WELCOME back.
This week, we’re going to go back to our series on boxing fundamentals and look at a few examples of great boxers with impeccable balance, stance and footwork.
In my last column on this subject, I suggested that readers search out any and all footage on all-time greats such as Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Pernell Whittaker, Roy Jones Jr and Bernard Hopkins.
What any footage on these boxers will reveal is that every single one of them was a true master of the craft of boxing and that their prowess was built entirely on their ability to stay in perfect balance at all times.
Balance, you will remember is developed by employing the correct stance and footwork whilst fighting, things which these fighters had mastered completely at an early stage in their careers but continued to practice until the day they retired.
Stance — while it is fashionable nowadays to imitate the great Floyd Mayweather Jr and his “Philly Shell”, the fighting stance everyone should begin with is the “Blackburn Crouch”as taught by the hall of fame trainer Jack Blackburn to probably the greatest heavyweight of all time, Joe Louis and used by everyone else on the list.
I say “begin” with this stance because over time, every fighter will adapt the stance and put his own little wrinkles on it as he (or she) finds what works for them but, the reality is, the best fighters are all (including Mayweather), only really using a variation of the Blackburn Crouch they have developed to suit their style and personal attributes best.
In short, it is the first and most important building block of a fighter and should never leave a fighters training regime or drills.
As an example, and better than any haphazard written description I could give in the limited space available, look at the ample footage of the fighters mentioned above, every single one of them “started” with the classic Blackburn Crouch.
Louis, Robinson and to a degree Hopkins used it across the entirety of their careers and never really moved away from it.
Footage of these fighters will show you exactly what the correct fighting stance is and how it should be used in the ring.
Even with Jones Jr and Whittaker, fighters in whom it is at most times hard to discern any evidence of the Blackburn Crouch, this stance built their legendary careers as they will be the first to admit and, once you know what to look out for, you will see it plain as day.
Footwork — once a fighter has the correct stance, a trainer must then instill proper footwork and the correct way to move so that his fighter is always on balance and in the correct stance, ready to simultaneously attack or defend as the situation requires.
There is nothing complicated to grasp with footwork — no matter what internet coaches will tell you — no matter which direction you wish to move, simply move your foot that is closest to that direction first.
Therefore if you wish to move forwards, move your front foot first.
If you wish to move backwards, move your back foot first and so on and so on.
Provided you are in your proper fighting stance, you will always be on balance and never in danger of tripping over yourself.
That’s it for this week. As always, be sure to visit our Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/Boxing-Fiji or, if you have any questions, simply send them to timessports@fijitimes.com.fj.
