How do you defeat the Philly Shell Defense?

[xophe]

When I spar I use this a lot, and the only weakness I can really tell is that a) you're not in the best angle to fire power powershots and b) if you tip your hat (or dodge lazily) you're more vulnerable to uppercuts.

But obviously Mayweather uses this to great effect (I think it helps that he keeps a wide base stance which requires boxers to "reach" more, giving him time to deflect). He doesn't really get good shots with it though, seems to rely more on reflex and hand speed, so I don't know how great this style is with amateur boxing.

The amateur in yellow in this fight (youtube.com /watch?v=x9-S4y4s57E) starts using the philly shell defense to pretty good effect. He might also be taking advantage of speed and reflexes, but it seems to work.

Thoughts?

[LoadedWraps]

feints, counters, traps, or excessive pressure if you can bully them or exploit an obvious weakness through pressure.

source: I am an amateur who uses a philly shell variation, I can transition between philly and peekaboo but when im in trouble, I go to my comfort zone, that philly shell. I lose mainly when I get straight bullied, or countered to death. Few people match my speed and I adjust fairly well and have good defense.

[LoadedWraps]

There is always something a fighter does better or worse when in a philly shell, rarely are people 100% flawless in their tendencies and habits defending, I excel at protecting my head but I can get tagged to the body easily from distance, in a phonebooth fight if I feel I can win it I stay inside and force the issue, a common misconception is that the philly shell variations are purely defensive, they can be lethal when used offensively, inside my hooks and uppercuts come out quickly and I can roll most everything up top then just drop down a level and roll more or pivot. Counters are the worst, if you start to take away my weapons I will jump on my bicycle and potshot you with my jab and if you get too close I will put that 2 on your chin and peddal out of their with a quickness. I live and die by my straight right, if you neutralize it, I might pull a Kneeguel Cotto, or Ortiz.

[_original_]

Feints, a stiff jab and the overhand right work very well against it. The right to the body is a punch that's always there and easy to find if they're not guarding that side well (watch out for that elbow). Also, it may be more difficult to use that style of defense against a taller opponent (that fights tall) whom can come over the shoulder with an overhand right. Sugar Ray Leonard has discussed before when asked how he would defeat Mayweather Jr., he stated he'd aim for the temple (overhand right) instead of the chin.


I'd like to disagree with your assessment that Floyd doesn't get good shots with it. One of his signature punches, the straight right counter, comes when he's in that stance.

[jas]

You hit the forehead area . Shoulder protects the chin and works with the eyeline so hitting above his eye line...

Even though I thought Castillo lost 114-112 watch first fight vs Floyd
His most common punch was left hook to body I believe and I think compubox credited him with shots that were not landing scoring areas

[dan_cov]

Its used primarily to deflect the right hand so turn southpaw changing the angle or get inside, smother, bully and work the body.

[New England]

the best one is height. long arms help, too.


the idea with rolling the shoulder is to invite a right hand, roll it, and come back with your own.


tommy hearns would rain right hands down on floyd mayweather. they'd land high on the head. he'd have no answer for them.

[HedonisticFrog]

Mayweather doesn't throw as many punches because that's how he would fight with any defense. Other boxers like James Toney have effective offences while using the philly shell and thrive when their opponents pressure them. James Toney vs Iran Barkley is a prime example of this. Iran Barkley also stood right next to Toney and gave him no room and Toney was still effective with the philly shell.

[Ray Corso]

An easy illustration is to watch Canelo with Floyd. Canelo touches with his jab, shell comes on he brings his right in to touch the head the shoulder roll is induced but he drops his left to hook and gets countered quickly by Floyds right!

You need to bust your right hand into the upper arm not try and hit the head. Hit the tricep when the turn is employed then step out away from the right hand and throw your left hook into the midsection.
In Floyds case he would step right when he see's Canelo step right to check mate him but then the Roll is expired!
If you want to learn about techniques for & against it watch film of Archie Moore, he was very good at it and fought offensively from it too. Most men today use it as a defense. Its not hard to bust but you can't head hunt because that's what its employed to negate.
That midsection turned over left hook works really well and if he doesn't slid out to escape you could bring the right hand over his left shoulder off the hook. This set up works great if you can get the "roll" in the corner where its harder to slid away.
Ray

[F l i c k e r]

Who cares? Very few people use it and only 1 person of that group use it very well.

I wish someone would use that style on me. I'd have the most fun cause I'd never get hit and I'd pick them apart.