BOXING at its best is two evenly matched heroes going toe-to-toe for as many rounds as possible.
But occasionally one side of the show puts on such a sublime performance that what on paper looks to be a 50/50 nail-biter turns into a one-sided stroll in the park.
Jack Catterall put on a stunning display as he was robbed of a win against Josh Taylor
In 2022 we sat down for dozens of hard-to-call fights.
And we were treated to some humdingers that went right down to the wire.
But on a few spectacular occasions, one warrior had too much skill, strength or spirit for their rival and made their fight a formality.
SunSport takes a look at the top five individual performances of 2022…
Jack Catterall vs Josh Taylor – February 26
Scotland’s Tartan Tornado was supposed to breeze into his hometown show and blow understated southpaw Catterall away.
But the Manchester southpaw put on a masterclass of boxing and won almost every round in the 20-20 eyes of all the sane people who watched.
But scandalous scoring from Ian John Lewis and Victor Loughlin robbed Catterall of the win and handed Taylor a poisoned victory.
The bitter rivalry is now almost a year old and still neither man has returned to the ring but hopefully it is settled in February.
Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall – October 15
This was a decade-old rivalry dating back to a 2012 amateur bout that Hartlepool’s Marshall won.
It was supposed to be a nip-and-tuck affair where the heavy-handed Brit would pose a serious threat to the smaller two-time Olympic queen.
Instead Shields danced into the ring like Queen B Beyonce and laid waste to Marshall like Queen Boudica.
Shields earned a few critics for proclaiming herself as the Greatest Woman of All Time. But the GWOAT moniker now fits perfectly.
Claressa Shields proved she really could be the GWOAT with a sublime showing against Savannah Marshall
Kell Brook vs Amir Khan – February 19
Both brilliant British welterweight heroes were well past their primes, with a shared age in excess of 70. So neutral fans were struggling to pick a winner.
But Brook came out and utterly dominated the decade-long rival he had felt undervalued and disrespected by.
The sensational sixth-round stoppage from Sheffield star Brook is hopefully the last action we ever see these two men engaged in a boxing ring.
…Especially as Brook was treated as the B-side and made to jump through hoops surrounding the 149lb catchweight and the cruel rehydration clause and possible penalties.
It was a retirement moment almost as perfect as Carl Froch’s.
Kell Brook was in dominant form as he breezed past long-time rival Amir Khan
Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II – September 20
AJ hugely improved on his original performance against the Ukraine southpaw.
But he was still outfoxed, outworked and outgunned by the utter sensation.
The former undisputed cruiserweight king once again bullied a man four inches taller and almost 2st heavier.
It’s a testament to Usyk’s skill and resilience that he rarely looks close to stopping his heavyweight opponents but manages to be in almost total control and never look in danger when he is mixing it with giants.
Oleksandr Usyk once again proved far too skilled for Anthony Joshua
Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte – April 23
The Brixton body snatcher had waited so long for his WBC heavyweight world title shot that the UK was expecting something special.. a slugfest worthy of the 94,000 tickets sold to pack Wembley out.
But the giant Gypsy King kept his KO streak running by detonating a sickening uppercut that felled Whyte like an oak tree.
Mandatory world title defences – especially in the top division – should not be as easy as the showman made it look.
It was impressive enough to even plaster over the latest fake retirement he revealed moments after.
Tyson Fury racked up yet another easy win as he breezed past Dillian Whyte
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight do I need to lift for a good workout?
Weight lifting is essential if you want to improve your strength. However, there are certain guidelines you should keep in mind when lifting weights. First, make sure that you don’t overdo it. You should lift heavier weights at least once a week. Third, repeat each exercise eight times. Fourth, allow for 2 minutes rest between sets. Fifth, perform all exercises without using momentum. The last tip is to focus on form over speed.
How do boxers train for beginners?
Boxing is one, if not the oldest, sport in existence. But boxing only recently became more popular. Boxing is an art that sees two fighters compete in a fight. They punch each other until one fighter falls down.
