"One-armed fighter" is a term often used to describe a fighter who doesn't carry adequate power in both hands. A prime examples of a top fighter who many considered a "one-armed" fighters is ODH. A couple of questions/comments: 1. Can you name additional prominent/top level fighters that were considered, "one-armed fighters?" 2. Do you think too often it is the discrepancy in the power between a fighter's arms, as opposed to an actual lack of power in a particular arm, that earns him the tag, "One-armed fighter?" 3. What do top-level "one-armed fighters," those you think have a legitimately weak arm, whether it's their left and right, do in order to cope with this? If they're top-level, they've obviously adjusted somehow, since presumably they're beating other top-level fighters who aren't, "one-armed?" 4. Can you name any fighters who throughout their careers managed to improve significantly the strength, and therefore the effectiveness of their once, "weak" arm? 5. Did anyone else find it hilarious that for a good 2-3 years, Lampley could be heard saying over and over again that ODH had improved the use of his right-hand in recent time? 6. Finally, among those listed in no. 1, who do you think was most effective at compensating for his, "one-armedness?" And why?
When you think of one-armed fighters (in terms of POWER as per your thread) you tend to think about left hookers like Frazier, Ruddock and even De la Hoya. So I'ma switch it up. Thomas Hearns Lennox Lewis Larry Holmes Hearns compensated for lack of power in a similarly powered head punch in his left hand with a mean left hook to the liver. His jab was also on point. Lewis showed that the left hook was there when he needed it against Bruno and the final punch that finished Ruddock was a straight left (JAB actually...from close range). Holmes compensated with a deadly jab.
Thomas Hearns also had a fantastic, hard jab and he could certainly land hard left hooks... I don't think he's a good example Holmes' most important weapon was his jab, it was one of the best ever... he also liked the left hook in close to get a guy off of him... I don't think he's a good example either, and it's not like he was a crunching hitter with the right Lewis I could sort of see, but again I would question whether or not he could be grouped into what Double is getting at If you want a guy who had nothing but a right hand... Ingemar Johannson
Sounds like you're saying neither Hearns nor Lewis were in fact, "one-armed fighters." No? And Holmes' jab was good enough, and his right-hand powerful enough, that I'm not even sure I'd agree he was a one-armed puncher. Frazier I think is a good example. So Hearns, Lewis and Holmes compensated by not being, "one-armed fighters?" :: Is that what you're saying?
I think Benitez might qualify. He won his fights with his jab, and certainly didn't have a powerful right-hand.
Based on YOUR definition they are one armed fighters as their power hand was UNDERSTOOD. They weren't ambidextrous punchers like a Hamed, Tyson or Foreman. Based on the standard definition, however, they are not one-armed fighters (which is usually reserved for left hookers or southpaws).
Does Cuevas qualify? With the extreme power of his left-hook adequate compensation for his right hand?
My definition of a "one-armed fighter" is one who couldn't hurt you with one of his arms, whether it be a non-existent left-hook or a weak or poorly thrown right-hand. Even Hamed who was legitimately ambidextrous clearly had more power in his left, and I think most would agree that Tyson's left-hook was the more dangerous punch. Foreman, clearly his right-hand was his hardest punch. But that's not to say that any of those guys were, "one-armed fighters." I'd say the majority of fighters in general are not, "one-armed." And so "one-armed fighters" who make it to the championship level, we can all agree, must be rare. But I think there's plenty of examples, nonetheless, which is pretty remarkable if you ask me.
the best example has to be Razor Ruddok...all he used was the left from every angle conceivable. He just used his right hand to block punches!
I know someone will mention him, so I want to pre-emptively say Joe Frazier was not a one-armed fighter. Quite a ways from it, in fact. One of Boxing's most enduring & (in)famous myths.
Foster could definitely hit with the right and did so often His left hook is more famous but he could bomb with the right, he was very much a two handed fighter
