Hey folks,
I had fantastic feedback on my book ideas so I will forge ahead with writing and photography and should have them out some time in the Easter break, (a nice treat for yourselves while the kids or younger siblings are preoccupied with chocolate perhaps?) but your job isn't over yet!
I have amalgamated all the names that came up in discussion here and at the UG and there are a LOT. So I would love it if the kind people of Bloody Elbow would decide for me which strikers are going to have their game and tricks broken down in unprecedented detail, with instructional photographs!
These are, however, only the more interesting options - suggested by you guys. Already certain to have a full game breakdown are:
- Joe Louis
- Roy Jones Jr.
and a few others of my own choosing whom I haven't decided yet. What I need to know is who you guys find the most interesting out of the following fighters! I will take the 8 with the most votes for the book - and if it is met well I might publish another - but I won't get ahead of myself!
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
6 recs | 74 comments
Rec'd for awesome, vote for..
Andy Hug.
Looking forward to it Jack.
Fistbeard - February 21, 2012
Did not expect to see Zambo winning =O
Jack Slack - February 21, 2012
Its because he's a BOSS
Also, The Mayor of fucking Munchkin Town!
hardlyworking - February 21, 2012
It's Spong or Hoost for me
Love the way those guys fight. Tight punching combos, brutal kicks and knees… just perfection IMO.
I’m surprised that Nate Corbett isn’t on the list, though. He’s probably my favorite Nak Muay right now
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
You mean I have to choose just one?
That’s gonna be a tough choice.
Sweet Scientist - February 21, 2012
If I could work out how to let people pick 8, I would have!
Jack Slack - February 21, 2012
I'm sure you would have!
Maybe doing three polls separated by sports. Would have made the choice much easier for me. I’d probably go smething like MMA: Edgar, Kickboxing: Hug or Hoost, Boxing: Juan Manuel Marquez or Sugar Ray Robinson. Anyway this is a great initiative, I’m very excited about it.
Sweet Scientist - February 21, 2012
Thing is, I’m only interested in MMA striking. I’m sure other people are different, but that’s my feeling on it.
thirdparty - February 22, 2012
Wouldn't prevent you from voting in the MMA poll.
Also analyzing boxers and kickboxers can be useful to MMA striking.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
This is true, I’m just saying the selection process would be biased by categorizing the voting like that. I think you should take the top 8 regardless of whether they’re boxers, kickboxers, or MMA strikers.
Boxers and kickboxers can be useful for MMA striking, but I feel like MMA striking generally shows you what you can get away with as far as striking without exposing yourself for a takedown.
thirdparty - February 22, 2012
MMA fighters will definitely be covered
This is simply a vote for those I haven’t already put in. Some of the ones that don’t get the votes will be covered, but the 8 that get the highest number of votes will definitely be covered.
AS and Machida are certains. And I doubt I could avoid BJ Penn even if he doesn’t get the votes!
Jack Slack - February 22, 2012
So hard to choose!
My top two are Jack Johnson, and Samart Payakaroon (my actual vote)—closely followed by Hoost, Yodsanklai Fairtex, and Sugar Ray.
Sad that Samart—arguably the greatest striker of all time—hasn’t gotten more support.
jhf884 - February 23, 2012
Hoost and Edgar leading.... interesting.
Jack Slack - February 21, 2012
No love for fedor?
thats cold
SWEDishfish - February 21, 2012
Fedor's style is just not so mysterious
Overhand-Right > Clinch Trip > Armbar
hardlyworking - February 21, 2012
Fedor is in anyway, dude is incredible.
Jack Slack - February 23, 2012
You guys should check out Emanuel Augustus.
One of the most skilled and flashiest boxers of all-time. Imagine Floyd Mayweather with huge, hairy balls and a thousand times more style(the last 1:30 or so is the best, but its all good).
TheFilt - February 21, 2012
What the hell am I watching?
Is that Drunken Boxing style? Or Capoera Boxing?
hardlyworking - February 21, 2012
he explains it in the video
The man is legit. His record is 38-30 or so, but he had the FOTY with Mickey Ward, put up a very hard fight against Mayweather and was robbed out of many decisions.
He also fought anyone, anytime. Some guys say that. But he really did.
