"Typical European Boxing Style" - what does that statement mean?

[Taeth]

I think the two fighters that personafy that style which is the most conventional style I've seen is Juan Manuel MArquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, it means you are the purely orthodox fighter who keeps his hands up, uses fundamentals in their purist form.

I think guys chronologically from Ali to Leonard through WHitaker to Roy JOnes and Floyd Mayweather have adapted their great athleticism into boxing which means, they have a wider stance, more upper body movement, hands held low and use the shoulder and reflexes to get away from punches. There will be a lot more guys in the next generation of both Brittain, US, and Cuba that have adopted this style. ALso places like Kazakhstan or wherever, you are seeing even the ex-soviet countries adopting a more fluid style of fighting.

[Taeth]

I'm thinking the distinction between American and European styles isn't as pronounced as it once was, especially in the pros. It's still there though.

Where you really saw a sharp distinction in styles was over the years in the amateurs, Olymics and World Championships, between American and Eastern European boxers, USSR especially, at the heavier weights.

It seems to me that the styles of the Cubans, such as Stevenson and Savon, were closer to the Europeans than the Americans.

This Eastern European style not only had the hands up high, but farther out from the body than the Americans

You see the Savon and Teofilo type guys fighting more like Eastern European fighters, but you watch guys like Gamboa, Rigondeaux, Emileo Jr, and they are fighting more with the Floyd Mayweather or Roy Jones JR type of hands down, a lot less foot movement than guys like Leonard or Ali, and a lot less reliance on the jab.

[CutMeMick]

It just came to me right now saying "Euro Style" is like saying "Who are you with the North or the South?"
Just outdated... IMO

[donnydarkoIRL]

Typically, olden European fighters fought vertically, back straight, legs straight, forearms parallel and facing the ceiling.

The guard is also primary focused toward protecting the face and head, not as much focus on body protection or attack as the American style.

[The "Ring" Master]

Hands held high as opposed to low. Does the style rely more on defensive skills?

It follows that Carl Froch does NOT have a typical European style?

As someone said Mikkel Kessler is the best example of a typical European style, or Frank Bruno. And yes Carl Froch does not have a typic European style. Carl Froch's trainer is Brendal Ingle i believe who had Naseem Hamed, Herol Graham, fighters with that low hand unorthodox style like Carl Froch.

right on brother, euro stlye hands up baby hands up lol, a very good defensive strat as its always harder to get the money shot, although it is harder to counter their jab unless your a great body puncher or a tall long jabber, look at kesler he is a good example of a strong tall fighter no low hands, but it didnt work against calzagghe because he went for the mid points and off stepped for the headshots, a perfect example of a great boxer. back to the american style, they have a driven force about them when it comes to style, everyone wants to be flash and boystruss, hands down and chin out like roy jones does, they like to style it out, i think the best defensive style is that of early tyson, hands under the chin and elbows covering the mid, a great technique for sliping jabs and countering the other fighters moves, if you notice tyson like to throw punches at the same time as his aponent, moving to the opposite set and landing flush.

[Rantcatrat]

Is the European style a better style because it facilitates better defense? Do people look down upon it?

My intuition is that there is a negative connotation when describing a fighter as possessing a European Style. Is that wrong? Why is that?

[donnydarkoIRL]

Is the European style a better style because it facilitates better defense? Do people look down upon it?

My intuition is that there is a negative connotation when describing a fighter as possessing a European Style. Is that wrong? Why is that?

I think somew European fighters in the past were seen to be a bit wooden basic and one dimensional.
Predictable because they followed the textbook.

[Rantcatrat]

Is the European style a better style because it facilitates better defense? Do people look down upon it?

My intuition is that there is a negative connotation when describing a fighter as possessing a European Style. Is that wrong? Why is that?

I think somew European fighters in the past were seen to be a bit wooden basic and one dimensional.
Predictable because they followed the textbook.

A win is a win. I guess, however, the style may lead to less exciting wins?

[Tito BHB]

to be robbed??

[donnydarkoIRL]

Is the European style a better style because it facilitates better defense? Do people look down upon it?

My intuition is that there is a negative connotation when describing a fighter as possessing a European Style. Is that wrong? Why is that?

I think somew European fighters in the past were seen to be a bit wooden basic and one dimensional.
Predictable because they followed the textbook.

A win is a win. I guess, however, the style may lead to less exciting wins?

Oh I absolutley agree, but I think the term was deminuitive and would have referred to a fighter who was limited by his style.

If I can think of an example, Richie Woodhall would be one.
A really nice fighter that fought by the textbook, but when faced with the proposition of a guy like Calzaghe he didn't have the tools to become top tier.

[RozzySean]

Like a few have said, it's outdated to say "typical" european style. It's would be better to say "old school" or "traditional" european style. Yuri Foreman is one of the best examples of this style. He's from Belarus and Israel who fights out of New York. He's a LMW Sven Ottke.

[Tito BHB]

Like a few have said, it's outdated to say "typical" european style. It's would be better to say "old school" or "traditional" european style. Yuri Foreman is one of the best examples of this style. He's from Belarus and Israel who fights out of New York. He's a LMW Sven Ottke.

i like yuri! hope he goes alot further then ottke

Fine solid style, couple rough spots in his early career but keeps winning so people cant deny him.

[RozzySean]

Like a few have said, it's outdated to say "typical" european style. It's would be better to say "old school" or "traditional" european style. Yuri Foreman is one of the best examples of this style. He's from Belarus and Israel who fights out of New York. He's a LMW Sven Ottke.

i like yuri! hope he goes alot further then ottke

Fine solid style, couple rough spots in his early career but keeps winning so people cant deny him.

I like Yuri, too. I just wish he would go in for the kill when he's totally outclassing somebody.

[Trainer Monkey]

It just came to me right now saying "Euro Style" is like saying "Who are you with the North or the South?"
Just outdated... IMO

Man,you havent lived in the South obviously, because it isnt outdated to the south

[DaxxKahn]

right... best example would be Kessler i'd think..

Actually the best example would be an early version of Wlad....Straight standing, hands up high, punches thrown in almost a planned out sequence.....EG- Jab, Left Hook, Straight Right.....Little upper body movement....

The standard European style is also best described as robotic, I think it is more or less due to repitition in training, they often work so hard at perfecting the punches that they leave little room for anything else...

Though the style does add to power because they focus so much on technique...Turning the body with the punch, not over extending, etc...

One of the biggest problems with the style is it's defense is very easy to figure out though the hands are held in a position to make sure you are not hit and those who follow it to the "T" do not really know how to variate mid fight..guys who are good body punchers and punch on all angles usually have little problems with it

Great style for the amateurs...not so much for the pros