Come forward counter punchers!

Jim Watt alluded to this in the Froch v Ward bout saying they are the hardest fighters to box. Ward had the ability to call Froch's bluff by taking steps forward forcing Froch to make a move and then punishing him. First rate stuff from Ward but what could Froch have done to combat that technique? Who else employed this style to great effect.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Jim Watt alluded to this in the Froch v Ward bout saying they are the hardest fighters to box. Ward had the ability to call Froch's bluff by taking steps forward forcing Froch to make a move and then punishing him. First rate stuff from Ward but what could Froch have done to combat that technique? Who else employed this style to great effect.

There's nothing Froch could have done. Ward was just the better boxer. Floyd does it and so does Hopkins. JMM also. Dont really follow the little guys anymore so cant say who else.

I 'd say we could include Vitali Klitschko among those who do this to great effect.

Klitschko is forever stalking and walking down his opponents but, while it's true that he will lead with the jab, it's also true that he is, essentially, a counterpuncher who waits for his opponent to commit and then lets the one two ( no pun intended, ) go with sickening effect.

In a more refined manner, Tunney was a bit like this also. He didn't walk his opponents down, per se, but if we watch the Carpentier and Heeney fights ( and even parts of the Dempsey fights, for that matter, ) Tunney could be quite aggressive when it suited him to be so, yet always with that ' counterpuncher ' mentality.

Fascinating subject, ONETWO.

HumanWindmill wrote:I 'd say we could include Vitali Klitschko among those who do this to great effect.

Klitschko is forever stalking and walking down his opponents but, while it's true that he will lead with the jab, it's also true that he is, essentially, a counterpuncher who waits for his opponent to commit and then lets the one two ( no pun intended, ) go with sickening effect.

In a more refined manner, Tunney was a bit like this also. He didn't walk his opponents down, per se, but if we watch the Carpentier and Heeney fights ( and even parts of the Dempsey fights, for that matter, ) Tunney could be quite aggressive when it suited him to be so, yet always with that ' counterpuncher ' mentality.

Fascinating subject, ONETWO.

To be honest I dont really see that in Vitali. He, as you say, leads with the jab and simply overwhelmes opponents through his size. Walk forward counters for me are smaller guys against bigger opponents (taller) opponents.

From the lower weights Calderon is still going he was an outstanding counter puncher in his prime. Moreno and Kameda at bantamweight are good counter punchers.

I'm not really sure what Froch could have done Ward made him look pretty average and very slow. Ward is just better than Froch end of story.

Adrien Broner is another, not sure if many have seen a lot of him, but he is very much in the aggressive, come forward counter puncher mould. A strange style but very, very effective when utlised properly.

The only real way I could have seen Froch winning is finding the equaliser, just a really big punch from nowhere, which is very unlikely.

I see Vitali like Windy has alluded to Az, just because he is a big guy doesn't mean he doesn't force the same tactic. Ward imposes his physical strength upon someone very much like Vitali does with his opponents, he makes them throw shots and then nullifies there attacks and counters. It's so difficult but it requires certain physical attributes also keen reflexes also.

Salvador Sanchez was an absolute master in aggressive counter-punching (as well as a few other things). The way he countered Gomez's jab and forced the openings was brilliant.

Fists of Fury wrote:Adrien Broner is another, not sure if many have seen a lot of him, but he is very much in the aggressive, come forward counter puncher mould. A strange style but very, very effective when utlised properly.

Agree with that, Broner appears to want to be Floyd Mayweather to be honest. The punches he throws are rather wide however and I think he could end up being the one countered in truth because of that, but he has such fas sharp reflexes that it's going to be difficult to do it.

Gary Russell Jnr is another who is an aggressive counter puncher.

Big things expected of him, saw his last fight, one of the sweetest counter right hooks to put his opponent to sleep.

James DeGale used it effectively against that scouser (cant recall his name).

Paul Smith?

John Bloody Wayne wrote:Paul Smith?

yep. Thats the one.