When have boxers used a completely different boxing style and won ?

[Boxing 112]

Canelo vs GGG 2. Came forward towards the heat and made GGG back up most of the fight. Fought completely different from the first fight

I wouldn't say it's a style Canelo never used before, but it is a style that I wasn't expecting and one that GGG wasn't used to

This is why i give Canelo credit for that fight he said he is coming to fight in the 2nd, and he did. I felt GGG won the first one but thought the 2nd he could have done more Canelo came to fight like he said he would. I thought Canelo won the 2nd, a great fight but Canelo walked him down more at times and also stood there and traded didn't run from GGG

[Mario040481]

Barrera vs Hamed. Barrera spent most of the fight making Hamed take the lead and countering him brilliantly.

[Malvado]

Chavez vs Lockridge, JCC had injured his right hand in the fourth round quite early and apparently was struggling with the weight cut, yet he boxed in the backfoot, and countered Rocky quite well, Chavez had won 9-3/8-4 easily.

There is also the recent fight of Plant vs McCumby, where plant was initially overwhelmed by his opponent getting knocked down, then instead of trying to outbox Trevor, he opted to fight with him on the inside where his opponent didn't know how to respond and got stopped instead.

[dan_cov]

Tyson Fury vs Martin Rogan
Fought the whole fight as a southpaw

[PRINCEKOOL]

Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman, Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Junior II, Carl Foch vs Arthur Abraham.

Those fights up above, are some of the most prominent fights where we could apply this thread.

Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman, is most likely the most historically significant performance in this category. Since the fight took place on October 30th, 1974. There has been a narrative, that Foreman was beating up Ali until he eventually fatigued. Anyone who has actually watched the fight, round by round will be aware that this narrative is mostly nonsense. Muhammad Ali was the dominant fighter for most of the fight, winning the rounds while using highly skilled fighting off the ropes. By the time the fight reached the middle rounds, Ken Norton who was commentating? Stated that he believed Muhammad Ali was on course to knockout George Foreman.

Of course George Foreman was competitive and in the fight, but? His power and offensive attacks were not brutalising Muhammad Ali 'Nowhere near to the level, which many documentaries and media narratives have claimed since'. Maybe those narratives were amplified due to the perception of George Foreman as a Champion, and fighter during that stage of his career. But when you watch Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman, The Rumble in the Jungle round by round. You will definitively witness that Muhammad Ali was fighting a extremely highly skilled fight, after round one off the ropes'.

Certain folk within the boxing community during this modern heavyweight era, b*ng on about how highly skilled a fighter Oleksandr Uysk and Tyson Fury have been. But in reality? Neither of those fighters have produced any performance skill for skill on the level of Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman. For a Heavyweight fighter to stay on the ropes, and still be able to make their opponents miss, block or ride the punches. And immediately counter back with offensive attacks, that is a description skill for skill of a Super Elite level performance.

What makes that performance even more impressive, was that George Foreman was a Olympic Champion 'And already at that stage of his career, he was a all-time great Heavyweight fighter. Skill for skill Muhammad Ali's performance vs George Foreman, is skill for skill one of the highest level performances during the 12 to 15 round boxing eras'.

Anthony Joshua altered his style almost by 180 degree's vs Andy Ruiz Junior I 'I have always believed that Joshua was over trained for the rematch. Anthony Joshua historically when he starts to weigh below 240 pounds, his durability, endurance, brute strength and power all seem to decrease. Both fighters actually in my opinion? Did not have great training camps, but for differing reasons. Joshua tactically could of been in better condition, and he could have fought a more aggressive fight. And of course, Andy Ruiz Junior should of displayed greater work ethic as a Champion'.

But regardless, Anthony Joshua fought a basic fundamental fight 'And his fundamental boxing skills, combined with his athletic ability won him the fight. Joshua won pretty much every single round. It was a impressive performance, because? Anthony Joshua immediately avenged a traumatic loss at the elite level'.

Note: This why I have always stated that Anthony Joshua has been tested more than Tyson Fury inside the boxing ring 'Not only has Joshua fought a higher number of top level Heavyweight fighters. Anthony Joshua has also avenged a very traumatic loss vs Andy Ruiz Junior II'.

Tyson Fury has lost his last three fights 'Fury never rematch Francis Ngannou. But he did rematch Oleksandr Uysk I & II. Tyson Fury produced a solid effort in his two fights vs Oleksandr Uysk I & II. But the conclusion to that test and battle? Was that Oleksandr Uysk has forced Tyson Fury into retirement. Fury inside the boxing ring has shown that he does not have the ability to avenge a loss. Tyson Fury has yet to overcome that obstacle inside a boxing ring'.

Carl Froch vs Arthur Abraham 'At the time when Froch fought Abraham. Arthur Abraham must of been one of the most formidable offensive fighters in the entire sport. Up until that point in Carl Froch's professional career? He was not really regarded as a great skill for skill boxer. The match up vs Arthur Abraham was perceived as a extremely dangerous fight, many people were apprehensive for Carl Froch.

The World Amateur boxing championship was first held in 1974, both Haye and Froch were the first British World Amateur boxing medallist in 2001. David Haye won a Silver Medal, and Carl Froch in the same Championships won the Bronze Medal. Carl Froch when he wanted to be, was solid fundamental boxer. And in his fight vs Arthur Abraham those are the skills that he displayed winning via unanimous decision.

To conclude: I believe that most fighters can vary their style, but? They may not be able to do this at a very high level 'And that lack of ability, forces fighters to focus and concentrate their efforts into one specific style. I think that Oleksandr Uysk vs Tyson Fury I & II, did displayed a improvement with his inside game. I would not regard his fights vs Fury as entirely altering his style, but he did show as level of variation with his inside game that many people did not anticipate'. I believe fighters should develop their own styles, but always work on areas of their game which are not seen as their strengths. Because there will be moments in their career, and situations during fights where? They have to use that dimension of their game' etc.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Fury changed his style into Kronk style for Wilder rematch.

[ELPacman]

Recent ones that come to mind is Fury-Wilder 2. Barrera-Hamed where Barrera abandoned his usual slug it out style to be more patient, knowing Hamed turned off the lights on many folks who got over confident going punch to punch with him.

Nonito Donaire vs Darchinyan first fight. Nonito was mostly a boxer at that time and he went immediately after Darchinyan to bully the bully. He literally came out on fire which was against his more reserved boxing style. After that fight, Nonito became a rather puncher type fighter and I guess gained confidence in his ability to throw KO shots.

Someone mentioned Duran-Leonard 2, that's a popular one.

Barrera-Juarez. This was such a dull fight, I'm surprised Barrera didn't get more **** for it. He literally jabbed Juarez to death for all rds. He won off a jab basically, without putting much effort into throwing more combinations. Perhaps he also thought Juarez hits hard and wanted to avoid that and show how easy he could dominate a guy off just the jab? Don't know, but it was a very boring performance.

Gatti has some fights where he tried to strictly box and got some Ws. Anyone that knows Gatti, knew he loved to go to war. Whenever he focused primarily on the boxing, it was kind of "different". His fight against Branco comes to mind.

[Joseph]

There is also the recent fight of Plant vs McCumby, where plant was initially overwhelmed by his opponent getting knocked down, then instead of trying to outbox Trevor, he opted to fight with him on the inside where his opponent didn't know how to respond and got stopped instead.

I was going to mention that one as well. Caleb used good pressure which he rarely, if ever, does.

Although, I think the stoppage was a bit of dumb luck overall with Trevor's overhand right caught by the ropes and the fight getting waved off after the bell.