Arm-punching is traditionally seen as an error for a fighter and a fighter throwing "slaps" is usually seen as inept technician. I just started to wonder if that is always the case, Arm-punching has plenty of edges over punching in "correct" way. Arm-punches can be thrown faster, you can throw them from a bad balance and still land, you can throw longer combinatios, they are thrown in smaller space and they are easier to throw accurately. The problem with arm-punching naturally is that usually they don't carry enough power behind them so they are not effective. But the modern heavyweights are 240+ lbs monsters who can bust other fighters up and knock them down even with arm-punches, the shots are hurtful enough. So I was wondering if the new heavyweight generation would do better if they didn't even try to learn the traditional punching technique since they will never have the same body coordination as midgets. Instead they might be more effective throwing arm-punches which are enough to KO their opponents. Vitali Klitschko was an example of a fighter who stopped all but one out of the fighters he beat and usually "slapped" with his shots. What do you guys think?
Which way do you see it. Do you think like me that in the future it will be the "correct" thing to do for new fighters or do you see them being just technically inept to fight traditional way?
OK, fine, DON'T laugh, you sour, cantankerous fiend. Seriously? No. It's not the future and it never should be. If boxing wants to really increase its appeal to the mainstream public; this would be absolutely the wrong direction to take. I would also submit there are a few fallacies in your post - namely that arm punches are thrown "in a smaller space", that they are "easier to throw accurately" (can be debated)...and lastly, yes you can "throw them with bad balance and still land" - but would they be COUNTED in terms of the round-by-round scoring? This is professional boxing. Could get into a huge dissertation on technique....but no, I don't think this is the right direction to take. "Arm punching" is NOT a new phenomenon. It's been around for ages. Peace.
I think you didn't understand what I was trying to say (not necessarily your fault though). It has been around for ages yes, BUT I think that with super-heavyweights now is the time that it has become effective. What I am saying is that in the future a good arm-puncher is going to beat a guy who tries to get leverage behind his all punches, for the reasons I gave in the first post. I think that is where boxing is going, its technique will change dramatically
:dunno: Again, it's professional boxing. If you look at history, relatively few fighters have REALLY been able to get away with "slapping" and still remain at the elite, near-great, great or all-time great levels. Think about it. Even guys like Pep and Whitaker punched with correct technique and did not slap. CLEAN, EFFECTIVE punching is what professional boxing is mostly scored on. It's why a guy like Williams can outthrow and "outland" a guy like Margarito - and still barely squeak by (and in the eyes of many, only get a draw or actually have lost). A 'slapper' among big heavyweights will have to work rounds to stop their opponents by accumulation...a correct puncher can do it in explosive fashion, usually early. You're also treating it as if the slapper will ALWAYS be faster while the correct puncher is some slow-as-molasses behemoth trying to get his shots off "just right". Neither is true necessarily given all of the variables. And again...even if your assertion was true - it means NOTHING if no one is WATCHING and there are no fans. Hence, even if this theory were "true" - boxing can't afford it; neither can boxers, trainers, promoters, managers or networks. Where are you seeing all of these young up and coming slappers that is giving you the inclination to think this is "the future?" Peace.
I am not seeing them yet, but the success of Vitali, Valouev and to lesser extent guys like Mount Whitaker, who by normal standards had bad punching technique leads me to believe that when fighters are regularly 6'8 and 25+lbs (which eventually they will be), then it could be the case, as they are powerful and explosive enough without having full body weight behind their shots. Obviously it isn't the same with smaller divisions
Whitaker successful? No. Take that off, please. :: Which leaves us with Vitali, Valuev. I don't really think Valuev "slaps" all that much, honestly. Vitali a little more - but even he doesn't really "slap" - what he tends to do is 'push' his punches and throw them off the back foot. There's a difference between 'slapping' and/or 'arm-punching -- and not fully committing to your punches but still showing good technique. Peace.
So do you even agree with me on that a big part of Vitali being succesful was because of the punching technique of his? On other words, he wouldn't have been as good had he tried to punch in more orthodox way. That, pretty much is what I am saying here. I just believe that in future we will have more guys reminding him. As for Sly, I thought the idea of the forum was to debate on subjects that we disagree on. Obviously you prefer arguments about facts then
Ugotabe Kidding is the 2nd worst thread-maker walking Fightbeat today, right after LOK. But he still rocks! :clap:
The fact that you and Sly don't understand it proves that this is more intellectual discussion than most here
i think what he is saying is that back in the day if you arm punched, you better be a boxer/mover because you aren't going to get any respect. you might tap him and tap him but eventually he'll catch up to you. but nowadays we got guys so strong they can knock you out with arm punches...which totally changes the game. not saying he's right, just saying you guys may be missing what he's trying to saying.
Yes....but it was that combined with his height, reach, footwork & head movement (however awkward), etc. And I am not sure that he "wouldn't have been that good" had he tried to punch in more orthodox fashion. When Vitali DOES sit down on his punches - especially with the straight right and right uppercut - he is a monster. And again, I don't think slapping and arm-punching are the same thing. Slapping involves not turning your punches over fully - in the worst cases, literally 'slapping' or 'chopping' at an opponent with the inside of your glove. Arm punching means you are not transfering your weight fully behind your punches - you're not punching from your legs/waist and the torque generated by your torso; rather just from your shoulder (or elbow) onward. I've always thought the reason Vitali was so effective was a big COMBINATION of factors - he can't punch the way he does if he didn't have the height, reach, and defensive-mindedness to fight the way he does. Which leads me to my next point... If you watch Vitali fight closely, what he does is PUSH his punches - not slap. He actually PUSHES them, so that at the end of every shot there is a small, almost imperceptible 'push' which keeps his opponent off-balance. So not only do you get hit - there is a follow up slight "shove" that keeps you off-balance or even repositions you for another follow-up shot. Mayweather does this as well but not as consistently. Brother Wlad does this with his jab occasionally as well. Vitali has just perfected it. No, I don't think this is a trend. Once again - if you think about it, as has ALWAYS been the case in boxing, there are really relatively few guys at the elite level that truly JUST arm-punch or slap. Peace.
Hey, MCC...good to see you back. I still think it's a bit of a fallacy. It's not like if modern boxers are now twice as big and twice as powerful. Might it increase slightly? Sure. But probably more because nowadays there is so much emphasis on "winning" and "looking good" and in not getting hit (because the mentality and publicity/exposure have changed) - rather than because now guys are 'so big' that they'll KO you with one arm shot. But I have yet to see anything in both current elite or up and coming boxers (Heavyweight or elsewhere) that leads me to believe this will now or in the future become some kind of trend. Arm punching or slapping have always existed. Some guys use it better than others, some to their advantage and some not. :dunno: Hell, Foreman was knocking guys out with "arm punches" back in the day. Peace.
Yes Slappy is the future of boxing. Nothing hurts more than a well-placed wirst slap to the temple or ear. Gloves are worthless. :clap: :clap:
Yeah, armpunching is the wave of the future. Those who perfect it with solid chins will be unbeatable.
