SOME QUESTION BODY SHOT STOPS!
Los Angeles, CA- The shock of seeing a boxer have the life taken out of him from one single punch is not just remarkable, it is seemingly what the majority of fight fans desire. A picture perfect hook to the liver however doesn?t always deliver an appealing knockout. Occasionally viewers question the validity of a body shot KO, and underestimate the effect that a body shot inflicts on the human anatomy. The vision of a fighter on one knee paralyzed while being counted out, and then arising after the count of ten is often one that resonates with suspect viewers. Some of the best practitioners of professional pugilism are often those who use body punching to break down an opponent.
?IRON MIKE?S? BODY WORK WAS BRUTAL
Mike Tyson utilized effective body punching to set up his vicious assaults. Most legends of the game were extremely adept at using body work. Even today?s top level fighters haven?t abandoned the phrase, ?If you take the body, the head will go.? In today?s climate it appears that a lot of big fights are being settled with one punch landing in a vulnerable area, whether it be the liver (which is exposed on your right side underneath the floating rib) or solar plexus. Below are a few of the most memorable body punches of late.
Bernard Hopkins KO 9 Oscar De La Hoya. World middleweight (160 lbs.) championship. De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) pounding on the canvas in frustration after not being able to get up from Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) left hook was confusing. If he had enough energy to pound on the ground as he was being counted out, couldn?t he have tried to get up?
Gerry Penalosa KO 7 Jhonny Gonzalez WBO bantamweight (118) title. Penalosa (52-6, 35 KOs) appeared to be on his way to possibly losing a lopsided decision when out of no where stopped the champion in his tracks with a perfect shot to the liver, simultaneously halting any future momentum left in the career Gonzalez (30-6, 36 KOs). In a fight that many thought would be the end to a fabulous career, Gerry has renewed confidence at 35 as he once again possesses another title belt.
Ricky Hatton KO 4 Jose Luis Castillo. Ring Magazine junior welterweight (140) title. Whether or not this was a washed up version of Castillo (56-8, 48 KOs), Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31 KOs) washed him up. The liver shot took the starch out of Jose who ironically continues his woes and battles with weight. His last bout was supposed to be WBC junior welterweight eliminator against unbeaten contender Tim Bradley (21-0, 11 KOs). However Castillo as has been his usual in recent events couldn?t make the 140 lb. limit after numerous attempts and had to drop out of the contest.
Roy Jones KO 4 Virgil Hill Light heavyweight (175). Just the sound of hearing Roy (52-4, 38 KOs) crash a right hand off of Hill?s (50-7 23 KOs) ribs leaves a lasting memory. In those days Jones was on top of the world and his cockiness and arrogance was somewhat warranted. Nowadays, hopefully he will retire while he still has his health.
Mickey Ward KO 7 Alfonso Sanchez Junior welter (140). Ward (38-13, 27 KOs), who was way behind on the scorecards and had been clearly dominated throughout, threw a miracle left hook that froze his then unbeaten (16-0) opponent. Sanchez?s (20-6, 18 KOs) career went downhill from there as he was drilled in the first round challenging Vince Phillips (48-12-1, 34 KOs) for the IBF 140 lb. belt less than a year later. Top Rank Promotions thought Sanchez was the next Mexican superstar…until he fell!
