Converted fighters, good or bad?

**GrandpaBernard** · 08-15-2011, 02:01 AM

Originally posted by -PITO-

Which fightersdo you know are converted, meaning they had their dominant hand out front.

I post thisbecause I always had a su****ion that tyson was really left handed even though he had power in his right based on his movements, punch selection as well as his back muscles. I confirmed this when during the fight with steve zouski the commentator mentioned that tyson was converted to orthodox when he was actually left handed.

So here's my list, if you guys have any others feel free to add.

Victor Ortiz (right handed)
Jorge Arce (left handed)
Guillermo rigondeaux (right handed)
Manny Pacquiao (ambidexterous, but predominantly left handed)
Marvin Hagler (right handed)
Vasyl Lomachenko (right handed)
Oscar de la hoya (left handed)
Andre Ward (ambidexterous, predominantly left handed)
Hector Camacho (right handed)
Nonito Donaire (left handed)
Joe frazier (left handed)
Gary allen russell (right handed)
Raushee Warren (right handed)
Miguel Cotto (left handed)
Winky Wright (right handed)
Joshua Clottey (left handed)

Fighters who I believe were actually converted:
Jose Napoles
Ike quartey

On a side note, funny how so many people preach that to convert is a sin, and that those who convert never become any good, my list so far disproves that.

The worry with defectors is that they become far too reliant on their lead hand and develop into one handed fighters. Oscar's right hand wasn't great, and Cotto couldn't lead with a right if his life depended on it.

The other issue is slower and awkward footwork. These people are now using their weaker foot as a base and stabilizer to push off of. Miguel is a good example of weird footwork.

Left handers who fight out of the orthodox stance have an even harder time dealing with true southpaws. It's difficult for them lead with the right or southpaw killer, and their flat footed nature resulting from the weaker foot being the base makes it hard to deal with the turning footwork of southpaws. MAB, defector, ODLH, and Cotto were nothing but food for pacquiao for these very reasons.

I think it's better for a right hander to fight in the southpaw stance than the other way around. Orthodox fighters know to watch out for the southpaw str8 left, but a righty in the southpaw stance should have a great jab and right hook. Great jabs are almost non-existent for southpaws, and the southpaw right hook comes from the most unusual angle in boxing. Most orthy guys aren't used to southpaws, let alone a right hand dominant southpaw. A right handed southpaw would be even more confusing to deal with.

I'm not a fan of left handed guys fighting orthodox. Apart of the southpaw advantage is being awkward, so why give it up? I rather see them becoming two handed fighters in their natural stance.

The southpaw stance is utilized best by someone who can maintain long distance. There needs to be space to utilize southpaws awkward angles. Being a southpaw should be better for taller and rangier guys for this reason.

**{Pito}** · 08-15-2011, 02:07 AM

I believe its how you are trained as well, if your coach,focuse on your dominant hand, you will definitely become one handed. Guillermo rigondeaux is a perfect example of someone who uses both hands (especially in his amateur days, watch video) and uses both hands efficiently as well as having power in both hands. I'm assuming it mostly has to do with the proper training although you do have a point, but some ppl say converts will never bw any,good, yet they become champs dont they? Im not advocating it, just saying that whatever works for you, you should go with it.

**{Pito}** · 08-15-2011, 02:09 AM

ive also got three more add ons
Juan Manuel Lopez (right handed)
Yuandale evans (right handed)
Ricky Hatton (left handed)

**GrandpaBernard** · 08-15-2011, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by -PITO-

I believe its how you are trained as well, if your coach,focusss on your dominant,hand, you will definitely become one handed, guillermo rigondeaux is a perfecr example of someone who uses both hands (especially in his amateur days, watch video) and yses both hands efficiently as well as having power in both hands. I'm assuming it mostly has to do with the proper training although you do have a point, but some ppl say converts will never bw any,good, yet they become champs dont they? Im not advocating it, just saying that whatever works for you, you should go with it.

What I noticed about left handers who fight orthy is they struggle with people who fight southpaw. That one handed development isn't doing them any favors when they can't lead with a right to catch the true lefty.

Jorge Acre got his ass kicked by a couple southpaws.

**GrandpaBernard** · 08-15-2011, 02:16 AM

Originally posted by -PITO-

ive also got three more add ons
Juan Manuel Lopez (right handed)
Yuandale evans (right handed)
Ricky Hatton (left handed)

Here's what I'm talking about with how converts go through hell dealing with guys who fight southpaw, many people believe Collazo beat Hatton.

**{Pito}** · 08-15-2011, 02:21 AM

Definitely have a point, but I also believe its sll in the training. for example, most converts are attacking type fighters because they,feel thst dominant hand out front and want to land it butwhat would happen if they were trained correctly, andtaught to fight with the rear hand? Or better yet, box and not become fighters, but rather smart boxers? Either way u have a point, and yes I believe collazo won.

**GrandpaBernard** · 08-15-2011, 02:25 AM

Originally posted by -PITO-

Definitely have a point, but I also believe its sll in the training. for example, most converts are attacking type fighters because they,feel thst dominant hand out front and want to land it butwhat would happen if they were trained correctly, andtaught to fight with the rear hand? Or better yet, box and not become fighters, but rather smart boxers? Either way u have a point, and yes I believe collazo won.

I like your idea. A left hander going orthy should have a strong jab that he can utilize to "box" and stay outside.

It gets tough to develop a rear hand when it's not the dominant one back there. You now must make your weaker hand cover long distances. It'll feel very natural to be trigger happy with the lead and dominant hand since it's the closest one to your opponent.

**Mohammedini** · 08-15-2011, 02:35 AM

Originally posted by -PITO-

ive also got three more add ons
Juan Manuel Lopez (right handed)
Yuandale evans (right handed)
Ricky Hatton (left handed)

Rick Hatton isn't a lefty for f ukk sake. Many guys on your lsit seems to be pulled out of your a'ss. Nonito Donaire is a righty, Joe Frazier was a righty, Ike quarty is a righty, Joshua Clottey is a righty. Just cuz they have good left hands doesn't mean they are lefties. Im a righty and my favorite punch is the left hook. Ike Quartey had a brilliant left jab and good left hook but his straight right was his main power punch. Joe Frazier has actually said that he's right handed in many interviews. He never used the right hand due to a old injury or something like that. Nonito Donaire developed his left hook from a early age to imitate his childhood hero Alexis Arguello. Ricky Hatton absolutely right handed. Yes his best punch was his left hook but didn't you see HBO 24/7 before his fights with Pac and Floyd. He does everything with his right hand. By your logic nobody that is right handed shouldn't have a good left hand LOL and Floyd Mayweather should be a lefty due to having a good left hook LOOOOL

**{Pito}** · 08-15-2011, 02:39 AM

??m my logic? wth lol, im left handed and I do almost everything with my right, its a right handed world so what does that mean? And relax big guy its a discussion, no need to pea**** in here

Converted fighters, good or bad?