By Hector Gonzalez: I’m reading a lot of comments regarding why Adrien Broner was not able to knockdown or TKO Paulie Malignaggi this past weekend. Many critics and analyst are saying that he simply did not carry the same power that he did at 130 or 135 at his new weight of 147. I disagree, the power is there, the problem is that Adrien Broner does not have the right technique. Like Mayweather said, Adrien Broner is too flat-footed.
To further illustrate my point I’m going to use Juan Manuel Marquez as an example. I suppose that the ideal fighter to use as an example is Floyd Mayweather, but to be perfectly honest, it’s unrealistic to suggest that any fighter could emulate Mayweather’s technique. I believe that even if Broner wanted to use Mayweather’s footwork he would not be able to not only because he doesn’t have the intuition of Floyd Mayweather, but more importantly he doesn’t have the body frame to do so.
I believe the key to Mayweather success comes from his waist movement, as he is able to dodge punches and counter them by simple gyrating his waist. He has a lanky body frame. Broner’s waistline is too bulky, and that combined with his flat foot movement means that realistically he will never have the waist movement of Floyd Mayweather.
So lets look at Juan Manuel Marquez as an example of how to properly generate power when delivering punches. Marquez’s is most deadly punch is the right cross. The punch is often thrown with a faint, as the punch looks as if its going to be delivered to the body, the right arm starts to extent to the lower right side and when the punch is complete the right hand is fully extended forward connecting to his opponents face. The main factors are 1.) timing, 2.) the waist and 3.) the feet.
In order for the punch to be most effective Marquez will set up a trap, fighting backwards making the fighter believe he is pressuring him back as his opponent is throwing punches. When the opponent exposes the right side of his face by leaning in or moving forward, the opponent is caught with the devastating right cross believing that he was pressuring Marquez the whole time.
Notice that when the punch is delivered most of Marquez’s weight is on his left foot, the waist is bended forward, with his right hand straight, he almost looks like Superman about to take off flying.
Adrien Broner unfortunately does not use the proper form. His best punches are inside short punches that are most effective when fighting boxers who like to fight in the inside and are constantly moving forward such as the fighting style of Antonio De Marco. When Broner throws his right cross, both of his feet are flat when instead his weight should be on his left leg and his right foot stretched back out as if the left leg is generating power upwards and the right leg generating power forward. The ability to throw the punch correctly could be taught easily, the ability to set up the punch will not be so easy as Broner will have to learn how to fight walking backwards, proper timing and how to set up traps.
Combination Punching
One of the most beautiful things to watch from Juan Manuel Marquez is his combination punching. I believe that it’s perhaps the craftiest offensive display of any fighter just as amazing to watch as the craftiness in Floyd Mayweather’s offense.
Juan Manuel Marquez’s combinations come in different variations. When at it’s best it seems as if he could land every single punch in the book. A typical Marquez combination will looks like this; left jab, right cross, left jab, right upper, and just in time for when his opponent is about to counter him, Marquez is already out of range at an entirely different angle landing a right body punch.
Adrien Broner would be most effective if he varied his punches. Generally speaking, combination punching is the most effective offense. In general single punches thrown one at time, specially when looking for a knock out by one single punch is uneffective and limiting. Maybe Broner is trying to imitate Mayweather in that regard as Mayweater is known for throwing and landing single pod shots, the difference of course is that while Mayweather is landing single pod shots here and there, he has also made his opponent miss due to his great defense.
This is just a guess, but it’s my personal opinion (I could be completely wrong), but I believe that the reason why Adrien Broner fights the way he does, flat footed, single punches thrown without putting his full body into his punches is because in reality he has stamina problems. Again, it’s just a guess, but don’t be surprised if he fights a fighter with great movement who has strong snap to their punches like Robert Guerrero or Lucas Mathysse who would force Adrien Broner to move and throw punches with full authority—and one of those fighters ends up winning not necessarily because their punches are hurting Broner but because Broner gasses out. Contact Hector Gonzalez @ Hect59@hotmail.com, Twitter #hegotistic
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