TheFilt - February 21, 2012
The video is also a lot better
He actually put his hands behind his back for quiet a while in a couple fights.
TheFilt - February 21, 2012
His style must be
absolutely the most infuriating thing in the world to fight against.
Watching vid now, big big lulz, that guy is awesome
hardlyworking - February 21, 2012
Very hard to pick one
I chose Iron Mike (Zambidis of course!) because he is just so fun to watch.
I’ve seen Petrosyan and Andy Sower fight once each on a Its Showtime event and honestly neither one seemed worthy of the gushing praise. Of course bad-nights happen to everyone.
I’d like to add 2nd vote for Andy Hug so long as the Axe Kick features promenantly. That shit is just way too fucking crazy.
hardlyworking - February 21, 2012
Petrosyan and Souwer are fantastic strikers
Petrosyan especially. The man has probably the best defense in kickboxing today, which is why he’s 70-1 overall.
Hummus5989 - February 21, 2012
How DARE you??
Petrosyan is awesome.
Unabomberman - February 22, 2012
WAR BUAKAW
that is all..
juanchoD - February 22, 2012
I picked Sugar Ray Robinson because I’ve not really seen a great technical breakdown of what made him the best boxer ever.
I’d also pick Yodsanklai, Anuwat and Samart, because those are three of the best ever Muay Thai guays. Buakaw pales in comparison to these guys, but he’s more popular.
Go with the popular stuff and mix in the underrated. It’ll sell more books.
Ben Thapa - February 21, 2012
Sugar Ray was great because he was so dynamic and versatile
Fast as hell, ample KO power in both hands, moving in any direction, to the head and the body. Ray could fight however he needed to, also- he could be the aggressor or the counter fighter, depending on what worked best against his particular opponent. He had a great chin, fleet footwork, was fast as hell (but didn’t lack stamina), had very good head movement and defense, and fought all the way from 135 lbs (lightweight) to 168 lbs (LHW). He was pretty tall for those weight classes, and was able to exploit that with a great jab and thunderous power punches. Sugar Ray was tough as hell too, often times fighting multiple times a month.
He was honestly the perfect boxer.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
What he said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VLWBVpL23k&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLE95C5594FB0DAB63
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60GuoYpmbJo
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Know the name of the song? It's stuck in my head and won't leave.
I’ll need to listen to it nonstop until it is exorcised.
Unabomberman - February 22, 2012
frak, reply fail. I meant the one above...
Unabomberman - February 22, 2012
The xx-Crystalised.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
Thanks, man.
Unabomberman - February 23, 2012
why is rampage on the list and not anderson silva??
benten20 - February 22, 2012
In the post, he said Anderson Silva would be covered for sure. So no need to vote on him.
thirdparty - February 22, 2012
No Matt Riddle or Leonard Garcia? They're masters of WAR!!!
In all seriousness, I voted for Jack Johnson. I might be looking at it from more of a historical and cultural lens, but I think it’d be interested to examine boxing in the era immediately following Reconstruction and seeing the various ways black athletes were delegitimized in a much more overtly racist cultural body.
sun yue - February 22, 2012
If I'm honest, I might sneak Johnson in anyway - I wrote my dissertation on him ;)
Jack Slack - February 22, 2012
What was your degree in?!
flibit - February 22, 2012
Flagrant Badassery.
Nah… history! ;)
Jack Slack - February 22, 2012
Will you be discussing styles generally, as well as specific fighters?
For example, I’ve heard people talk about a ‘European’ boxing stance. I don’t know what this is specifically, or what the alternatives are.
vanandrew - February 22, 2012
its alil more upright in stance with a focus on 1-2 combos.
that’s a overly simple view of it but its a jist
Elstriko - February 22, 2012 via Android app
This book is really going to be focusing on specific tricks of individuals
I will also be releasing the most in depth guide to using angles in striking to date.
If those are both successful I’ll see about making a comprehensive guide to striking, and that’ll talk much more about generalities. =)
Jack Slack - February 22, 2012
No worries - thanks guys.
Looking forward to the books!
vanandrew - February 22, 2012
Glaube Feitosa
because why the fuck not?
