Boxing Glossary

Boxing Term of the Day: Pivot Blow

admin — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:06:43 -0400

The pivot blow is an illegal strike in boxing. Last time it was used "legally" was in the 32nd round of an 1889 fight between the original Jack Dempsey and George LaBlanche. LaBlanche actually used the pivot blow twice in this fight, first time in the 26th round landing a whipping right onto the neck of Dempsey. Then in the 32nd round, Dempsey let his guard down after believing LaBlanche was out of steam, when LaBlanche again did the big pivot and landing a crushing right on the bridge of Dempsey's nose sending him to the floor and winning LaBlanche the title.

Shortly after that, the New York Boxing Commission made the blow illegal. Their reasoning apparently was out of respect for Dempsey and to prevent another poem from being written -- as one appeared in this case. From what I can find, following is an excerpt of that poem on his unmarked grave, but doesn't seem overly "disrespectful" to me.

I believe the decision was based on the lines "Tis strange New York should thus forget its bravest of the brave." Google Jack Dempsey - Nonpareil - for a better history on this phenomenal fighter and you may understand New York's interest in maintaing the dignity of this man. If anyone has the full version, please post in the comments.

Jack Dempsey - Nonpareil:
More on Jack Dempsey

Far out in the wilds of Oregon,
On a lonely mountainside,
Where Columbia’s mighty waters
Roll down to the ocean side;
Where the giant fir and cedar
Are imaged in the wave,
O’ergrown with firs and lichens,
I found Jack Dempsey’s grave.

O Fame, why sleeps thy favored son
In wilds, in woods, in weeds,
And shall he ever thus sleep on,
Interred his valiant deeds.
‘Tis strange New York should thus forget
Its bravest of the brave
And in the fields of Oregon,
Unmarked leave Dempsey’s grave

The pivot blow is a right thrown after a complete turn/pivot on heel of one foot. The boxer turns completely around often delivering it like a backhand, or even an elbow. Basically, tremendous force is generated from the acceleration of the spinning motion and their is very little control - they just let it swing.

Boxing Term of the Day: Alphabet Soup

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:22:54 -0400

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, boxing associations and weight divisions were simple. There was only a few sanctioning bodies and 8 weight divisions with one champion per division. It was very clear who was the reigning champion.

Then the 1980's came and everything changed. Sanctioning bodies sprung up all over the place. All it took was a manager or promoter with the fee and their boxer could be fighting for the XYZ world title. Hence, fans and the media started to dub all of these dubious titles a mixture of letters - or alphabet soup.

WBA logo

WBC logo

IBF logo

WBO logo

Today, there are still over 50 santioning bodies, however the boxing who's who generally recognize four as the sanctioning bodies each with their own weight divisions. They are:

WBA - World Boxing Association - originated from the National Boxing Association and is the oldest surviving, still active world sanctioning body. 17 weight divisions.
WBC - World Boxing Council - originated around 1963 and is based in Mexico. 17 weight divisions.
IBF - International Boxing Federation - Created in 1983. 17 divisions. It's had a shady history with its founder - Bob Lee being sent to prison for taking bribes and tax evasion. Hit mainstream when Larry Holmes defended the title a number of times.
WBO - World Boxing Organization - Created in 1988. 17 divisions.

As you can see, this results in 17 x 4 = 68 possible champions - 4 possible world champions per weight division depending on which sanctioning body you talk to. It is also the reason you hear the term unified belts or fights billed. To be undisputed world champion, you have to unify the belts - winning them from all 4 sanctioning bodies.

Back to back, the abbreviations of every sanctioning body would be nothing more than a jumbled array of letters - or alphabet soup.

The Bolo Punch

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:34:56 -0400

Once you've mastered the basic boxing punches, you may want to consider adding some other more advanced boxing techniques and punches into your repertoire. The bolo punch is just such a technique. It is not used very often and for reasons you'll soon learn, but if mastered can give you options in the ring. You'll be pretty hard pressed to find a lot of professional boxers who use it and probably even fewer amateur boxers. But, if you look hard enough...

Kid Gavilan
A Famous Bolo Puncher

Kid Gavilan is one of those professional bolo punchers. One of three famous bolo punchers (the other two being Ceferino Garcia and Sugar Ray Leonard), Gavilan said he developed the wide sweeping uppercut motion working in the sugar cane fields as a youth. The machete he would carry was swung in an underarm fashion which he developed into a boxing punch later in life.

While the bolo punch can be an effective punch, it is more commonly used as a distraction. By dropping the back hand and pretending to make an obvious wide sweeping throw, your opponent's eyes gravitate to the dropped hand, leaving you free to throw your front arm. Often you'll see variations of the bolo punch where the boxer will drop the right hand and make circular motions - basically showboating, before throwing a stiff jab or hook with the lead hand.

