Southpaws in the Olympics

[FredPuli43]

There seems to have been a far higher percentage of southpaws in the Olympics boxing finals than there is of left-handers in the general population.In one , both finalists were southpaws. Do southpaws present a special problem to right-handed opponents which even the experienced ones have difficulty with, or this just coincidence?

[twix123]

There was an article in the Daily Telegraph last week regarding this subject, the gist of which was that as 10% of the population is left handed the number of southpaw boxers is about the same and therefore they would spar and fight, gaining experience, against more orthodox boxers than boxers who lead with their left hands would train and fight against southpaws, which would give them a theoretical advantage by experience.

[gollob]

Is great advantage in lots of sports to be left handed especially tennis where the left handers slice serve goes into a right handers backhand. It's also and advantage in cricket,table tennis and ten pin bowling.

[FredPuli43]

Thanks, twix, that certainly makes sense. Left-handed tennis players must have the same experience. But in professional boxing the advantage is not as marked, if it exists at all. It may be that pro boxers, in their long bouts, aren't as reliant on the classic straight left or right to score points as amateurs are in their short ones, and the sheer awkwardness of dealing with the constant straight rights does not then prove significant for them.

[emmie]

seems some southpaws can also box really well orthodox, making it doubly hard for their opponents, as they can switch between two very quickly.
I must admit i love boxing, it may be a brutal sport to some, but i have followed it since a kid, watching the amateur boxing at the local town hall. New heroine in Nicola Adams, sparky, smiley, but an absolutely deadly boxer.

[Mick-Talbot]

ten pin bowling?

How on earth is being left handed an advantage in ten pin bowling?