Mike Tyson’s Peek-A-Boo Style – Boxing Lines

When we discuss what made Mike Tyson such a successful boxer, we often look towards speed, strength, and overall athleticism. Some of us discuss how Tyson threw power punches from a crouching stance ala Jack Dempsey. But few, if any boxing fans, consider the fact that Tyson utilized a style that his opponents hadn’t seen since the 1950’s or 1960’s. Iron Mike’s trainer, Cus D’Amato, developed the peek-a-boo style that helped Tyson become the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Let’s take a closer look at Tyson’s boxing style so you can make your bets against his Mike Tyson Odds & Mike Tyson Prop Bets.

Tyson’s Peek-A-Boo Boxing Style Explained

Two of D’Amato’s fighters, Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres, used the peek-a-boo to win championships. The peek-a-boo is a unique boxing style that only a few fighters in history have managed. Iron Mike Tyson was one of those. Check out what makes the peek-a-boo-style and why Tyson was so great using it.

Peek-a-boo style specifics

Orthodox, right-handed boxers hold their right hand at their face. The arm is at a right angle. So is the left arm. The left arm goes forward from the face. This is the classic boxing way to set your arms and hands.

In the peekaboo style, the elbows are in with the hands on the cheeks slightly in front of the face. This is an important distinction from the traditional hand placement. Chin stays down, knees are bent. 

Imagine a young Tyson with his knees bent, on the balls of his feet, hands slightly in front of his face with elbows flush against his body. 

Why Tyson was so effective from the peek-a-boo stance

Before getting into how Tyson used the peek-a-boo stance to dominate opponents, it’s important to go back to the traditional boxing stance. The reason right-handed boxers kept their left foot in front of their right foot and their left arm and hand slightly in front of their face was so they could throw a powerful job.

When Cus created the peek-a-book style, boxing was much more popular. It may have been the most popular sport in the United States. The NFL had yet to sign a television deal, which meant most popular broadcast sports were either boxing matches or wrestling matches.

D’Amato wanted to create excitement and that’s what the peek-a-boo style does. It’s difficult to throw a jab from the peek-a-boo stance because the jabbing hand, the left for orthodox stance fighters and right for southpaw boxers, is flush against the face.

But, Mike didn’t use his jab the way most boxers did. Iron Mike threw a strong jab. It was almost like a power punch jab. With all his punches, Tyson shifted his weight and then set his feet. 

He’d throw a left hook to bring his weight to the right side. Then, he’d throw a right and shift his weight to the left. Sometimes, Mike double-upped on hooks to the body. It didn’t matter which side.

Tyson could explode from the peek-a-boo stance. Often, he’d throw a hook from the stance. Also, Mike countered from the peek-a-boo. Tyson slipped punches by moving his head and twisting his body. 

To whatever side his body twisted, Iron Mike threw a punch from. If he twisted to the left, he threw a left. If he slipped a punch to the right, he threw a right. After Tyson got slow, he couldn’t employ the peek-a-boo style to the same affect.

That’s one of the problems with it. Cus D’Amato’s style depends on a couple of things. First, it works for fighters who don’t wish to use their length. Heavyweights like Muhammad Ali and Buster Douglas use their jab more than any other punch. 

The peek-a-boo style doesn’t work for fighters like that. It’s also a young person’s boxing style. That’s the second issue and the reason why we shouldn’t expect Mike Tyson to employ the peek-a-boo against Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 28.

Frontline Battle Stats | Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones

Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California November 28, 2020 | Bet Here

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