GreyedOut - February 22, 2012
buakaw FOR SURE
nastyem - February 22, 2012
hoost all day for me
gxc - February 22, 2012
Top 8 right now:
Hoost
Hug
Buakaw
Diaz brothers
Mayweather
Edgar
Zambo
Dos Santos
Didn’t expect Zambidis to be that high.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
Nor did I, but he has some neat tricks aside from swinging bombs, shouldn't be too hard =P
Jack Slack - February 22, 2012
I'm happy to see Zambo get some love and he's definitely interesting to breakdown.
Just didn’t expect him to beat Penn, Cro Cop or Aerts.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
Do you guys know what happened with that broken jaw?
I stayed up late to watch the fight a few weeks/months back, and after taking what looked like a nothing swing, Zambidis took a knee.
Broken Jaw. And even in the replay over and over it looked like he didn’t even get touched.
Did it fracture in sparing/practice leading up to the fight, and that last shot just did it in?
His facebook updates are almost always in greek… so unless they bother to translate I never know what he’s saying to the fans
hardlyworking - February 22, 2012
I've no idea what's up with him at the moment, I've had a hard time keeping up with K-1 in hibernation =(
But jaw breaks can look like nothing, it doesn’t take much to dislocate one if it’s not clenched.
Jack Slack - February 22, 2012
Jack Johnson, the originator of the slip n' slide style of boxing!
I don’t expect him to win, but I made my choice and I will stand by it.
Enmascarado - February 22, 2012
SPONG!
NickaG - February 22, 2012
Please make sure you have a strict Muay Thai guy
Like Por Pramuk! Thanks
mmazing - February 22, 2012
Buakaw is actually more of a Muay Thai/ K-1 hybrid.
He, of course, has hellacious knees and good elbows, but K-1 really boned clinch fighters in that respect, so Buakaw had to focus and improve on more punching and kicking than a regular Nak Muay would.
A truly “strict Muay Thai” fighter would be someone like Saenchai or Yod.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
That Saenchai clip
where he handstand-kicks that dude in the head and KOs him during sparring is my favorite.
Farthammer - February 23, 2012
Oh, you mean THIS clip?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_8q3VQ13heg#!
Total BAMF
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
Pet peeve of mine,
I love Pro Pramuk, but he’s best success has come outside of pure muay thai. IMO, he doesn’t compare to a Samart or a Dieselnoi.
jhf884 - February 23, 2012
*his
jhf884 - February 23, 2012
Yeah, Buakaw didn't win anything like Lumpinee or Rajademnern stadium titles in Muay Thai.
He won the Omnoi stadium title IIRC, but that’s a cut below Lumpinee and Raja.
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
Gotta love Buakaw
He’s a refreshing break from the same old Dutch Muay Thai that you see in kickboxing. Also, have to throw in Semmy Schilt. He’s a big man, but it takes more than height to be the 4-time K-1 champion.
magnetic - February 22, 2012
It's extremely hard for someone as big and tall as he is to fight as skillfully as he does.
But he really killed himself to develop a solid jab & teep that works for him, and his style is imminently disarming because of it.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
He should have a sitdown with Srefan Struve, talk some sense into that thick skull of his so that he can end the latter's war against self preservation.
Unabomberman - February 22, 2012
I still don't get why Struve hasn't flown his ass to Schilt's gym
bowed down to the master, and pleaded Sem to teach him how to fight tall.
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
The question I ask myself anytime I see Struve fight.
Sweet Scientist - February 23, 2012
BUKAW!
Unabomberman - February 22, 2012
Most bad ass man in his division...
juanchoD - February 22, 2012
The Diaz brothers?
C’mon people, they have way too many votes. The tard quotient on this page is bad enough.
I voted Mayweather.
Scott Whitaker - February 22, 2012
Last day of voting! Will have a complete list up by tommorow!
Jack Slack - February 23, 2012
Where is Seagal?
Bandaka - February 23, 2012
Maybe this could be saved for 146
But do you think you could do a comparison of striking in MMA vs purely striking based forms of competition?
Warbreezy - February 23, 2012
And it's all over!
Results and preview are up!
Jack Slack - February 23, 2012
ANDY HUG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KltbxRVP0gU
That is all.
DirtyML - February 24, 2012
Another great Hug HL..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83aB3JgVrQY
DirtyML - February 24, 2012
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