Left hook technique

[nikola_ganchev]

I cant understand why no one this days teaches this type of punching...



Each punch of Joe Louis is short and devastating... In this footage he hits maybe 5 6 times with the elbow up... I like the knockout on 6 minute vs Walcott. I give everithing to learn myself to punch that way. For me this is the perfect way to trow hooks. I like how Joe stays allways to the inside of the attack of his oponents and hits faster because of his compacter form...

[nikola_ganchev]

When i have started boxing, i have thinking alot about the techique and the delivery of the left hook... I ll start with the technique first in order to get the idea of my post... In order to execute a proper left hook the boxer must has his weight on his left foot and when he looks down he must see his knee direct beneath him in order to remain in balance(just watch some of Kenny Weldons instruction tapes). I was wondering how did a man get in this posiotion? How the left hook masters deliver this blow? In my mind apears the imege of Joe Walcot KOs Ezzard Charles in their 3th fight. I was trying some movements "in the blind" and nothing seemed fast and powerful enough. Then i watch some fights of Jerry Cooney and BAM there it was... Everything statrs with the stance, as usual one of the most important things... I am boxing from very sideways stance. From this stance to throw leading left hook is obviosly impossible, so i tried "miss interpreted" squere stance(like all the lames i have tried to box like Tyson) ofcoure i have just my a... kicked. The problem was that i had my weight on the left leg which directly imobilezed me(movement in all directions impossible plius you are on the edje of your balance... ona light blow and you are off...). What i have observed was this: in order to deliver the leading left hook the boxer must stay some wath square but with the weight on the back foot. Being in this stance enables him to do 3 things:
1)The boxer can step with his punches!!! This means that the boxer can get in clouse distance to trow the left hook(staying square limits the power of the right but we are talking about the left...)
2)By simply shifting the weight from the reight foot to the left the boxer has moved his head off the center line. So he can slip! (thats why when some one is trying to box with "headmovement ala Tyson" with the weight on the front foot he fails)
3)Here comes the combination... When the boxer steps and after that shifts fast his weight on the left foot he has managed to obtain the perfect form and position to trow the left hook...
There are ofcourse much more set ups for the left hook than just what i have described(my personal favorite is the 2 left hooks in the body like James Toney do). But i must start from somewhere.