Inside fighting has been somewhat of a lost art in boxing. In this article we will introduce the concept of inside fighting in boxing, including some of the techniques used and some of the sports best practitioners of inside fighting.
In the simplest terms, inside fighting is fighting in close, and staying well within the striking range of a punch aimed at any part of the body. In order to be successful, inside fighting requires a range of versatile skills, including fast, agile footwork, short range punching, subtle upper body movements, and an ability to successfully block any incoming punches using your arms.
Hooks and uppercuts at the short and medium range are the best options when fighting on the inside, alongside powerful arm blocks – these require minimal movement, ensuring that the defender is always creating new attacking options. We will now explore using the art of inside fighting in more detail.
What Are The Benefits Of Inside Fighting?
Perfecting the art of inside fighting can offer you a number of advantages in the ring, and these include:
- Pressure
Fighting on the inside places an increased amount of pressure on your opponent, both physically and psychologically. Inside fighting is very intense, leaving little to no room or space to think or react, and so is excellent for keeping your enemy on their toes, resulting in slower reactions and a propensity to defend, rather than attack. Inside fighting can, therefore, be a great way to gain the upper hand not only physically, but psychologically.
- Nullify
The pressure placed on the opponent can be extremely useful in negating any advantages which the enemy may have in terms of speed, skills, power, defense, height and reach. This can be extremely valuable if you are fighting an opponent with a particular strength or talent, or for shorter opponents up against a taller fighter, and allows you to avoid the most deadly attacks.
- Frustrate The Enemy
Fighting on the inside can be a great way to frustrate a particularly defensive or aggressive opponent, and this can be key to putting these fighters off their game. Excessive aggression or anger can cause your opponent to lose their focus, and they may be more likely to take risky moves, overstretch, or lose their balance. Additionally, any swings may be poorly judged, increasing the risk of a swing and a miss – the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a temporary loss of balance and go in with an attack.
- Control The Ground
Staying on the inside helps you take control of the fight, and offers a chance to wrestle your way out of a bad situation. By remaining in such close proximity, you are limiting the moves your opponent can throw, directing their movement, and controlling the ring. Using inside fighting can also help you to dominate the ring; your presence is constant and unavoidable, and this can offer a significant psychological element which can help you win.
- Tire The Opponent
As we mentioned, inside fighting is extremely intense both mentally and physically, and this can be a great way to tire out your opponent, while taking a break yourself. Up close, your enemy will be unable to unleash their full arsenal of attacks and punches, and will instead be focusing solely on their defense – over time, this can be enough to seriously wear them down, leading to fatigue and creating an opening.
How To Excel At Inside Fighting
Becoming proficient at inside fighting required hard work, dedication and practice, but there are a few tricks you can employ to help boost your skills.
- Stay on the Outside
While it might sound counterintuitive, fighting on the inside required you to stay on the outside – and with good reason. Traditionally, classic boxing advice was to stay on the outside, and this referred to boxing at a range, while finding angles to avoid attacks from your opponent. The same wisdom applies here, but with one significant difference: the feeling of being on the outside.
In short, imagine that there are two circles, one large, one small: your opponent is in the small, inner circle, while you remain in the larger, outside circle, surrounding the other fighter. Your opponent must be made extremely aware that they are on this inside circle – there should be an increasing sensation that they are stuck in a small space, with blows and attacks coming from every side. In time, this will impact their moves; the psychological aspect of feeling trapped will force them to decrease the space they take up, increasing their guard, reducing their movements, and forcing a retreat.
At the same time, the player in the larger circle – you – will appreciate the space, and get into the mindset of a winner. You will feel free to attack, move and surround your opponent at all angles, with a clear view, easy access, and a sense of freedom – this will inevitably show up in your movements.
- Lean Back
Transference of weight can be the secret to success when inside fighting, but it requires excellent balance and agility. In the simplest terms: you move forward as your opponent moves forward. Place more of your weight on your back foot, allowing you to lean back slightly, and wait for a long, straight shot to come your way. Once the punch has been thrown, bend at the waist, dip your head, and step forward under the punch, aiming the shoulder into your opponent’s ribs. This is a perfect way to get inside, without taking the risk of a blow.
- Punch Your Way In
A combination of punches can also help you to get on the inside; throw multiple punches as you move forward steadily; your opponent will be forced to continually block your attacks, offering you plenty of chances to make your way closer. The key here is to make sure that your punch requires a block, rather than a chance to slip – the goal is to keep your opponents hands busy so you have a way to enter. To achieve this, aim punches at the chest or the guard – this not only reduces the impulse to slip, but also ensures that the opponents guard remains in place, and reduces the chances of them pre-empting your plan of attack. Alternatively, you can feint a move by falling in with a punch – make it look as though you are swinging wildly, inciting a block, and use the chance to move in closer, offering an ideal opportunity to get your opponent on the back foot. This can work extremely well against defensive opponents, or those who lack the skills in their footwork, or the agility in their movement, to counteract your attack.
- Trap Your Opponent On the Ropes
If your opponent is close to the ropes, you can trap them to allow you to gain the inside advantage. Square off your stance, and move slightly to the side – this cuts off the ring, and prevents a successful escape. Your opponent will have no choice but to move sideways or forward, allowing you to take full advantage and launch into a close range fight with minimal effort on your part.
What Are The Other Popular Fighting Styles?
Inside fighting is a style which brings with it a huge range of advantages, and which can be a real game changer if skills are honed and practiced correctly. There are, however, other styles favoured by fighters, and it is worth gaining a thorough understanding of these, not only for your own development, but as a tool with which to understand your opponents. Knowledge is power, and having a better understanding of the potential styles you may be up against allows you to react quickly and instinctively, adapting your fight wherever required.
Some of the other most popular styles include:
- Outside Fighting
As the name suggests, this involves keeping distance between you and the opponent; outside fighters tend to favour short jabs and fast movement at a range, while waiting for the opportune moment to launch a long, powerful blow. Examples of top outside fighting fans include Muhammad Ali, Amir Khan and Thomas Hearns, amongst others.
- Boxer – Puncher
The boxer puncher style is one of the most versatile and dynamic styles of boxing, and one which incorporates the best elements of all boxing styles into one single space. Those who excel as boxer punchers will typically begin by working on the outside and work their way inwards, using a series of combinations from range in order to cause frustration in the opponent, and try to force mistakes – these can be taken full advantage of, as they often offer a perfect opening. It is often accepted that boxer punchers can make the trickiest foes; they are constantly moving and adapting, making it hard to predict their next move. They do, however, have a weakness: many fighters of this style focus primarily on attack, and this can leave holes in your defense. Fighters of this type include Mike Tyson, Miguel Cotto and Sugar Ray Leonard.