Has Switch Hitting Ever Worked?

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  • Tony Trick-Pony
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    #1

    Has Switch Hitting Ever Worked?

    Every time I see a fighter switch from right-handed to southpaw or vice versa, rarely has it ever worked to their credit. Most recently Terrence Crawford has this habit, but I think it only hurts him most of the time.

    I recall Micky Ward doing this and don't know that it ever helped. Morales did it in the last round of the first Pacquiao fight, which I think resulted in Morales taking more punches.

    When Marvin Hagler did it against Leonard, it proved ineffective and I think any southpaw should stay that way since it automatically gives them an awkward advantage against right-handed opponents.

    Has there ever been an instance where a fighter seriously benefitted from switching?
  • ИATAS
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    #2
    Lots of guys do it. Usually not that often though, hell Andre Ward switches since if I'm not mistaken he's a natural lefty.

    Dmitry Pirog was unique in the sense that he constantly switched, sometimes a dozen times in a round. Worked well against Jacobs.

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    • Real King Kong
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      #3
      Originally posted by anthonydavid11
      Every time I see a fighter switch from right-handed to southpaw or vice versa, rarely has it ever worked to their credit. Most recently Terrence Crawford has this habit, but I think it only hurts him most of the time.

      I recall Micky Ward doing this and don't know that it ever helped. Morales did it in the last round of the first Pacquiao fight, which I think resulted in Morales taking more punches.

      When Marvin Hagler did it against Leonard, it proved ineffective and I think any southpaw should stay that way since it automatically gives them an awkward advantage against right-handed opponents.

      Has there ever been an instance where a fighter seriously benefitted from switching?
      Crawford is a strange case...the guy is an orthodox fighter who almost immediately switches to southpaw and stays in that stance. He's arguably better as a southpaw.

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      • Kay D
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        #4
        Thurman did it against Bundu in the first round and it worked beautifully.

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        • juggernaut666
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          #5
          its always better to switch up as long as you can fight almost equal at either stance. different angles means more hit zones and more confusing angles to get hit. I would never want to be set in one stance and not know how to switch off the other in certain situations...this is just a part of evolution to the modern fighter and one ive preached since the late 90's .

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          • _original_
            Dinamita
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            #6
            Morales was just toying with Pacquaio and sorta taunting him, wasn't meant as a serious strategy.

            Hagler was the best at it, don't judge his switch hitting solely based on the Leonard fight.

            Cotto is a good one of recent times. Crawford too, but he hasn't really faced an elite fighter his size to see how effective he is at it.
            Last edited by _original_; 03-26-2016, 12:41 AM.

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            • Zaroku
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              #7
              It can if you can ambi Jack, then you may have the hand eye relationship needed!

              But you gotta start early!

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              • b d w
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                #8
                Switch hitting didn't work so well for Yusaf Mack.

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                • Ray*
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                  #9
                  Worked for the Ingle training camp... They had Naz, Herol graham, junior witter, Jonny nelson all became world champions well except for Herol who Julian Jackson put to sleep with seconds to go.

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                  • Butt stuff
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                    #10
                    Degale does it, it's a big part of his whole style. Works it into his defense and offense.

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