Feinting - The Lost Art

[GPater11093]

Upon reading almost any source by an 'old timer' you inevitably come upon the line 'Feinting is a lost art.'

I have seen articles where Jack Johnson is quoted as saying this up till fighters from about the 1950s. They all seem to say the same thing that the 'modern' crop of boxers have not carried forth the act of feinting.

Now is this really the case? There have been some excellant feinters from the 70s till now with 2 main examples being Roberto Duran and Pernell Whittaker aswell as a few others.

So the question I pose is, Is Feinting a lost art? and if so who was the last great Feinter? And the last era where widespread use of the feint was implemented?

[Mantequilla]

For the most part it's garbage.


Though no doubt technical skills have been in decline for a while now in many ways, as far as the depth of fighters with them is concerned.

[GPater11093]

I agree Mante

[McGrain]

Hopkins feints as beautifully as anyone i've ever seen on film. His straight right hand feint followed by a flush left hook against Pavlik was wonderful. Plenty of fighters still feint. The thing is, it's harder to invest in a longer term feinting strategy over 12 as opposed to 15.

[andrewcuff]

For the most part it's garbage.

How so?

[GPater11093]

Hopkins feints as beautifully as anyone i've ever seen on film. His straight right hand feint followed by a flush left hook against Pavlik was wonderful. Plenty of fighters still feint. The thing is, it's harder to invest in a longer term feinting strategy over 12 as opposed to 15.

:patsch:patsch

How did I forget Hopkins? My mind is mush at the moment.

You can still invest in a feinting strategy over 12 rounds though its not drastically different as Whittaker and Hopkins show.

[McGrain]

It's different by three rounds. In other words if you invest three rounds in a specific sell and it doesn't come off you've spent on quarter of a fight persuing an inaffective strategy.

[GPater11093]

It's different by three rounds. In other words if you invest three rounds in a specific sell and it doesn't come off you've spent on quarter of a fight persuing an inaffective strategy.

Fair enough.

[techks]

:patsch:patsch

How did I forget Hopkins? My mind is mush at the moment.

You can still invest in a feinting strategy over 12 rounds though its not drastically different as Whittaker and Hopkins show.

James Toney. He feints then BOOM counter right hand.

[Mantequilla]

How so?

Because as McGrain says, plenty of fighters still feint even today in a less "cute" era.If i was to pick fights out at random from my collection, i bet it would take a while before i got one with no feinting in it.Even the most ordinary fighters from most decades make basic use of the concept as often as not.

Anyone that says feinting became a lost art after the '20's\'30's..or whatever decade becomes as suspect to me as the modern nutrition means no fighter from pre-90 or 80 etc would be able to compete crowd.

[Mantequilla]

incidentally, one great relatively modern fight to watch for a lot of feinting playing a big part is Sanchez vs Cowdell.

Cowdell wasn't on Sanchez' level as far as overall talent goes of course, but using some good sound boxing ability, nice jab and a near constant use of tricky feints, he had Sanchez looking bewildered at times, and was able to give a fine performance.

[lefthook31]

Check out Vernon Forrest too. One of the last young guys to use the feint and hes tall and lanky like you are. The feint is definitely a good weapon to setup a shot with, or redirect yourself or your opponent. As mentioned Bernard Hopkins uses it alot to move out of harms way, and Roy Jones used the feint as well.

[mattdonnellon]

Feinting, what is that?....

[lefthook31]

Because as McGrain says, plenty of fighters still feint even today in a less "cute" era.If i was to pick fights out at random from my collection, i bet it would take a while before i got one with no feinting in it.Even the most ordinary fighters from most decades make basic use of the concept as often as not.

Anyone that says feinting became a lost art after the '20's\'30's..or whatever decade becomes as suspect to me as the modern nutrition means no fighter from pre-90 or 80 etc would be able to compete crowd.
I didnt really understand what you meant by your first paragraph either, but I agree with this and I would also say the technical skillset as a whole has become more one dimensional.
Ive never heard of someone investing in feinting for an entire fight its usually part of a fighters style or its not, and the use and frequency is usually determined by the style of guy you have in front of you. Some guys are easier to fool and its usually used to get your opponent to hesitate, so you can redirect, or make them move in a certain way where you can take advantage of the opening it leaves.

[mattdonnellon]

To be serious, you must do something first to make the feint effective, ram in a few hard jabs or punishing hooks otherwise the feint is ignored. There needs to be a bit of fear or at least respect envolved. Think there was more feints in the past, not sure what it proves. Maybe less suckers now?

[GPater11093]

incidentally, one great relatively modern fight to watch for a lot of feinting playing a big part is Sanchez vs Cowdell.

Cowdell wasn't on Sanchez' level as far as overall talent goes of course, but using some good sound boxing ability, nice jab and a near constant use of tricky feints, he had Sanchez looking bewildered at times, and was able to give a fine performance.

Thanks I will check it out.

Check out Vernon Forrest too. One of the last young guys to use the feint and hes tall and lanky like you are. The feint is definitely a good weapon to setup a shot with, or redirect yourself or your opponent. As mentioned Bernard Hopkins uses it alot to move out of harms way, and Roy Jones used the feint as well.

I'm a big Vernon Forrest fan really like the way he sets traps whilst punching.

[lefthook31]

Thanks I will check it out.



I'm a big Vernon Forrest fan really like the way he sets traps whilst punching.
Hes a great fighter to emulate.

[Duodenum]

Feinting is a low energy way to make the opponent expend energy and concentration evading. It's also fun to do well, and see how badly you can make the other guy bite. Feinting punches with good quick foot repositioning can really put him on edge. Feint enough, and he'll assume you're feinting when you really do send one over.

[red cobra]

The art of feinting was most vividly displayed..to me anyway, in Roberto Duran-Carlos Palomino back in '79...Duran was spectacular with his feinting...he had Palomino so shook up, confused and intimidated it seemed at times that it was amazing and impressive.

[ricardoparker93]

I think head movement is the greatest lost art. So many elite fighters today ( such as Miguel Cotto ) just dont move their head! Also I do see fighters feinting but not as effectively as they could do. Feinting is so effective in putting doubt into a fighters minds that if used correctly then you can have a guy in knots. My favourite example of this is Duran - Palomino , Carlos didn't have a clue what was going on ha.