.

As far as "fighting in arcs go" here's what I mean. If you saw the Berto-Ortiz fight when they were enaging it looked like a fencing match. Just moving back and forth on the same line. No lateral movement. it makes one extremely predictable. By fighting in an arc I mean you don't want your head opposite the other guys head in a straight line very often. You want your had changing it's position relative to the other guys head. Sometimes opposite his right shoulder, sometimes oppsite his left shoulder, sometimes outside each and always changing. Does that make sense? it makes one harder to find and tougher to figure where the punches are coming from.

Here's an exxagerated example that really speaks only to the offensive element. It is the very end of the Marciano-Louis fight. Watch how Marciano's feet are ALWAYS moving and how his head keeps popping up in different places around Louis' body. Left shoulder, right shoulder, way outside etc. Rocky is doing a gazillion things technically wrong in this 30 seconds, but he is fighting in arcs and it lets him dictate the action and every punch he throws at Louis is coming from a different direction than the last one did.