Fight Analysis: Buddy McGirt vs. Howard Davis

[ThomasTabin]

Interesting thoughts from everybody. When you play the fight the first thing you see (as Greig pointed out) was that the jab was all Howard Davis was throwing that round. Grieg yes Howard could have thrown more punches against Buddy - who as you say holds his hands low - but to do so would allow Buddy to possibly counter him. It's evident that Howard did not want Buddy McGirt countering him in any way. You see this type of thinking illustrated in the way Howard throws his jab. He commits only slightly and therefore would be impossible to counter because his body never truly leaves a defensive mode as he jabs. As result Buddy is unable to throw counter punches in this fight. The only thing Howard Davis is leading with is a jab and whats more, a jab that can't be countered. So Buddy must lead. His punching selection has necessarily been reduced to just that and only that.

This is a scenario you will see repeated in many, many fights. Fighters like Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzon, Joey Giardello, Tommy Loughran you will see employing this strategy against their opponents. It is very good at nullifying opponents because you are forced to lead and to be aggressive to be of any effectiveness. If you don't you won't be able to keep up. Since they take away your ability to counter, if they also take away your ability to land your leads, you are simply out of the fight. If you can't counter or lead what is left for you to do.


It would then appear that Buddy doesn't have many options. Howard Davis is trying hard to make sure of that. Buddy McGirt vs Howard Davis is a fight that has been being fought in boxing since the very beginning. Buddy McGirt is the swarmer. Throughout the history of boxing the swarmer's greatest ability has been to pressure his opponent and force reactions. Specifically, if his leads force his opponent into throwing a counter punch, he opens their defense and creates a window of opportunity where he can hit them.

Its hard to see in real time and especially on this youtube video so I made some screens.


Here we see Buddy throwing his left hook



Howard Davis drops his left hand to his hip to prepare what some of you may know as the "check hook" in response. Yes Floyd wasn't the one who invented that punch. Go back to your tapes and see Jimmy McLarnin and Gene Tunny throwing "check hooks"



Buddy begins his right hand as Howard begins to throw his check hook



Buddy lands the right hand inside of the hook





Chris I think you're correct when you point out that all the left hooks Buddy was throwing was leading up to something. It seems very evident that Davis was not expecting a right hand. We can see this illustrated in the final moments of the fight when Davis attempts to counter Buddy's lead left hook. Buddy had only been throwing single lead left hooks. I think if Davis knew there was the risk of a right hand coming behind the left hook he would have never attempted the check hook that ultimately left him open for a right hand.




If this scenario seems familiar its because you just saw this happen a couple months ago in Hatton/Mayweather. Only in that fight there was no right hand to counter the check hook. You can see in these screens that Hatton had triggered Floyd's check hook with his lead left hook. Thus, like Buddy McGirt, he had an open window for his right hand. You can see in the second screen that Ricky had a clear opening for his right hand which he ultimately neglected to take.








Both scenarios in both fights are the same. This is a scenario that you yourself will encounter and more than likely already have whether you were aware of it or not. The more boxing you watch the more patterns and scenarios you will become aware of so that in your next fights you will instantly recognize them as they unfold in front you.