Over time, your opponent will obviously figure out what you are doing and may then focus on the lead hand. That's when life gets really good for you as you are free to follow through with the bolo punch. Because of the distance and torque you can put into it, it can be a devastating blow when it lands.

The bolo punch is an advanced technique and leaves you wide open, so be aware of that if you plan on using it.

The Left Bolo Punch

Most boxing fans will agree that the monster left handed bolo punch that Ike Ibeabuchi gave to Chris Byrd is one of the most famous bolo punches. See the video to the left at about 6:30 to see it in full speed and 8:50 in slow motion. It resembles a very obvious uppercut. Notice how Ike kind of faked a right - threw it but with very little on it. That transferred his weight to the left which he put every ounce of into that knockout punch.

For more examples of the bolo punch, watch any of Sugar Ray Leonard's fights, in particular his second fight against Roberto Duran and the rematch against Thomas Hearns.

Boxing Term of the Day: Low Blow

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:05:35 -0400

A low blow is any punch that falls below the beltline. In other words, if you punch someone in the gonads, the privates, the family jewels, the place where the sun don't shine, etc... you have just given a low blow.

In boxing, you get three hits before a point is deducted. It is an illegal hit and when it happens, your opponent has up to 5 minutes to get himself ready to fight again (at least in professional boxing). This is at the discretion of the referree who makes the decision based on what he thinks is the severity of the blow.

It is also up to the ref when a point is deducted. If it is obviously intentional, he may not wait for three before you issuing the penalty. In a normal match though, the first hit to the groin is generally considered an accident. The second will receive a warning and the third results in the point loss.

It may seem all fun and good to nail someone where it hurts and risk the penalty, but if it is late in the fight, 5 minutes of rest may be just what your opponent needs to break your rhythm, recuperate and come back at you even stronger - especially if he was out of breathe. He may even welcome the hit.

Check Round 11 for the Low Blow

Consider the recent fight between Hopkins and Calzaghe. Hopkins received what was purely a glancing blow somewhere close to the mid section and referree Joe Cortiz gave him 5 minutes to recover from it. This was late in the fight and Hopkins milked it for all it was worth. Replays did not make the hit look as bad as Hopkins made it out to be. But when all was said and done, Hopkins came back at Calzaghe a renewed boxer - I bet he was actually thankful for the low blow. Thanks to Combat Sports Network you can see this for yoursef - check round 11.

Boxing Term of the Day: Rabbit Punch

admin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:22:54 -0400

A rabbit punch is an illegal punch where one of the boxers hits the other boxer in the back of the head. Hits to the kidneys/back are also sometimes referred to as rabbit punches.

These are very dangerous hits and it makes perfect sense that they are illegal. Not only is the victim unaware of the incoming punch (as it is occurring behind them), but think for a moment of where they are hitting - base of the head where it attaches to the spine. Wouldn't take much to snap the brain off the brain stem or cause irreparable damage to the spine.

Rabbit Punch
by the Executioner

As tempting as it may be sometimes, don't do it. Now, in anticipation of the upcoming Calzaghe vs Hopkins fight - watch the executioner land one of the most vicious rabbit punches I've ever seen.

Boxing Term of the Day: Accidental Butt

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:17:18 -0500

A butt, or head butt, is an intentional use of the head to inflict damage on your opponent. An accidental butt lacks the intentional part that equation. In other words, the head butt is an accident.

So who cares about an occasional butt? Well, head butts both accidental and intentional are the causes of a lot of stopped fights due to the cuts that get opened up because of them.

Nice Hematoma: An accidental
butt by Holyfield caused
Rahman to lose this fight.
From Baltimore Sun

Your noggin is hard and if you slam it against a nice soft fleshy eye, crushing the tissue above your eye against the eye socket, a deep gash can be opened up instantly.

Then you not only have an accidental butt, but you also get to see what is referred to as a bleeder. Where an intentional head butt is illegal, a butt that is ruled accidental can actually win you the fight. Just ask Holyfield about it in his fight against Hasim Rahman. In that fight, an accidental butt by Holyfield led to a referee stoppage forcing them to go to the scorecards and low and behold Holyfield was in front. Who says using your head doesn't work?

Boxing Term of the Day: Bleeder

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:23:35 -0500

A bleeder is a boxer who is prone to cuts, scratches, and other injuries that typically result in blood. Could be a trickle, could be a gusher, but in all instances the bleeder is a boxer who is known for his ability to bleed.

In all fairness, it's not always the boxer's fault. Genetically they could have issues such as deviated septums that place the vein inside the nose in a position that it gets cut very easily.

From BBC:
Is boxing legal homicide?

They could have thinner skin in areas (again inside the nose is common) that could tear easier. They may have blood flowing closer to the surface than other people depending on how much bodyfat they have and so on.

There is the other end of the spectrum though as well. Bleeders tend to be those boxers that like to lead with their face and lack a defensive game. It's only logical - you get hit enough and you have a better chance of being cut.