Tweet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3UOexMhUoM
The funny thing about laMotta is that despite his reputation, his form is impeccable. I took a video of a later fight of his for your viewing pleasure.
1) Classic false line. LaMotta's head never rests over his shoulders, it is always off to the back shoulder creating the illusion that its an open target. Fighters did this going all the way back to the old timers. With LaMotta his front shoulder protects his chin and his head rests towards the back shoulder...if the guy wants to hit him he has to come into laMotta and get past that front shoulder as well. All LaMotta has to do is shift weight to the back leg to avoid.
2) laMotta is always transferring weight. he never has his weight totally squared. To generate more power and to create distortion LaMotta can choose when punching, to either transfer his weight, or not.
What is interesting about LaMotta is that he swings his punches from his waist with his elbows often extended....not conventional form, but this allows him to punch around the opponent and to flurry. Why? For the same reason mexican styled fighters like to lead with the hook: circular punches are harder to block...one has to judge their distance, the punch can work around a guard, and the punch can land in any position on a semicircle. A straight punch can be slipped, deflected, or blocked. Circular punches are not better, but they are a different way.
3) laMotta has very strong waist and shoulder movement. he operates from a crouch and slips punches with the shoulders as he sets up for the hook. he does not wait for the punch to land before starting to move...it often looks like he is getting caught flush with a jab when in fact his head is moving, shifting, because he is constantly shifting to and from the back foot and shifting his shoulders to set up for the punch.
Truly to LaMotta the best defense is his offense.
4) LaMotta does something which one can see Dempsey did, Tyson do as well, he pivots and sets up for his attack outside to keep his man always in range. You will often see him take a step to a position to continue to apply pressure...he did this against carpentier for example.
These are some things LaMotta did well. his shoulder and waist movements were fantastic and he used distance deceptions with a false line. his form, with his chin tucked and guard is actually textbook perfect.
Comments? I chose a typical fight for Lamotta to comment on, there are many to look at.
The funny thing about laMotta is that despite his reputation, his form is impeccable. I took a video of a later fight of his for your viewing pleasure.
1) Classic false line. LaMotta's head never rests over his shoulders, it is always off to the back shoulder creating the illusion that its an open target. Fighters did this going all the way back to the old timers. With LaMotta his front shoulder protects his chin and his head rests towards the back shoulder...if the guy wants to hit him he has to come into laMotta and get past that front shoulder as well. All LaMotta has to do is shift weight to the back leg to avoid.
2) laMotta is always transferring weight. he never has his weight totally squared. To generate more power and to create distortion LaMotta can choose when punching, to either transfer his weight, or not.
What is interesting about LaMotta is that he swings his punches from his waist with his elbows often extended....not conventional form, but this allows him to punch around the opponent and to flurry. Why? For the same reason mexican styled fighters like to lead with the hook: circular punches are harder to block...one has to judge their distance, the punch can work around a guard, and the punch can land in any position on a semicircle. A straight punch can be slipped, deflected, or blocked. Circular punches are not better, but they are a different way.
3) laMotta has very strong waist and shoulder movement. he operates from a crouch and slips punches with the shoulders as he sets up for the hook. he does not wait for the punch to land before starting to move...it often looks like he is getting caught flush with a jab when in fact his head is moving, shifting, because he is constantly shifting to and from the back foot and shifting his shoulders to set up for the punch.
Truly to LaMotta the best defense is his offense.
4) LaMotta does something which one can see Dempsey did, Tyson do as well, he pivots and sets up for his attack outside to keep his man always in range. You will often see him take a step to a position to continue to apply pressure...he did this against carpentier for example.
These are some things LaMotta did well. his shoulder and waist movements were fantastic and he used distance deceptions with a false line. his form, with his chin tucked and guard is actually textbook perfect.
Comments? I chose a typical fight for Lamotta to comment on, there are many to look at.
Comment