Constructive criticism of Bomber

[lurkyshaka]

I've seen some of the comments made since Fridays fight, and it does seem that a few folk are revelling in his bad showing. But i'd rather offer up and hear some constructive criticism.

Obviously it doesn't take genius to see what Tony did wrong the other night. Did seem his gameplan consisted solely of whacking Bob with a monster punch and taking him out. Now as a puncher, that is always going to be the basic plan for Tony. But the worst thing that happens to punchers is they fall in love with the power and forget to set it up. Hamed is a classic example, in his early days he was blitzing opposition with speed and combinations, and mixing in his bombs. But by the end he was just loading up with single shot bombs and forgetting all about the set up.

And thats the way Tony fought the other night, he started ok because Ajisafe was nervy and somewhat intimidated, and Bellew wasn't too far off getting an early stoppage. But Ajisafe fought back on instincts really and because Tony wasn't using any boxing ability, Bob was able to sneak a KD and sneak back into the fight. I never felt there was any danger of Tony losing the fight, but Ajisafe made him look poor.

Now Ajisafe has to be given some credit, he was fighting a losing battle but was brave, resilient and tricky throughout. He's not the easiest opponent to look good against in all fairness. But the things Bomber did, or rather didn't do....helped make Bob more of a nuisance than he should have been.

The biggest single mistake Tony made was completely neglecting his jab. Just wasn't there and the left was only used as a measuring stick to try and walk Ajisafe onto a big right hand. But if Tony had gotten behind his jab and really works it as its supposed to be used, then it'd have broke Bob up and made him easier to hit with something major.

But Tony was actually turning his body away from Bob to load up the right and it was clear as day what was coming, and Ajisafe didn't need to worry too much about anything coming from Bellews left side. So straight away Bomber lost 50% of his effectiveness.

The other factor was the lack of combination punching. Tony was consistently throwing punches at Ajisafe and that kept him contained. But it was a procession of punches, with next to nothing thrown in actual combination. 3 and 4 punches in a burst was needed, particularly against a slippery guy like Ajisafe. Bob was able to avoid so many single shot right hands, but he'd have had a much harder job evading a cluster.

Feints would have also worked well. Ajisafe was fighting frightened from the off, and really wasn't looking to do much constuctive himself. He was just reacting to and hoping to avoid what was being thrown at him. So a few feints thrown in to gauge a reaction and work a pattern out would have been useful.

Warren was calling for uppercuts but just saying that isn't saying much. First off you need to be close enough to throw uppercuts, so just closing the distance was more important.

The final thing missing that would have paid dividends was a consistent body attack. With Tony's power, adding a real determined body attack would truly add another dimention. Time and again he's going to be coming up against opposition who knowing all about his power, will fight cautiously with plenty of head movement. But its harder to move the body, and in turn much harder to avoid the head shots if you've got bust ribs....Put the power to use downstairs Tony and start breaking the body.

Tony Bellew is undoubtedly a danger man, but he's still a very rough gem. I think fridays fight was a real blessing in disguise. Course it wasn't the impressive showing he was looking for, but he'll have learnt more from that fight than all his previous ones combined. Ajisafe has pointed to all the areas that need work. If Tony ever does reach world level, he might give Bob a call and thank him for this early wakeup call.

[righthook]

I've seen some of the comments made since Fridays fight, and it does seem that a few folk are revelling in his bad showing. But i'd rather offer up and hear some constructive criticism.

Obviously it doesn't take genius to see what Tony did wrong the other night. Did seem his gameplan consisted solely of whacking Bob with a monster punch and taking him out. Now as a puncher, that is always going to be the basic plan for Tony. But the worst thing that happens to punchers is they fall in love with the power and forget to set it up. Hamed is a classic example, in his early days he was blitzing opposition with speed and combinations, and mixing in his bombs. But by the end he was just loading up with single shot bombs and forgetting all about the set up.

And thats the way Tony fought the other night, he started ok because Ajisafe was nervy and somewhat intimidated, and Bellew wasn't too far off getting an early stoppage. But Ajisafe fought back on instincts really and because Tony wasn't using any boxing ability, Bob was able to sneak a KD and sneak back into the fight. I never felt there was any danger of Tony losing the fight, but Ajisafe made him look poor.

Now Ajisafe has to be given some credit, he was fighting a losing battle but was brave, resilient and tricky throughout. He's not the easiest opponent to look good against in all fairness. But the things Bomber did, or rather didn't do....helped make Bob more of a nuisance than he should have been.

