Thoughts on Whittaker traning with an Elite Boxing Coach?

Mesos

Mesos

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What are your thoughts on Whittaker putting an emphasis on Boxing for his rematch?

Whittaker hired a famous Boxing Coach, named Johnny Lewis as shown on the Countdown. This guy has made several world Boxing champs and clearly can help Whittaker alot,

I never expected Whittaker to approach this fight like a boxer. But it might work, A good boxer can give a good muay thai fighter some trouble.

Whittaker with better boxing and wrestling mixed in, can win back the belt.
 
More MMA fighters should IMO.

GSP went undefeated after bringing in Freddie.
]
Cub was on the best run of his career and in a title eliminator with Joel Diaz coaching him from 2012-2017. Went 10-3, got grapplefucked by Frankie and lost to Max and Ortega (was boxing up Brian and up on cards before he didnt protect his neck. He beat Stephens, Dustin, Charles, Pearson, Roop, Choi, Hacran, Kawajiri and Siver mostly with boxing
 
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He needs it. He's a banger and wanger. He needs discipline
 
Mesos said:
What are your thoughts on Whittaker putting an emphasis on Boxing for his rematch?

Whittaker hired a famous Boxing Coach, named Johnny Lewis as shown on the Countdown. This guy has made several world Boxing champs and clearly can help Whittaker alot,

I never expected Whittaker to approach this fight like a boxer. But it might work, A good boxer can give a good muay thai fighter some trouble.

Whittaker with better boxing and wrestling mixed in, can win back the belt.
Click to expand...
It will only benefit him. Muay thai and kickboxing typically doesn't have the highest level boxing since they are kicks focused. The punches are just to set up the kicks. They keep the boxing combinations pretty basic and they don't have much footwork/movement and/or head movement from punches. Depending how long he was able to train with him and what they worked on, his boxing should be improved. I expect Whittaker to have improved inside game and better entries with more shot selection/combinations with his punches as well.
 
Well the boxing part is what fucked him last time. Izzy was dodging his punches at boxing range. Rob threw a bunch of headkicks too that missed. They were all thrown at boxing range. That's why his headkicks are so unique.

Didn't work last time though.
 
Makes no difference he's going to get beat again. Let him come in again thinking he's the elite striker
 
I think he's always sparred with boxers, this is him and Tim Tszyu from a few camps ago

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He's still not hitting izzy even with clean boxing. What he should do is follow up his boxing combos with heavy ass leg kicks when Izzy plants his feet to lean back and dodge punches.

Mix that up with digging to the body and it might be enough to slow down izzys movement. Bobby will still probably get sniped tho
 
I don't think boxing is the key to beat Izzy. At least not for Whittaker. He has a huge reach disadvantage. He isn't going to cover that ground against a larger counter fighter kickboxer that doesn't fight traditionally. They are also fighting in a big cage as opposed to the apex one. Izzy's pullback technique gets him out of trouble from most punches and it sets up for a pull counter. I feel it would be the same thing as Vettori in his second fight. Vettori went straight boxing and had less success standing vs to his first fight where he mixed up variety of strikes.

I think Whitaker should have focused on his wrestling especially in the middle of the cage. It's a bigger cage and Israel does not defend as well against takedowns without a wall.
 
MEAN357 said:
He's still not hitting izzy even with clean boxing. What he should do is follow up his boxing combos with heavy ass leg kicks when Izzy plants his feet to lean back and dodge punches.

Mix that up with digging to the body and it might be enough to slow down izzys movement. Bobby will still probably get sniped tho
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That’s definitely the blue print to beat an elusive striker like Izzy. Robert has the tools in his arsenal, but lacks speed and reach. For the sake of entertainment I’d like Bobby try and brawl again and see if he can exercise the punchers chance.
 
Not only is Robert at a huge technical disadvantage, but Izzy has reach over him. There's nothing wrong with bringing in this coach but let's hope he's playing to implement his ground game
 
probably not a good idea to try and strike with izzy. But i'm sure the training will help him see izzy's tricks and setups and prepare a defense or counter to them.

the only guy at MW that can stand with izzy is alex perrera.

to this day i'm still baffled with how well Gastelum did. he had the perfect combo of very fast hands and granite chin to get in on izzy.
 
FIghtxIQ said:
It will only benefit him. Muay thai and kickboxing typically doesn't have the highest level boxing since they are kicks focused. The punches are just to set up the kicks. They keep the boxing combinations pretty basic and they don't have much footwork/movement and/or head movement from punches. Depending how long he was able to train with him and what they worked on, his boxing should be improved. I expect Whittaker to have improved inside game and better entries with more shot selection/combinations with his punches as well.
Click to expand...
This, a boxing approach has me worried for my boy Izzy. His composure will only open up his TD game and can keep Izzy guessing. People counting Rob out haven't been paying attention.
 
He doesn't need it, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt. He's got better fight IQ and uses timing and angles really well. It looks like he's getting more dialed in to his craft and if he fought Izzy in the way he fought Jared, then he has a realistic chance in beating him...
 
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Mesos said:
What are your thoughts on Whittaker putting an emphasis on Boxing for his rematch?

Whittaker hired a famous Boxing Coach, named Johnny Lewis as shown on the Countdown. This guy has made several world Boxing champs and clearly can help Whittaker alot,

I never expected Whittaker to approach this fight like a boxer. But it might work, A good boxer can give a good muay thai fighter some trouble.

Whittaker with better boxing and wrestling mixed in, can win back the belt.
Click to expand...


He's coming in with his wrestling shoes on. He just can't be exchanging in the pocket wild with a sharpshooter like Izzy, maybe they worked on that with him.
 
Merlotte's said:
That’s definitely the blue print to beat an elusive striker like Izzy. Robert has the tools in his arsenal, but lacks speed and reach. For the sake of entertainment I’d like Bobby try and brawl again and see if he can exercise the punchers chance.
Click to expand...

Rushing a guy like Izzy is the worst thing you can possibly do.

Robert's a classy guy I dont wish him to get steamrolled again... even if it would be entertaining af lol
 
Not too happy. I still think Rob's wrestling is the key to winning this one. Boxing against an elite kickboxer with better reach will get him nowhere.
 
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