The "Hands Down" Debate...

[Bucktown Beast]

I can't believe they penalize fighters in the UK for fighting with their hands down, thats the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

The greatest boxer of all time Sugar Ray Robinson fought with his hands down, way down as a matter of fact. If you keep your distance from your opponent you can keep your hands lower, when they are in close you lift them up. Not only does this release strain on your shoulders but you actually get more power from your punches when you start from your hands at a lower position.

When you walk in to a gym a trainer is gonna teach you to fight with your hands glued to your face, but for many people that develop their own style, you learn that keeping your hands way up isn't necessarily the best way to fight.

[Ringo]

I agree that boxers should be able to fight with any "Style." I liken that discussion to something such as "you can't use X style of defense because it gives you an edge." Its ridiculous. As long as a fighter boxes clean, no breaking of rules, he should be able to do whatever he feels is best for him.

[potatoes]

I don't know about how amateur boxing is conducted everywhere else but here in the UK there is a bit of controversy in the amateurs about having your hands down whilst you box. Boxers have been disqualified for using this tactic, but I was reading another board where they were debating this subject and someone accurately bought up the fact that Cuban boxers often fight with their hands down a little bit to draw the opponent in and then counter to score points. After he said that he then went on to say that Cuba is one of the most successfull amateur boxing nations in the world, if not the most successful.

So it's a valid point, should boxers be penalised for fighting with a certain style?

Actually on that board where I was reading the discussion there was a ref giving his point of view and he was basically saying that referee's should be allowed to penalise a boxer for that. I really disagreed with him but his justification was that a boxer must defend himself at all times. It was interesting to see the responses of others who were saying that havign a traditional hands up approach isnt always the best style. They pointed towards Ali and Hamed who were elusive in their styles to avoid shots who fought with their hands down.

My opinion is that boxers should be allowed to fight how they want. If they have their hands down and are successful then great. If they have their hands down and take shots they'll soon put them up! It only becomes the responsiblity of the ref when the boxer is taking undue punishment. But remember; hands down doesnt always equate to taking shots.

What are your thoughts?

Hands-down is not a "style" it is a technical flaw. The foolish people who justify it on the basis of Muhammad Ali or Roy Jones always seem to forget to mention how much talent they have and how few people there are in the world who have that much talent. I have seen hundreds of boxers try to imitate Ali and Jones, and they got their damn fool heads punched in because of it. There is no substitute for good boxing skills.

[Pork Chop]

Hands-down is not a "style" it is a technical flaw. The foolish people who justify it on the basis of Muhammad Ali or Roy Jones always seem to forget to mention how much talent they have and how few people there are in the world who have that much talent. I have seen hundreds of boxers try to imitate Ali and Jones, and they got their damn fool heads punched in because of it. There is no substitute for good boxing skills.

Actually, holding the hands low is a very old style dating back to the bareknucklers. The guard would come up higher as the distance closed.

[mgkirkpatrick]

i think its ridiculous for rules to dictate style. all a boxer has to do is punch the opponent in the designated areas. how he wants to do this is his perogative. all the ref has to do is keep the fight clean and fair. everyone is making good points and the consensus is that it would be ****** and inhibiting to have a 'rule' on defence. imagine seeing a young ali floating around the ring popping jabs into his opponent and slipping everything coming at him only to be disqualified without being touched. hmm.

[Peterp]

The Half guard used by boxers like RJJ and Joan Guzman dictate that your left hand is down but you use your shoulder to defend the right side

Hell Shannon Briggs won his heavyweight title fighting with his hands very low

[Evil_Meat]

my trainer says hes never had someone skilled enough to use the shoulder roll defense, and hes had some good fighters

[Manfredo Jr]

I think you should be able to have your hands up or down when your boxing , at the end of the day , if you have your hands down and keep getting caught its you thats gonna feel it.

[potatoes]

The Half guard used by boxers like RJJ and Joan Guzman dictate that your left hand is down but you use your shoulder to defend the right side

Hell Shannon Briggs won his heavyweight title fighting with his hands very low

.....yeah, and the fool standing in front of him let him get away with it.

[Ringo]

Hands-down is not a "style" it is a technical flaw. The foolish people who justify it on the basis of Muhammad Ali or Roy Jones always seem to forget to mention how much talent they have and how few people there are in the world who have that much talent. I have seen hundreds of boxers try to imitate Ali and Jones, and they got their damn fool heads punched in because of it. There is no substitute for good boxing skills.

I respectfully disagree with you on this one, Potatoes. I know there is merit in what you say, so I'm not by any means questioning your logic, but I've seen orthodox guys use the "left hand down" style so that they can shoulder-guard into hiding their right hand. Granted, this isn't their "base style," but I've seen it used against guys with short jabs. They bring the shoulder across and then set up a right-uppercut/left hook combo that can be really devestating. (Just for the record, I've also seen this NOT work at all, and its funny as hell. Guys drop the left hand and get cannon'ed in the face with jab, jab, overhand right).