Kracking Kongo

I did not watch the fight on the night it aired. I’ve since watched the knockout on Sherdog, and I can see that Mir indeed used what we call a false lead.

So let me break it down this way. Conventional fighters are taught not to lead with the right hand, because they can be countered with a left hook, or over an over hand right, which could be lights out think (Mayoga v.s. Forrest 1) This combination we like to a 3-2 Hook –Right Cross. What Mir did was step into a lazy jab, and catch Cheik Kongo with his hands down, and chin standing straight up.

What Pacquiao does is what wrestlers call changing levels. The ability to sell one movement while transitioning to another. The way Pacquiao does it is by staying on his toes and bouncing. We call that being buoyant where your weight is never firmly planted on one foot too long. Thus the switch can seem seamless in the motion of a jab, which becomes a lead cross. One other thing to point out was Mir dipping off to the side (natural slip) dipping to his left which lines up the lead right just as he delivered the blow. Had Kongo been playing attention he may have pick that shot off and easily counter with a nice 3-2, or 5-2 combo of his own (the 5-2 being a left uppercut, and right cross). The other key to Pac-man game is that he is a natural left hander; it’s when he goes conventional that he can throw you off because in one bounce he can switch leads and still bring power.


Throwing the Lead Right you have to set it up, timing is everything as you a reaching across your body from your left leg (a lunge into the blow). So you will need the short follow up combo or slipping movement as a fallback. Most times people will weave out of the way expecting to be countered if they miss. That’s why we teach head movement, and taking angles you never want to stand square with your opponent with your hand down by your side if you are a straight ahead fighter.

Daniel Marks
Constellation 52 Blocks