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Best Knockout with a Feint!

Great Feint, Great Knockout!

Going back to 1987, the Light Middleweight match between Donald Curry and Mike McCallum was eagerly awaited.  McCallum was known as a body puncher, and I think he may have used this to his advantage. Curry on the other hand was a fantastic technical boxer, very easy on the eye and one for the purists. The clash of styles was going to be very interesting!

Curry had a nasty habit of dropping his hands and leaning back slightly when seeing an uppercut, almost ‘relaxing’ out of the way.  McCallum had noticed this, either during the fight or in his pre-fight preparations, and tried earlier on in the fight to feint an uppercut and land a left hook.  Despite the best efforts of McCallum, Curry had boxed brilliantly to hold the lead and was in a very strong position.

In the 5th round however, McCallum feinted a right uppercut to the body and unloaded with a tremendous long range left hook, connecting squarely on the side of Curry’s jaw.  OK, Donald Curry could be accused of losing concentration at long range, but McCallum’s tactical observation was most definitely the primary factor in the knock out.  Check out the video, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s up there with the best knockouts involving a feint.

Make sure you leave a comment below, I’d be interested in your thoughts!  After leaving a comment, click on this link to learn more about how to feint in boxing or this link to learn more about other boxing skills!

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{ 6 comments… add one }
  • Fran May 8, 2012, 9:10 pm

    Yeah, couldn’t argue I suppose Rick. I guess the point is to highlight how the reactions of an opponent can be used against them, and this is one of the keys to successful feinting. The Body Snatcher certainly did that against the Lone Start Cobra!

  • Deeboy January 27, 2012, 11:31 pm

    Curry was open after he threw the Left hook! What do ya want Curry was open open open!

    • Fran January 29, 2012, 6:40 pm

      Agreed. But did Mike and his team spot it during the prep for the fight or was it just an “in the moment” thing? I reckon it’s the former.

  • Abdul January 9, 2012, 11:39 pm

    Hey Fran,
    I think this was not a good example of a feint.
    He just make the hook with a jump on the right time.
    Btw i want to ask you something about the steps your recommending ……When u use the push-step and when the step and drag ?or do you skip hole the step and drag thing?

  • kegan April 17, 2011, 10:16 pm

    Wow that’s awsome!! This makes me even mote exited about learning to box but first I have to find a gym but in the mean time I plan on watching ur videos on certain skills used in boxing

    • Fran April 18, 2011, 9:23 pm

      Good stuff Kegan, hope you keep enjoying the videos and good luck with finding a boxing gym!

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