Thread by @JoshuaMMang

The Jab: Using It To Counter Speed.
These series of tweets are how important a jab is against a quicker Opponent.

2. I was watching clips of the fight between Sandy Saddler and Flash Elrode two all time great Boxers. Saddler was aging badly and Elrode still had much of his prime left in him.

3. The difference in speed is apparent as you see the younger man Flash Elrode be able to out work the slower more cumbersome Man in Sandy Saddler.

4. Elrode is able to use his speed to upset Saddler moving in towards him and around him in that Southpaw stance beating him on the outside and inside with quicker hands and combinations.

5. Saddler isn’t trying to match Elrode with speed or waiting for him either. The old Featherweight King is timing the combinations of Elrode by punching in between Elrode’s right and lefts.

6. Saddler understands if Elrode is close enough to hit him then he too is close enough to land his punches so as he gets hit with one he throws and lands his own punching in between Elrode’s flurries.

7. The other thing that is important is that Sandy Saddler isn’t waiting on Elrode but his using his jab to try and control the outside keeping the quicker younger Man out of range to use his speed.

8. The way Sandy Saddler uses his jab is not just to try and keep Elrode on the outside where his shorter reach is a disadvantage but to catch him coming inside as well.

9. Saddler throws his jab at Elrode when he steps forward to try and stop his offense or slow it down. He’s using his jab to throw Elrode’s timing off so he has time to counter the quicker punches of the younger Man.

10. At no time does Saddler wait on Flash Elrode but uses his jab to keep the faster Man busy and never letting him rest.

11. Elrode will land combinations inside then step out to rest and Saddler quickly steps in with the jab making sure the Younger Man doesn’t get his rest. Working on him mentally and not just physically.

12. Saddler using his jab to catch Flash Elrode coming towards him is to make it tougher for the younger Man. Saddler is using his Veteran experience to make the fight as difficult as possible for Elrode never letting him rest.

13. You counter speed with the jab, a hard stiff jab you step in with and not an arm punch. You catch them as they come towards you or you use it to make them work on the outside so they don’t get to rest.

14. You use the jab to wear down the faster Opponent not just physically but also mentally working them with it all the time. You can see Saddler do this to Willie Pep as well.

15. You deal with speed with the jab and stepping in with the jab as well. You have to understand distance and have great timing it’s about being precise you can’t be off or lazy about it.

16. Jack Johnson, Tony Canzoneri, and Joe Louis, to name a few, where great as using their jab to counter speed and film shows this to be a fact and not an opinion. Johnsons’s jab against Ketchel, Canzoneri’s jab against Lou Ambers, Louis;’s jab against Conn.

17. The jab is so important in dealing with speed that’s what separates Boxers from being good to great or even the best. The way they use their jabs against their Opponent’s advantages.