high guard = boring fight

**michaelwbray** · 01-27-2008, 12:59 AM

Unless you have 9 foot arms like winky, it leaves you open for body shots. Also, it's slower punching from your arms starting in that position, so if you aren't too quick, you won't land too many punches.

Very good style to use if you are ahead on points and you are coasting a bit, or if you've won the first 2 mins of the round and sort of want to ride it out.

**Vladimir303** · 01-27-2008, 01:05 AM

Originally posted by Pound 4 Pound

It seems to me that more and more boxers have begun using that high guard style. Winky, Eddie, and even Roy Jones all use it effectively. They simply cover their face with their gloves and "block" every punch. Honestly, I don't get why every fighter doesn't start using it. It makes it nearly impossible to get hit clean, and negates the need for tons of defensive maneuvers/footwork. This saves valuable energy. And unlike the floyd mayweather (philly shell?) defense, it doesn't take any athleticism to keep your hands on your face.

The problem is, it makes for a boring fight. Especially if the counterpunching "master" throws less than 10 punches in some rounds (eddie chambers). I think judges need to start hammering those that use this style, to prevent this from getting too out of hand.

Maybe I am missing something here. Could you please explain why a fighter wouldn't want to use this style, or if there is a surefire strategy to beat it. I hope so, because I am awfully tired of these boring twelve round decisions, and want to see some real fighting.

Winky is a great fighter. That style suits him and styles make fights. Against Tito..that's all he did. Use the peak-a-boo defense and jab Tito's face off.

Against Quartey on the other hand, he was extremely busy with a high workrate.

A guy like Chambers didn't use his jab, didn't much of anything after the 4th round. He is just simply not a great fighter and not a dedicated fighter in the gym.

But as far as your question, that style doesn't suit everybody. There is fighters who do this and get broken down with body shots and eventually start bringing their hands down just enough to get caught in the face.

**robjr** · 01-27-2008, 01:17 AM

sturm has great defense aswell..

**ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY** · 01-27-2008, 01:24 AM

I used that style for a good part of my career as both an amateur and a pro , sometimes it worked very well (like vs. Lamar Parks in 1988) for me and other times it backfired (like with Tim Littles in 1992)...but please don't make the mistake of thinking that it is done merely, simply, by just "putting your hands up to your face!!!" It is a TECHNIQUE and it is not the easiest thing to master. My sometime stablemate Marlon Starling was the master at it, too. Winky got it from him, believe that. I have definitely had my differences over the years with Moochie but credit goes where it is due, he had that style mastered and when he was "on" it was like trying to hit a fly with a BB.

**SkillspayBills** · 01-27-2008, 01:29 AM

Originally posted by ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY

I used that style for a good part of my career as both an amateur and a pro , sometimes it worked very well (like vs. Lamar Parks in 1988) for me and other times it backfired (like with Tim Littles in 1992)...but please don't make the mistake of thinking that it is done merely, simply, by just "putting your hands up to your face!!!" It is a TECHNIQUE and it is not the easiest thing to master. My sometime stablemate Marlon Starling was the master at it, too. Winky got it from him, believe that. I have definitely had my differences over the years with Moochie but credit goes where it is due, he had that style mastered and when he was "on" it was like trying to hit a fly with a BB.

Riff's with Marlon Starling hmmm, do tell Ice, do tell...

**ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY** · 01-27-2008, 01:31 AM

We are in the middle of a riff right now, as a matter of fact LOL. It's in the book LOL It's juicy too!!!

**DLT** · 01-27-2008, 03:28 AM

That style isnt unbeatable. 1st of all its hard to thow anything but a basic punch from that style so your Offense wont look that special for the most part. 2nd and most importantly, your arms are only but so long and so wide. You can give up a ton of body shots that way. Also, you can shoot shots where there arms arent. Again, your forearms are not but so wide. You can shot shots straight down the pipe if they keep them normal. Thats how Taylor lit up Winky's face. Then when they bring there arms in tighter then you can throw wide shots on the side of there face. There's no way they can stop both of them. Winky just gets away with it because he's so smart and has been fighting that way forever but most guys wont get away with it at all, e****ally if there fighting someone very good

**Tobi.G** · 01-27-2008, 03:32 AM

Originally posted by robjr

sturm has great defense aswell..

No. His doubleguard is easy to brake through by hard punchers. Abraham for example has also an duobleguard but its much more effective than Sturms.
Sturm will always get knocked out if he fights a good puncher.

**Mr. Ryan** · 01-27-2008, 04:11 AM

A smart fighter will be able to show an opponent different looks on defense. Like Cotto, who fights out of a peekaboo shell then switches to cross-armed for a few moments then starts moving his head a little.

Keeping your hands up deters your man from throwing anything serious because then they don't have a clear target. At the same time, it's important to pick off punches to avoid getting your arms worn down by shots.

A guy can drastically cut down on how often he gets hit if he just keeps his hands up and watches the action. You'd be surprised how good a defense JUST KEEPING YOUR HANDS UP really is.

high guard = boring fight