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Rahul is touching on something that might be essential for his fight with Max and why I think he will have a hard time even if "Kicking" Max won't show up.
A thread https://twitter.com/calciocraft/status/1348849296398032897?s=19
A thread https://twitter.com/calciocraft/status/1348849296398032897?s=19
Stephens is an experienced fighter but not really known to be a good pressure fighter or more so as cage cutter. By simply following him, switching stances into southpaw he put Kattar on the backfoot, who doesn't really cut angles or pivots when retreating.
He retreats in straight lines with his high guard raised.
Calvin prefers to circle out of the power side and Jeremy did also a good job in the beginning to kick off his punches and dig a lead body kick in.
Calvin had opportunities to counter and punish naked stance switches.
Calvin prefers to circle out of the power side and Jeremy did also a good job in the beginning to kick off his punches and dig a lead body kick in.
Calvin had opportunities to counter and punish naked stance switches.
But as Rahul mentioned he took big hop steps back, created distance solely with the goal in mind to reset the position.
He isn't really good on the backfoot nor on the lead, where he excels is during stationary exchanges with minimal positional adjustments.
He isn't really good on the backfoot nor on the lead, where he excels is during stationary exchanges with minimal positional adjustments.
Kattar had more success in the later parts of the rounds when Stephens was content to exchange for extended periods of time with him.
What Kattar struggled with throughout the fight were the kicks, be it body kicks at the end of combinations or when he circled out.
What Kattar struggled with throughout the fight were the kicks, be it body kicks at the end of combinations or when he circled out.
Leg kicks when he loads up and doesn't move.
Stephens while not keeping constantly the pressure on him, had the right ideas by using his punches or hand fighting to kick off it.
Punishing Kattat from kicking range when he wasn't in any position to counter Stephens.
Stephens while not keeping constantly the pressure on him, had the right ideas by using his punches or hand fighting to kick off it.
Punishing Kattat from kicking range when he wasn't in any position to counter Stephens.
Kattar's most important tool in exchanges is his jab.
He stepped into his jab, used a shoulder and hand feint to draw out a reaction and hop stepped back when Stephens advanced and feinted a 1-2.
He stepped into his jab, used a shoulder and hand feint to draw out a reaction and hop stepped back when Stephens advanced and feinted a 1-2.
Kattar uses his jab very versatile, to gauge the distance, feinting with it plus shoulder feints and most importantly to build offense with it by changing it up be it with temp changes or going for body/head or vice versa.
The other part is what I already touched on, he brings himself so much out of position with the hop step back that he is in a limbo where he might be out of danger of being hit but can't counter his opponents neither.
Landing off the front kick a vicious 1-2, following up with a jab to measure the distance and a straight that gets blocked. Jeremy tried to circle to Kattar's left side but Calvin cut him off with half steps, went for an uppercut to left hook, leaned back to counter
With a right hook but Jeremy rolled with it.
This exchange showed Kattar's biggest strength. When it's rather stationary he can tear off, he has a good shot selection and most of the time idea of his position.
There are still things to exploit.
This exchange showed Kattar's biggest strength. When it's rather stationary he can tear off, he has a good shot selection and most of the time idea of his position.
There are still things to exploit.
A better backfoot fighter could've here punished Kattar's uppercut with a check hook.
Jeremy was probably still rattled and full on retreat, he wasn't fully in the position to effectively counter Kattar.
Jeremy was probably still rattled and full on retreat, he wasn't fully in the position to effectively counter Kattar.
Here's another example for Kattar's really good jab/lead hand by changing it up between body/head, initiating hand fights, parrying Jeremy's lead hand.
He circles to Stephens' right side, pumping out his own jab & possibly baiting Jeremy to throw and cross counter it
He circles to Stephens' right side, pumping out his own jab & possibly baiting Jeremy to throw and cross counter it
Due to Jeremy chopping on Kattar's lead leg, Calvin switched more often between stances, he doesn't really have too much offense from southpaw but used the stance switch with hand fighting and feints later on to land his own leg kicks to slow Stephens down.
When Jeremy committed to pressuring him again, Calvin used his jab to gauge the distance again, hop stepped by planted himself now to time and intercepted him with a straight to lead uppercut.
Kattar isn't the best on his backfoot but can counter linear attacks pretty well.
Kattar isn't the best on his backfoot but can counter linear attacks pretty well.
Calvin prefers to fight at a slower pace, not slow but he's more selective about his shots, trying to establish the threat of his lead hand before going for combinations, his lead leg heavy stance will always be vulnerable for leg kicks.
He doesn't really built so far other reactions to it be it pumping out his jab or landing combos to back off opponents.
He occasionally tries to check them but that leaves him open for other attacks because he doesn't move and stays in position.
He occasionally tries to check them but that leaves him open for other attacks because he doesn't move and stays in position.
Feints with the rear hand to a body jab, 1-1-2 to lead uppercut, following Stephens landing a rear uppercut to a jab and finishing with an overhand right.
When you don't give Calvin different looks, stay rather stationary and go strike for strike with him he will upload like here
When you don't give Calvin different looks, stay rather stationary and go strike for strike with him he will upload like here
As many issues as he has, in extended exchanges he can find his range rather comfortably, he is good in slipping and countering punches or parrying the lead hand, has a good chin and doesn't shy away from throwing down.
This is where he is the most dangerous.
This is where he is the most dangerous.
With all that being said I don't give Calvin too much of a chance, he is dangerous in extended exchanges, he has mechanical good boxing and his lead hand is very versatile but this is where it stops for me.
Punching form is one part of boxing but positioning, tactical approach
Punching form is one part of boxing but positioning, tactical approach
And footwork are all the other parts of boxing or fighting in general and he's lacking in there areas.
He has some good ideas but still remains to see what he actually wants to do because he isn't effective on the outside enough without ending up in kicking range.
He has some good ideas but still remains to see what he actually wants to do because he isn't effective on the outside enough without ending up in kicking range.
He isn't neither really effective on the lead he does mostly well in a limbo area of extended exchanges from the outside that lead in the pocket but doesn't have the tools to constitutionally excell on the outside or inside.
His backfoot fighting ability, cutting angles, pivoting
His backfoot fighting ability, cutting angles, pivoting
Is also rather limited.
Moicano shitkicked his lead leg but more importantly cross countered his jab throughout the fight and nullified his A game.
Max won't stay still in the pocket with him, he has a better idea of range management, switching between inside and outside.
Moicano shitkicked his lead leg but more importantly cross countered his jab throughout the fight and nullified his A game.
Max won't stay still in the pocket with him, he has a better idea of range management, switching between inside and outside.
More variety in his attacks.
Not to speak from a much superior (and unfortunately rather inconsistently used) kicking game.
He can be drawn into extended exchanges but I really don't see Kattar being able to deal with Max for 3 or 5 rounds.
Wide UD or late finish for Holloway
Not to speak from a much superior (and unfortunately rather inconsistently used) kicking game.
He can be drawn into extended exchanges but I really don't see Kattar being able to deal with Max for 3 or 5 rounds.
Wide UD or late finish for Holloway
