Cardiff School of Sport DISSERTATION ASSESSMENT PROFORMA: Empirical 1 Student name: Student ID: Leon Goodman ST10000981 Programme: SPE Southpaw and Orthodox styles in Professional Boxing. Dissertation title: Supervisor: Peter O’Donoghue Comments Section Title and Abstract Title to include: A concise indication of the research question/problem. Abstract to include: A concise summary of the empirical study undertaken. Introduction and literature review To include: outline of context (theoretical/conceptual/applied) for the question; analysis of findings of previous related research including gaps in the literature and relevant contributions; logical flow to, and clear presentation of the research problem/ question; an indication of any research expectations, (i.e., hypotheses if applicable). Methods and Research Design To include: details of the research design and justification for the methods applied; participant details; comprehensive replicable protocol. 2 Results and Analysis 1 This form should be used for both quantitative and qualitative dissertations. The descriptors associated with both quantitative and qualitative dissertations should be referred to by both students and markers. To include: description and justification of data treatment/ data analysis procedures; appropriate presentation of analysed data within text and in tables or figures; description of critical findings. Discussion and Conclusions 2 To include: collation of information and ideas and evaluation of those ideas relative to the extant literature/concept/theory and research question/problem; adoption of a personal position on the study by linking and combining different elements of the data reported; discussion of the real-life impact of your research findings for coaches and/or practitioners (i.e. practical implications); discussion of the limitations and a critical reflection of the approach/process adopted; and indication of potential improvements and future developments building on the study; and a conclusion which summarises the relationship between the research question and the major findings. Presentation To include: academic writing style; depth, scope and accuracy of referencing in the text and final reference list; clarity in organisation, formatting and visual presentation 2 There is scope within qualitative dissertations for the RESULTS and DISCUSSION sections to be presented as a combined section followed by an appropriate CONCLUSION. The mark distribution and criteria across these two sections should be aggregated in those circumstances. CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd CARDIFF SCHOOL OF SPORT DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) SPORT & PHYSICAL EDUCATION SOUTHPAW AND ORTHODOX STYLES IN PROFESSIONAL BOXING (Dissertation submitted under the discipline of Performance Analysis) LEON GOODMAN ST10000981 LEON GOODMAN ST10000981 CARDIFF SCHOOL OF SPORT CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd SOUTHPAW AND ORTHODOX STYLES IN PROFESSIONAL BOXING Cardiff Metropolitan University Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd Certificate of student By submitting this document, I certify that the whole of this work is the result of my individual effort, that all quotations from books and journals have been acknowledged, and that the word count given below is a true and accurate record of the words contained (omitting contents pages, acknowledgements, indices, tables, figures, plates, reference list and appendices). Word count: 8705 Date: 15/03/2013 Certificate of Dissertation Supervisor responsible I am satisfied that this work is the result of the student’s own effort. I have received a dissertation verification file from this student Name: Date: Notes: The University owns the right to reprint all or part of this document. CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF TABLES i LIST OF FIGURES ii ACKNOWLEDGEMETS iii ABSTRACT iv CHAPTER ONE 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Background 2 1.2 Purpose 3 1.3 Rationale 4 1.4 Scope and Limitations 4 CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Literature Review 5 2.1 Analysis of Tactics in Sport 6 2.2 Analysis in Combat Sports 9 2.3 Analysis of Tactics in Boxing 12 CHAPTER THREE 3.0 Methodology 14 3.1 System Development 15 3.1.1 Performance Indicators & Action Variables 15 3.1.2 Manual Notation System 16 3.1.3 Pilot System 17 3.1.4 Reliability Testing 18 3.2 Matches Used 18 3.3 Data Analysis 19 CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 Results 20 4.1 Introduction 21 4.2 Actual Data 21 CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 Discussion 29 5.1 Similarities 30 5.2 Differences 32 5.3 Opposition Effects 33 CHAPTER SIX 6.0 Conclusions 36 6.1 Conclusion 37 6.2 Practical Recommendations 38 6.3 Areas for Future Research 38 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Operational definitions for the performance indicators Table 1.1: Average punch type frequencies between each style. Table 1.2: Percentage of Landed punches Table 1.3: Southpaw vs. Orthodox punch outputs Table 1.4: Orthodox vs. Orthodox punch outputs Table 2: Southpaw vs. Southpaw punch outputs Table 2.1: Orthodox vs. Southpaw punch outputs i LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Average