Little Discussed Topic Hits Mainstream
Boxing great Bernard Hopkins recently came under a rash of scrutiny amidst his sentiments in a post fight interview where he stated the reasons he felt a Mexican fighter has not yet beat Floyd Mayweather. The controversial statement asserted that only blacks understood his manner of fighting and it could not be comprehended by a Mexican. While many in the boxing community were quick to cry racism in the wake of the interview, I implore you to examine the context and validity of B-Hops theory. Those I have worked with in the striking realm have heard me speak about the same stylistic and cultural nuances for years and as a strong proponent of the “sweet science” the importance of understanding various guard structures to include crab shell, peek-a-boo, Mexican or Filipino style and of course the Philly shell in question. That stated, I have said it before and I’ll say it again people disdain that which they fail to understand.
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Over the course of the last 20 years or so that I have been teaching in the Southwest I have seen one boxing coach after the other tell any young fighter who does not box in the traditional Mexican style how wrong they are whether it is working for them or not. This has went so far as to have heard coaches say,”Your gonna get knocked out for boxing like a (_ insert Spanish slur here_)”. I can only shake my head in response to such narrow minded thinking and wish the kid would say “Ok you’re saying there’s only one way to move the human body and you have the monopoly on that right coach?” I agree with Hopkins that your personal interpretation of boxing is largely influenced by cultural and environmental considerations as those intrinsic factors ultimately make up your expression of style. The African American boxing experience is one based upon too many factors to discuss individually but suffice to say that it includes the importance of rhythm, footwork, music and its associated guarding structures developed over a century of situational necessity that we have come to know as “styles.” Other considerations include the way information has been passed on to generations of inner-city youngsters via the “slap boxing” method of play growing up. While considered a game used to develop the neighborhood pecking order it is often ones first introduction to and the eventual reinforced behavior that precedes boxing proper. Notice that like the “Philly Shell” It is based upon hitting without getting hit, and leaning just out of reach and behind the shoulder.
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| Oscar De La Hoya Stance Shown |
In contrast, the Mexican Style was born out of the same pride and nationalism that boxing icon Julio Cesar Chavez was made famous for. He never “ran” as most Mexican boxing fans would say “He came to fight, moved ahead and never quit.” This style aligns itself largely with the Mexican cultural concept of “Machismo” or manliness. As such, the guard itself its centered and allows for forward pressure and balance for power punching versus the traditional “African American” stance performed with head slightly off center and over the back foot to present a false target forcing the opponents right hand to travel further, overextending its reach. I will however, humbly disagree that either style is impossible to attain and is instead in the hands of the practitioner themselves and based upon either their open mindedness to develop the skill over a period of time or, two coming from a similar environment taking on the style via spontaneity by rote as a child learns by environmental submersion. Anyone who says it’s impossible for Hispanics to develop rhythm only need look at the history of breakdance which was influenced by Hispanics as much as blacks in the early 80’s. Look at half of the top current dance crews in the world and you will see Filipinos as well. If we appreciate and embrace the stylistic differences that various cultures the world over can contribute to our pursuit of pugilistic/combative knowledge just think of what one could accomplish. And while everyone is in a hurry to rush out and emulate FMM and his style of boxing, it is understanding The whys of doing and not just the HOW of doing that allow for growth. Study up, get your game right, get your game tight. -Kuya.
