Footwork, Ali Case?

[juggernaut666]

The kickboxing was fine in itself...but karate guys started to fight like kickboxers...not the kickboxers fault per se, but not good for the karate guys. Its just a different body dynamic. Karate works explosively and with firm footing, kick boxing is boxing with kicks.

Footwork was different. Distances changed, etc. You said it yourself Juggy: there are no boring fights, there are things that can be analyzed in every fight. The difference is that most of the footwork and fight in the old days took place when guys were not squared up. Differnt conditions made for different fighting strategies. Part of the reason for this was perhaps that the gloves were smaller, a punch landing had more effect, or at least different effect.

I tend to think that while there were crude fighters in any era, there were also adaptions made, and clever fighters in every era. When fighters began to square up more, body movements utilizing the upper body from the waist, and body angling became more pronounced...what is sometimes called Tai Sabaki in the Jpanese Arts. Guys like Floyd and Whitaker use these types of movements well. Angling the shoulders away from a punch while the rest of the body is stationary.

'Part of the reason for this was perhaps that the gloves were smaller, a punch landing had more effect, or at least different effect.'


this sums it up here.^^^^^..

If boxers of past could adapt to modern well...that's a what if...I would say footwork became more of the change than the punching in boxing.

[Panamaniac]

The "Ali shuffle" part of his footwork was used effectively to distract opponents and set them up for easy shots.