Why does boxing pre-60s have very little foot movement, while boxing post 60s has allot of foot movement?

Question

Even the great boxers who did have great defense  prior to the 60s  didn't have that much feet movement, like Kid Gavilan,Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Willie Pep,Sandy Saddler, Charley Burley and the rest of the Black Murderers' Row etc.  They didn't have much foot movement, instead they depended on head movement for their defense.  Not to say there weren't guys  who could confuse their opponents with brilliant foot movement, just that it seemed rarer.

Now today, it seems to be the exact opposite,  most  of the great boxer with great defense are masters of the feet, so to speak, they  confuse their opponent with their brilliant foot movement, but on the other hand,  head movement seems to be lacking, allot of dudes don't know how to slip a punch, or bob and weave as they move.  How did this development happen?

Topica Tacopa · Accepted Answer

Elle, I'm going to have to disagree. Just to name a few boxers with excellent footwork 1960 and before: Jersey Joe Walcott Ray Robinson ( watch more early film on Ray. He had GOOD footwork.)
Willie Pep, Benny Leonard, Billy Conn, Ezzard Charles, and Gene Tunney amongst others.
After 1960 is obvious: Ali, Ray Leonard, Benitez, Mayweather, Pac Man. Even Wilfredo Gomez had excellent footwork. Many, many others too.
I don't think that you could say that either side of 1960 was noticeably better filled with top boxers with good footwork. I think that the lack of early fight footage and fading memories makes for this impression.

Anonymous · Answer

Boxers used to condition themselves a lot more in the early years, that's not saying boxers don't have good conditioning but bobing slipping and weaving takes more body movement and therefore more energy to do and you can leave yourself open to uppercuts trying to slip too many punches, very early boxers never used to bother with too much defence it used to be take a punch to give a punch in the very early days, nowadays boxers have realised superior footwork can give you better angles for your punches, get you out of trouble because one of the best defensive techniques is to get away from the punches and footwork can be a great offensive technique because you can cut off the ring against taller opponents and trap them in corners and if a shorter guy keeps trying to get low and move around a tall guy quick little backward and sideways movements from the tall guy will make the sort guy have to work again to get back inside while you can control the range with the jab.

Anonymous · Answer

Interesting observation, I blame runners like Sugar Ray Leonard for that, his style against Duran in their "no mas" fight and against Hagler stained boxing to this day.  Others imitated his style because it was effective, but it somehow took something away from boxing.

? · Answer

'Willie Pep...didn't have much foot movement'  LOL, oh surely you jest. PLEASE tell me you just threw Pep's name in there to see if anyone would catch it. You seen film of Pep's footwork ? NOBODY in boxing's history, then AND now, come close to Pep's footwork. This guy made ice skaters and ballet dancers look like cripples. Please remove Pep's name from your list or all your boxing credibility is null. 
Pep ????? Hahahaha.

teodor · Answer

More scientific training perhaps?

Trending News

Why does boxing pre-60s have very little foot movement, while boxing post 60s has allot of foot movement?

5 Answers