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Lee Wylie, contributor to the excellent Montreal-based blog “The Fight City,” gained exposure when Jim Lampley praised him during an HBO broadcast, citing his analysis of Chocalito Gonzalez’s footwork. Arguably the best of a group of boxing analysts posting technical film studies to Youtube, Wylie’s stand out in that they’re spare and artful and set to good, often symphonic music. His video analyzing the “The Rumble in the Jungle” dismantles the “rope-a-dope” myth, and after watching it you won’t think about the fight in the same way again.
Wiley’s analysis of Ray Robinson uses his cinematic knockouts of Rocky Graziano and Gene Fullmer to show the footwork, rhythm, timing, and pure unpredictability that made him the best offensive fighter in boxing history.
Wilson Kayden’s monotone recalls an even more laid-back version of Lennox Lewis, and he stands out in part for his videos analyzing Floyd Mayweather. For years some boxing observers took issue with Floyd’s perceived lack of engagement, his diminished killer instinct, and so on. And maybe some of those criticisms were valid. But no matter. Once you’ve watched Kayden’s analysis, you’ll understand his artistry more clearly. A side note is that Wilson has been inactive for a couple of years, so let’s hope he returns soon with more excellent work.
At just under an hour, this is Kayden’s magnum opus dedicated to Mayweather. A bit long for one sitting, I suggest taking your time and digesting it in sections.
Also from Michigan, James Toney learned his throwback style from legendary Kronk Gym trainer Bill Miller, who molded him in part through film study of Ray Robinson and Ezzard Charles. Just plain fun to watch, there are few boxers slicker and more calm fighting in the pocket than J.T.
The Modern Martial Artist is a YouTube channel created by David Christian that covers all combat sports. This doesn’t affect the quality of the boxing analysis at all, however. To his credit, Christian is equally at home breaking down the fighting style of Bruce Lee or Muhammad Ali. I’ve always been fascinated by Cus D’Amato and the “peek-a-boo” style, largely because D’Amato built the two youngest heavyweight champions in history from the ground up. Floyd Patterson, at 21, and of course Mike Tyson at 20. A remarkable feat. In these two videos, Christian breaks down Tyson’s peek-a-boo and traces his ferocity to his hero, Jack Dempsey.
“I’m crazy about Jack Dempsey. Because of his ferocious intensity. There’s no one like him.”
— Mike Tyson