This piece

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7476455/brian-phillips-boxing-career-freed-american-slave-tom-molineaux

so I started reading this piece, posted here Hereby BECW washout and all around villain Subdevil,and when it mentioned that wreslting throws we're permitted in early boxing, it made me think...Would the knuckles up style of bare knuckle boxing be better suited to defending the takedowns?

Think about it...fists held palms up are already in position for under hooks, and in most of those old images, the guys tend to have a fairly wide stance too, giving them a lower center of gravity and a better base to defend wrestling.

Of course, this might not be the best way to avoid leg kicks, but when you are fighting a guy who is primarily a wrestler, it makes sense.

Think about how Njokuani looked against Castillo...aside from the hand position, he had a pretty wide base himself. Far wider than normal MT stance.

p

Is that why that posture evolved?

Sorry for the terrible formatting...my iPad sux on BE fanposts.