Floyd Patterson making me look like a muppet!

[Greig]

So I bought Floyd's book and I must say it is a bloody good read:-

http://www.amazon.com/International-...5555190&sr=8-1

However, during the section on fighting southpaws he mentions that one of the greatest myths in boxing is that to beat a southpaw you throw straight right hands. Instead, Floyd says that you should throw left hooks. The reason he says is that generally southpaws fight a little more square and their right jab is not particularly good - they either paw with the right hand or throw a hook.

So I'm sparring with a southpaw tonight and I'm trying to implement some of Floyd's wisdom - throwing left hooks for a round and seeing how I go. I'll tell you how I went - not very well. This guys jab was beating my hook to the punch EVERY time I threw the sucker. The next round I started throwing one-twos and was finding a home for the right hand. I more than held my own for the remainder.

So, was old Floyd full of shit or what?

[donnydarkoIRL]

What i find against Southpaws is that ur timing has to be 50 times better as there is a huge difference. A left hook is very good as a counter but you have to be quick.
The right straight may be succesful, but how common is that theory every trainer worth a damn will be teaching his southpaw to stay away from the orthodox straight right.

So i throw it to the body.

[Greig]

Well, that is something I didn't try. Tried a couple of left hooks to the body but not a straight right. Will give it a go when I'm next in with him.

I know what you mean about the timing. There are three lefties at our gym and I've sparred with two of them and it is really tough to figure them out and have a good session against them.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Believe me iv had some good southpaw spars!!!!

A straight right to the body seems to work as they do tend to be square on....
Southpaws always tend to be slick too so a tight basic defence is a great idea.

[Greig]

Thanks for the help. Click.

[donnydarkoIRL]

One thing that works universally:
Feint with your feet.
See how he reacts and how well he has you timed.Easy.

[bikersk]

Maybe there is some small print stating (*Left hooks against southpaws work only when you are as good a boxer as Floyd Patterson)

[CutMeMick]

Maybe there is some small print stating (*Left hooks against southpaws work only when you are as good a boxer as Floyd Patterson)

ahaha!!! CC#55 god that shit made me laugh.

[greynotsoold]

Many, many moons ago the first two boxing books I read were Patterson's and Henry Cooper's.
To throw the hook against a leftie you need your foot outside of his. Or, you need to slip his jab over your left shoulder and throw a very short hook to his body. (his liver is right there) Or, draw his left and slip or parry it over your left shoulder and hook.
Nothing works without the proper thought applied.

[Sharla]

Anybody else tried to apply a long (very wide angle at the elbow - more than 90 degrees) left hook to a leftie?

I have found it works ok in sparring if they hold their lead hand and forearm upright and tucked in - if they have that annoying high, across the body and wide way of holding their lead hand I can't pull it off.

Still I have only sparred a couple of lefties so maybe I got lucky!

[Lords Gym]

So I bought Floyd's book and I must say it is a bloody good read:-

http://www.amazon.com/International-...5555190&sr=8-1

However, during the section on fighting southpaws he mentions that one of the greatest myths in boxing is that to beat a southpaw you throw straight right hands. Instead, Floyd says that you should throw left hooks. The reason he says is that generally southpaws fight a little more square and their right jab is not particularly good - they either paw with the right hand or throw a hook.

So I'm sparring with a southpaw tonight and I'm trying to implement some of Floyd's wisdom - throwing left hooks for a round and seeing how I go. I'll tell you how I went - not very well. This guys jab was beating my hook to the punch EVERY time I threw the sucker. The next round I started throwing one-twos and was finding a home for the right hand. I more than held my own for the remainder.

So, was old Floyd full of shit or what?

funny read mate !! No mate he wasn’t full of shit.. your footing needs to be correct, and the timing. a southpaw that is squared up is tailor made for the left hook.. watch David Tua -vs Michael Moorer, you will see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nIpogc5R4Q

[Greig]

Thanks for the help everyone.

What I have taken out of it is that next time I am going to make sure I get my left foot outside his and also to drop the hook more to the body than the head - Tua's knockout was set up by two or three vicious left hooks to the body that had Moorer worried about that side and then he was a sitting duck for the overhand right and left hook upstairs that finished him off.

[Lords Gym]

Correct. I think you will find it much easier next time out. Fighting a southpaw its a battle of foot placement, win that battle and the match is easy. good luck mate !

[donnydarkoIRL]

Don't underestimate the usefullness of your own jab though.