ALways liked seeing guys using the cross armed defense. Who was the last guy to used this style effectively (Foreman????), and why do you think it's pretty much extinct???
Extinct because it constrains a fighter's offense. It can help him defend but does not allow him to get his own shots off.
yeah, that's the usual narrative, but I wonder if it's acutually true. Moore and foreman were able to generate great offense using it
REED Vaguely Recalls that “Hebrew Hammer” Dude (Cletus Something) Doing it... But it’d Obviously Be PREMATURE to Call Him a “Successful” Fighter... REED
hahaha, yeah I think that stiff was using it . Made a deliberate effort to completely forgot about him
To REED, it’s Only Practical for a Shorter Fighter to Utilize, Loooooongterm... Foreman’s Success w/It was an Outlier Given the THICKNESS of his Arms and Punch Resistance...Ken Norton Used it Also, But Got KO’ed Several Times... REED Imagines the Arms Would Get WEARY Quicker than Usual and Agaimst a Good Feinter, You’d Be Susceptible to Uppercuts, Bodyshots, etc... REED
Also, even if it was true, why was is it used so often in the past, with succs, and it's barely used now. Was there any change in boxing that made this style no longer practical, or is it more of a fashion thing??
Probably a combination of factors that started adding up over the decades. Increased volume in punching, bigger gloves and shorter fights contributed. (which by themselves are all inter-connected)
Thats actually a very good point. Guess its a style that is more methodical, less dynamic than the normal stance, so it suffers a lot from the modern changes
Bert Cooper is the most recent guy to use it, that I can recall. As Double L said, it's not good for a quick transition from defense to offense. Secondly it's UGLY and most fighters nowadays want to look pretty.
If I'm not mistaken, Cotto used the cross-armed defense from time to time. Bur the only one I can think of who used it often recently is Tim Whiterspoon. Don't really agree that it's not good for transitioning to offense as it opens up a lot of good countering opportunities for the left hook (and the short right hand, even if it's hard to put a lot of power quickly into it). Not sure why it's not used anymore. Maybe it's because of the reasons Whiskey stated, but I think it's more because : a) it's a style that requires a lot of mental toughness (as you will still get hit a lot, even if not cleanly) so most fighters would rather use their feet or an hight guard. b) Simply because not a lot of trainer teaches it anymore
Qawi actually utilized the shoulder roll moredo than the cross armed guard. Maybe the best pressure fighter at using the shoulder roll.
Effective but Yes, UGLY... It Insinuates the User is a CRUDE, SKILL-LESS Plodder... Even the GREATS Who Used It Fought in a More DELIBERATE Fashion, Particularly in Terms of their FOOTWORK... Definitely NOT a Movers Trait... REED
