The Peek - a- boo defence

[bill.lockhart]

This topic was briefly touched in a previous forum on Cus D'amato.
Cus claimed the greatest impediment to the learning boxer was the fear of getting hurt. He said , In my style of boxing you never take chances. You cover up right away. Suddenly you're not being hit & you're not being hurt. I thought Floyd's style was a little different from Tyson's in that he would stay on the outside in a hands up defence, as opposed to Tyson barreling right in. As an amateur I tried to emulate it, because it was Floyds style, so it was going to be my style. I don't think it was probably the best suited for me, as I was a tall, rangy, middleweight. However, I felt it offered what Cus said it did. I liked watching Floyd use it. Howard Cosell said it was made fot TV.
Any thoughts on its pros & cons?

[Expug]

I see it working for a bobbing weaving style with emphasis on throwing hooks.
I see having a little trouble throwin the jab when in this stance.
Farther for the punch to travel.
Worked for the guys Cus trained though.
It may be a style that may be a little uncomfortable for the taller fighter who wants to make use of his reach.
The elbows are out a little in this stance also so the jab may come at an angle that may take a little sting off it.
Good topic.

[DoubleM]

I agree with Terence. A fighter's defence is made better through flexibility and looseness, a variety of techniques and versatility. Take a look at Willie Pep, Archie Moore, Pernell Whitaker, Roberto Duran etc.; adaptable, unpredictable and unflappable.

[KOJOE90]

I've heard some claim that the peeka boo style of fighting can make it difficult for the fighter to fight on the backfoot.

Any opinions?

[bill.lockhart]

I've heard some claim that the peeka boo style of fighting can make it difficult for the fighter to fight on the backfoot.

Any opinions?

It is not a stance that you can back up in. It is a stance that offers protection as you move forward, & a chance to strike blows close to the target. If that back foot becomes closed it wont take much of a punch to knock you down.

[dempseyfire]

This defence is a recipe for disaster if you teach your fighters it and expect them to rely on it their whole careers.

Defence should be an organic thing, take a little bit from here and there.

Contrary to the legend this defence, coupled with continuing involvement from Kevin Rooney, would not have seen Tyson sail through his career undefeated and beating all his major challengers in 91 seconds before retiring undefeated.

The peek-a-boo requires a supple back to make it work as more than a journeyman type shield defence. The bobbing and weaving is needed as it plays the averages and ensures that you will be on the inside and ready to counter when some shots are slipped. Without the bobbing and weaving it is a defence that blocks your line of sight and can be worked out by opponents.

This is why Tyson only had a short prime, his defence, and style, were flawed and he lacked the in-ring intelligence to do anything about it. Even his latter day trainers got sucked-in and thought they could get an old man to move his body the way he had done as an 18 year-old guy.

When the upperbody movement goes a peek-a-boo fighter is basically as guy with a cupped-ear defence who is blocking his own line of sight and gets picked-off without being able to counter effectively.

Tyson even had a high guard as Danny Williams was smashing him down.

Good post. I've found the peek-a-boo style can be helpful in spurts but as a complete method of fighting it is very flawed. It blocks your line of vision, and makes you very vulnerable to a long, sharp jabber.

[bill.lockhart]

This defence is a recipe for disaster if you teach your fighters it and expect them to rely on it their whole careers.

Defence should be an organic thing, take a little bit from here and there.

Contrary to the legend this defence, coupled with continuing involvement from Kevin Rooney, would not have seen Tyson sail through his career undefeated and beating all his major challengers in 91 seconds before retiring undefeated.

The peek-a-boo requires a supple back to make it work as more than a journeyman type shield defence. The bobbing and weaving is needed as it plays the averages and ensures that you will be on the inside and ready to counter when some shots are slipped. Without the bobbing and weaving it is a defence that blocks your line of sight and can be worked out by opponents.

This is why Tyson only had a short prime, his defence, and style, were flawed and he lacked the in-ring intelligence to do anything about it. Even his latter day trainers got sucked-in and thought they could get an old man to move his body the way he had done as an 18 year-old guy.

When the upperbody movement goes a peek-a-boo fighter is basically as guy with a cupped-ear defence who is blocking his own line of sight and gets picked-off without being able to counter effectively.

Tyson even had a high guard as Danny Williams was smashing him down.

Good post. I've found the peek-a-boo style can be helpful in spurts but as a complete method of fighting it is very flawed. It blocks your line of vision, and makes you very vulnerable to a long, sharp jabber.

I think the peek- a - boo is also somewhat vulnerable to temple shots.
Tyson never developed with it, to the extent Floyd did, he stopped guys so quickly. He never was Floyd 's equal in skill or desire.

[DoubleM]

Emile Griffith sometimes looked a bit like Patterson when he was fighting. I think Tyson's version was designed solely to destroy the opponent as quickly and effectively as possible, but it wasn't that adaptable or versatile. Griffith and Patterson could stand there and peck away with the jab, pace themselves much better in a fight (particularly Griffith) and use their footwork to slide in and out of distance.