Outboxing a Southpaw: Miguel Cotto's Footwork Clinic

[Scrap]

What interested me, was what the ref was doing.

[Andre]

What interested me, was what the ref was doing.

Which bit mate? the stooping to low levels to watch intensely or the backwards moves?

[Andre]

He trips on that well placed foot too at 1:21, stops him getting where he wants to go.

[greynotsoold]

I don't understand...Way before the current idea that the only way to fight a southpaw is with the straight right, even before the 'step to your left and hook' school of Al Bernstein, you fought a southpaw by taking the inside position and using your left hand. Jack Hurley taught it that way years ago. A.J. Leibling told about it in his classic boxing novel "The Professional" (based on Hurley and Billy Petrolle). That is the only way I have ever taught it and, God knows, I only stole other people's ideas.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I think one reason why it is understood that the right hand is a key weapon is because there are advantages (that apply to both) in momentarily squaring up on a mirror handed opponent. I think generally Southpaws do this more due to them being.... Well, unorthodox () but works equally well both ways.

Did Tyson ever fight against a southpaw? His tendency to square up would have made for an interesting watch. Floyd Patterson maybe?? Kevin Rooney

Really though, my only understanding of fighting southpaws is that movement and angles in general are key. In theory two 'lefties' or two 'righties' can circle each other all night long. Can't do that with mirror hands. You have to be more dynamic in your approach. It's slightly embarrassing (to me at least) why it is almost exclusively southpaws who have a better understanding of this.

[greynotsoold]

For a southpaw to be successful, angles are the key. Smart orthodox fighters have always understood that this works both ways.

[IamInuit]

For a southpaw to be successful, angles are the key. Smart orthodox fighters have always understood that this works both ways.

A straight right will always be the best weapon but its the how. Its not like directing traffic. Southpaws dont all move alike and many have different power hands. Another thing is that Cotto is a converted southpaw which makes certain adaptation easier and especially with a guy that had no legs left. At that point the straight right would not necessarily be the best weapon but a mixture since the southpaw you are facing has limited movement. In addition Cotto never watched tape in his rise at 140 and beat Corley, Judah, and Quintana who are all southpaws so its not as if he had no idea how to fight one before Roach came along.

[Scrap]

What interested me, was what the ref was doing.

Which bit mate? the stooping to low levels to watch intensely or the backwards moves?

Position He is in is not in Cottos line of vision. but is in Martinez's. So he is picking up the refs movement, just a thought

[Andre]

What interested me, was what the ref was doing.

Which bit mate? the stooping to low levels to watch intensely or the backwards moves?

Position He is in is not in Cottos line of vision. but is in Martinez's. So he is picking up the refs movement, just a thought

He had a grand on Cotto for a stoppage.