It is important to decide if you like boxing before you can start training to become a fighter. Check out some YouTube fights to get a feel for what it is like to hit someone. After you have decided if you are interested in boxing, you can choose the style of fighting that you like.
How to throw your jab.
Follow this step-by-step guide to throw a jab.
- Move forward with both your feet.
- Arrest your arm high above your shoulder.
- Keep your fist in front of your target.
- After hitting your target you should swing your arm up.
- Continue with steps 1 through 4.
Statistics
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
External Links
en.wikipedia.org
boxandflow.com
How To
Here are some basic skills in boxing
How to box effectively
Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. It consists of two opponents who try to knock out each other’s head. The rules of boxing vary from country to country. There are three main types of boxing: Amateur boxing, Professional boxing, and Olympic boxing.
Amateur boxing may be done at school, college, and university. This type of boxing includes sparring sessions with padded gloves and without any protection. Amateur boxing matches usually consist of three rounds lasting five minutes each. Amateur boxing can be done in many styles, including Kickboxing and Muay Thai, Taekwondo or Karate, Judo, Wrestling, and Muay Thai.
Boxing is typically practiced in clubs, stadiums or gyms. They are protected by protective equipment like a mouthpiece, nose protector, shinguards, elbow pads and knee pads, waist belt, and groin protection. Professional boxing contests last six rounds and last for four minutes each. There are many styles to professional boxing.
Olympic boxing is done at the Olympics. International standards dictate that boxers must wear protective gear. Each round lasts three minutes and is made up of eight rounds. Olympic boxing is limited to two styles: Light Flyweight and Heavyweight.
These are the basic skills required to box.
- Punching techniques
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Move your body
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Sparring
Punching Techniques
There are seven types: Left Hook (right hook), Right Hook (uppercut), Cross (cross), Straight, Overhand, Underhand. Each punch has its own technique. Some punches require more force than others. For example, an uppercut requires great force. A straight punch on the other side requires less power, but is more effective than other punches.
There are also many combinations. These are combinations made up of several punches that can be used together to achieve one goal. An entire combination could have several parts. A left hook followed with a right-cross will cause injury to the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
A boxer protects himself by using his body. He does this by using his legs, arms, elbows, hands, knees and feet.
Legs
Boxers should use their legs to defend against kicks. When he’s hit, he raises his right leg and runs away from the attacker. To avoid being kicked on his side, he will bend his knees if the attack is from the front. If the attack is from the side, he will bend his knees to avoid being kicked on the side.
Elbows
Because they inflict pain, elbow strikes can be very effective. You can deliver an elbow strike directly or indirectly. Directly refers to hitting your opponent with the forearm, while indirect means you hit him using another part of your arms.
Hands
Boxers use their arms to stop incoming blows. Boxers use their hands to stop incoming punches. They raise their fists up above their heads and move towards the attack. The attacker’s fist is then in their face.
Knees
Boxers who are subject to a punch to their stomachs, abdomens, or chests should bend at the knees to absorb the impact. For defense purposes, knee strikes are common.
Feet
A boxer should not be afraid to respond to an attack. This way, he can gain distance between himself and his opponent. Additionally, boxers need to maintain their balance when they counter-attack.
Stances
Boxing is only possible if a boxer has a clear stance. His stance will determine how he defends. It is how he positions himself and where he faces the opponent. There are many stances available to boxers. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
Body Movement
A boxer must be able to move around his opponent in order to win a fight. This involves changing position, speed and rhythm.
Rotation
To increase his punching power, a boxer rotates when he throws a punch. You can rotate at different speeds depending upon the punch.
Combinations
Timing of each punch is crucial to the effectiveness of a combination. A combination that works well starts with strong punches and ends with weak ones is a winning combination.
Spares
Sparring, a boxing practice session, is designed to improve your boxing skills. Sparring is a training session that helps a boxer train his mind and body. Sparring, in conclusion, is about learning how to fight and not getting hurt.
Learning to box takes dedication and patience. Boxing is a sport that requires dedication and perseverance.