number of thrown Body/Head punches per style. Figure 1.2: Landed Head/Body Punches per style. Figure 1.3: Punch Frequencies in each style in different sections of the fight. ii Acknowledgements Many thanks to my dissertation support tutor Peter O’Donoghue for all his help and guidance throughout this process. iii Abstract The aim of the study was to identify the differences and similarities between southpaw and orthodox styles within the sport of professional boxing. It highlighted how their actions differentiate when competing against the same stance in comparison to the opposite stance. Also it illustrated the accuracy of individual actions and how they also differentiate between the styles. A sample of 24 current or previous world champions was used which were split into four separate style combinations. The combinations consisted of orthodox vs. southpaw, orthodox vs. orthodox, southpaw vs. southpaw and southpaw vs. orthodox with each combination consisting of 6 fights with each being analysed. 8 different performance indicators were obtained for the observations to gather raw data that could be interpreted and analyzed. Mann Whitney U tests were used for the data analysis to highlight the significant differences between the different styles. Results showed several different opposition effects in when boxers face the same stance or the opposite stance. The findings showed that when an orthodox fighter is involved in a fight there is a higher frequency of thrown left hooks and left body shots. Additionally, when a southpaw fighter is involved the opposite occurs where there are greater frequencies of right hook punches and right body shots. Overall between the styles the most commonly thrown punch and least accurate was identified as the Jab. The most accurate punch overall was the right body shot. Also results identified a significant difference (P<0.05) in the frequencies of the straight right/left within the orthodox vs. southpaw (OS) and southpaw vs. orthodox (SO) styles in comparison to competing against the same stance. The results highlighted several significant differences (P<0.05) that can be used to enhance training practices and to highlight different techniques that are used within orthodox and southpaw styles allowing a formation of pre-fight strategies. Prospective studies need to identify the impact of these actions in relation to successful performance and also highlight defensive variables that can also affect performance. iv 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background Boxing matches have been recognized as far back as ancient Greece and Rome, where the fighters would wrap their hands in leather (Jordan and Herrera, 2008). These traditional matches were commonly referred to as ‘prize fighting’ that highlighted the barbaric nature of the sport. Today professional boxing is categorized into a series of weight classes that are intended to promote fair competition by matching opponents of equal stature and body mass (commonly referred to as weight in the sport (Morton et al, 2010). A contestant attempts to win by either knocking out their opponent or scoring more points after an agreed-upon number of rounds (Crego 2003). In modern professional boxing the rounds are usually contested at 3 minute rounds with 1-minute rest periods participated under the Queensbury Rules. During each round, judges assess the individual scores of each boxer according to the amount of scoring clean punches made with the knuckle part of the glove against the target region of the opponent. (El Ashker 2011). The sport of Boxing has insufficient available literature that identifies limitations within the boxing performance. There is also a lack of research that has highlighted the significant performance indicators within the sport of boxing that can be used to improve the overall performance. A technique that is now used to provide coaches with a greater range of more accurate and reliable information is performance analysis. The International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport (ISPAS) defines performance analysis as ‘an objective way of recording performance so that key elements of that performance can be quantified in a valid and consistent manner’ (ISPAS, 2009). Also O’Donoghue (2006) stated that the primary purpose of performance analysis in a coaching context is to provide information (feedback) about sports performance that will assist coach and player decision making, whether on tactics during a match or to inform team and individual coaching content in training sessions. Therefore it can be used to improve knowledge of how to improve the overall performance and to 2 increase the probability of success within the sport of boxing. The two styles being analyzed within the current study are southpaw and orthodox. A ‘southpaw’ is a boxer with a stance in which he keeps his right arm and right foot forward. His left hand is generally the better one (Unterharnscheidt 2003). An orthodox fighter therefore, is the opposite who leads with their left arm with their left foot forward. When the both styles are matched against one another there are various techniques that are advised to gain an advantage over the opposite style.