The biggest single mistake Tony made was completely neglecting his jab. Just wasn't there and the left was only used as a measuring stick to try and walk Ajisafe onto a big right hand. But if Tony had gotten behind his jab and really works it as its supposed to be used, then it'd have broke Bob up and made him easier to hit with something major.

But Tony was actually turning his body away from Bob to load up the right and it was clear as day what was coming, and Ajisafe didn't need to worry too much about anything coming from Bellews left side. So straight away Bomber lost 50% of his effectiveness.

The other factor was the lack of combination punching. Tony was consistently throwing punches at Ajisafe and that kept him contained. But it was a procession of punches, with next to nothing thrown in actual combination. 3 and 4 punches in a burst was needed, particularly against a slippery guy like Ajisafe. Bob was able to avoid so many single shot right hands, but he'd have had a much harder job evading a cluster.

Feints would have also worked well. Ajisafe was fighting frightened from the off, and really wasn't looking to do much constuctive himself. He was just reacting to and hoping to avoid what was being thrown at him. So a few feints thrown in to gauge a reaction and work a pattern out would have been useful.

Warren was calling for uppercuts but just saying that isn't saying much. First off you need to be close enough to throw uppercuts, so just closing the distance was more important.

The final thing missing that would have paid dividends was a consistent body attack. With Tony's power, adding a real determined body attack would truly add another dimention. Time and again he's going to be coming up against opposition who knowing all about his power, will fight cautiously with plenty of head movement. But its harder to move the body, and in turn much harder to avoid the head shots if you've got bust ribs....Put the power to use downstairs Tony and start breaking the body.

Tony Bellew is undoubtedly a danger man, but he's still a very rough gem. I think fridays fight was a real blessing in disguise. Course it wasn't the impressive showing he was looking for, but he'll have learnt more from that fight than all his previous ones combined. Ajisafe has pointed to all the areas that need work. If Tony ever does reach world level, he might give Bob a call and thank him for this early wakeup call.

very very good post, i to see this as a blessing in diguise, bellew will have learnt soooooo much from this fight.


id also like to add that i have seen all bellews amateur and pro fights, and i have never seen him fight that way. this was a complete 1 off and any1 who writes him off is crazy. bob deserves credit for surviving and being so awkward, iv seen bellew spar the likes of chuncky garcia and many more great fighters and he always more than holds his own, i cant even put my finger on what exactly went wrong on the night but liike i said before he has never fought like this before and never ever will again. when you watch his next fight i can promise people will not recognise him and will know that the ajisafe fight was a complete 1 off

[lurkyshaka]

very very good post, i to see this as a blessing in diguise, bellew will have learnt soooooo much from this fight.


id also like to add that i have seen all bellews amateur and pro fights, and i have never seen him fight that way. this was a complete 1 off and any1 who writes him off is crazy. bob deserves credit for surviving and being so awkward, iv seen bellew spar the likes of chuncky garcia and many more great fighters and he always more than holds his own, i cant even put my finger on what exactly went wrong on the night but liike i said before he has never fought like this before and never ever will again. when you watch his next fight i can promise people will not recognise him and will know that the ajisafe fight was a complete 1 off

Think it was just a case of him being so eager to make an impression and win by eye catching KO.....that he found himself looking to the finish, and forgetting what should have come before to bring about that finish.

But had he gotten the early finish that appeared likely during the first 3 rounds, he'd have missed out on the education he got later....so definitely a silver lining to the cloud. All a learning curve, and he'd have learnt little if he got the early blast out. But with it going the distance, we and more importantly Tony himself got chance to see where he needs work.

So yeah hopefully a blessing in disguise type fight for him.

[DIRT SUGAR]

Tough fight, he won and can learn from it and improve, simple. Look at Amir Khan. Poor lad comes back from devastating loss, looks nothing but excellent and still can't please alot of people who just want to see TNT detonated on his chin. But getting stopped was probably best thing that happened to Khan as he then sorted out his training and came back brilliantly. Tony can do the same hopefully. Forget Cleverly for a bit and get more experience.

[jBacca]

Excellent post Lurkyshaka, can't really add anything else.

[hurlock]

end of the day he bossed the fight,he couldnt go threw the gear's otherwise ajisafe would of been out of there imo. i think the prime thing in the fight was tony didnt manage to cut the ring down effectively. but ajisafe proved extremely fit he recovers fast & is a great mover & a determined young fighter who hung in there to test tony's heart which is strong.