Developing ones one style

[HerbM]

In reading the books that Chris and the others have been suggesting to me, I (just) found a section of the Inside The Ring: The RossBoxing.Com Newsletter Archive by Ross Enamait directly answering this question, on page 42.

It is pretty much in agreement with the advice given by everyone in this thread, with perhaps one point more that we (I at least) didn't emphasize:

Even (experienced) coaches who try to install an "exact style" on every fighter are (possibly) doing a disservice -- even one based on physical attributes.

The key here is not that your coach cannot help you pick a style, but rather avoiding the idea of imprinting a style too early or in a cookie cutter fashion before the fighter (with the coaches help) has enough of the basics and enough experience for the style to develop naturally.

Among the excellent examples give are the excellent welterweights Buddy McGirt and Pernell Whitaker who although (both) short for their weight classes did not (automatically) become inside fighters.

According to Inside the Ring,

Pernell was one of the slickest boxers ever to compete inside the ring. His defensive abilities were amazing. ... Pernell was pure "boxer". He was slick, elusive, and extremely effective.

Since I have the ESPN Classic episode of the Buddy McGirt vs. Pernell Whitaker fight saved on my TiVo, I think it is time to watch this right now....

--
HerbM