The things we say in the corner...

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

That's whats up! I would've specifically referenced Garden Street off "The Ave". How you been John!?! Personally I like the fact that you are representing Hartford and CT!!! Anyway, I always enjoyed your contributions. Thanks!

BTW, I never made it out to Lion's Den...(Got a baby on the way), it's been busy!

Later bro!

Garden St, Vine, Hampton, Martin Street, all the same..but Terry was from "THE Ave" basically so its what came to mind...LOL...

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

No, not at all. Watching the fight I noticed you were working the corner. It doesn't matter that Godfrey lost, I'd like to know what was being said...

I apologize if it came off sounding like that...

Oh OK I guess I'm just used to the usual disrespect that comes on many messageboards after a loss LOL...basically in the corner I was telling him that he had to back up in circles because this guy was rushing straight in and catching us with his 4th and 5th punches (he was missing the first few, going back in a circle would have stopped him from tracking us down with the last couple)...telling him to box, angles, use the jab, dont stay on the ropes too long because no matter how good your slipping ability is, sooner or later u will get caught...

[medium-deek]

With a guy like Terry, that way of corner talking worked. But with me... For me, that was nonsense and didn't work at all. I just wouldn't respond to that type of psychological ploy. Once, back in 1996, I was fighting while my Mother was sick at home in the USA, essentially on her deathbed (she passed away four months later) and my trainer said between rounds "Your mother's at home in her sick bed. She wants you to win this fight and bring this victory home. She's tougher than you! Your mother has more heart than you're showing right now. Do it for her!" And I am sitting there thinking to myself "Come on, man, are you serious right now? My mother couldn't care less about this fight. She doesn't want me here getting hit, she wants me home with her. She wants me to get on a plane and come home. She's dying, man. Don't tell me what she wants as a way to motivate me now."

He meant well in his intentions but that type of thing just never could reach me with the intended results and if anything, I always just saw it as a way of insulting my intelligence.

ICE[/B]

That was some funny ****, man.

[Brockton Lip]

Great read, thanks a lot for posting it!

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

That's interesting. I can often see on a fighter's face that the corner's pep talk just isn't going over as intended. It's good that you can adjust to different fighters needs and personalities, instead of taking a one size fits all approach. It's great to have you around here.

Thanks a lot, my man...and YES, I think thats a big problem in regards to trainers sometimes...fighters are all so different...u have to know how to reach them as individuals..definitely...

[cnote111]

I extremely love this thread!!!

I am an amatuer asst. Boxing coach. and i've cornered quite of few fights. Obviously not quite on the same level as you ice; however, the principals are the same. I have noticed an extreme level of difference in our fighters response to corner motivation. i've cornered 10 yr olds all the way to 60+ year olds and none of them respond the same. I've really had to play with the trial and error on how to talk to these fighters to get them to respond accordingly...

I've screamed and cussed, i've stayed calm cool and collective all the while trying to figure out what gets the fighters blood boiling. I don't care what anyone says there is no single blueprint on being a good cornerman. You have to be extremely aware and you have to find each individuals buttons to push and then just push the hell out of them... AT THE SAME TIME you have to give constructive instructions on how to execute a winning strategy....

Anyone can give water and wipe the sweat and blood off the fighters face, but only a true cornerman can reach deep inside the fighter to motivate and guide him to a top tier performance (win or lose).


Big ups on the thread!

[Del Coqui]

Another thing about the trainers job is to be able to reach a guy mentally, to be able to know what buttons to push. You have to be able to work with a guy and know how to talk to him. It is not every guy that responds to "Go out and get him!!" Some fighters you can say things like "Man, what are you doing? This man over here... is trying to take food off your table! You gonna' let him do that?"

You would be surprised at how many guys that type of thing works on.

I remember I worked the corner for middleweight Terry Seay when he fought Syd Vanderpool when Syd was young and inexperienced. Terry had about ten fights and was a street guy, a real rugged type of man and boxer. I remember in the corner between rounds against Syd, Terry was showing his fatigue and I said to him "Man, you and I spar ten rounds at a time in the gym and now you are going to sit here and tell me you are tired?? Come on, Terry!" He sat right up, looked me right in the eye, and said "You right, John, you right."

After the next rounds it was still a close fight but Terry likely might not have been able to get the decision had it went to the final bell. I knew what type of guy Terry was and I said to him "Terry look. We're on Albany Avenue now. ("The Ave." is one of the most notorious streets in Hartford) And this kid over here is trying to take your money! Are you going to just let him take your money or what??"

Terry suddenly got this look in his eye, a crazy and very determined look, and he went out with a new and renewed energy and ferociousness and stopped Syd in the very next round with a RELENTLESS attack. Syd didn't lose another fight until about six years later when he dropped a twelve round decision on HBO to Bernard Hopkins in a pretty good fight for the IBF middleweight championship of the world.

With a guy like Terry, that way of corner talking worked. But with me... For me, that was nonsense and didn't work at all. I just wouldn't respond to that type of psychological ploy. Once, back in 1996, I was fighting while my Mother was sick at home in the USA, essentially on her deathbed (she passed away four months later) and my trainer said between rounds "Your mother's at home in her sick bed. She wants you to win this fight and bring this victory home. She's tougher than you! Your mother has more heart than you're showing right now. Do it for her!" And I am sitting there thinking to myself "Come on, man, are you serious right now? My mother couldn't care less about this fight. She doesn't want me here getting hit, she wants me home with her. She wants me to get on a plane and come home. She's dying, man. Don't tell me what she wants as a way to motivate me now."

He meant well in his intentions but that type of thing just never could reach me with the intended results and if anything, I always just saw it as a way of insulting my intelligence.

ICE

Excellent post John. some fighters need to get slapped others u need to sweet talk, goal is the same, GO OUT THERE AND *** HIM UP!!!!

green sent...

[The Hammer]

I'm hoping ESPN makes a wise decision and replaces Teddy Atlas with John Skully.

[THEDOC]

Corner man advice can never be underestimated. I think belief in trusting what he is telling you can sometimes make or break a fight.

For some reason the first thing that cropped up in my head was the infamous line of "double and then triple the f@ckin jab"

[Pin Galarga]

The Black Mamba is halarious. All his sentences start or end with MOFO. 'You can KO this MOFO' He's dropping his right hand, or "The MOFO is tired, go get him"
Or "Just go and knock this MOFO out" while moving his head side to side.
Mamba just cracks me up, but He's one of the best in the business.