Mike Tyson was a beast at his peak, ruling the ring with force unparalleled in boxing’s history. His devastating punches forced many a boxer to choose retirement. Yet, studied by fans and legions of coaches, Tyson’s techniques still prove relevant despite a separation of three to four decades, when the champion utilized those to devastating effect. Former Olympic bronze medalist Tony Jefferies dissects Iron Mike’s techniques which not only proved brilliant defensively but, in turn, funneled his power over the opponent in the most unorthodox way.

Born in Sunderland, England, Tony David Jefferies took up gloves at ten. He won the Light Heavyweight bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Jeffries made his retirement announcement on Facebook on September 23, 2012. Despite surgery and treatment, the constant problems with his hands forced him into retirement. Tony and fitness guru Kevan Watson of Kentucky run the Box ‘N Burn boxing gym in Santa Monica, California.

The Peek-A-Boo and Master Mike Tyson

More than a million subscribe to a boxing tutorial channel on YouTube hosted by the six feet two inches tall Jaffa. In one of the short video clips, he shared the rudiments of Mike’s punching power, especially the most inconceivable angles he used to take for launching an attack.

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Highlighting the critical reasons behind Tyson bobbing his head sideways, Jefferies mentioned the first to keep the opponents guessing in terms of the position he might take for an attack. The technique benefitted defensively as well. It helped Mike sneak unobtrusively and escape a few damaging punches in turn.

Finally, displacing his body weight over one leg while bobbing helped Mike set up a brutal combination of a straight right or right cross and follow it immediately with a left hook.

The technique used to defeat numerous adversaries

Coach Cus D’Amato is considered the progenitor of the peek-a-boo style in boxing. It reached widespread fame when his most famous disciple, Mike, launched his mortifying campaign in 1985.

The peek-a-boo appears offensive, but its primary function is defensive. A counter-punching staple that requires a high level of defense when the fighter moves closer to an opponent. Mike Tyson is unarguably the most legendary practitioner of the method. However, Floyd Patterson was considered the first boxer to put the technique to use. The Gentleman of Boxing won the Middleweight gold medal at the Helsinki Olympics. Later, as a professional, he became the Heavyweight champion twice.

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