Category: Boxing

Combat sports require timing, experience and conditioning for fighters to excel. There is no better way to gain timing and experience while also improving conditioning than through live sparring.

There are different types of sparring with different purposes, ranging from slower paced technical sparring where specific techniques are worked and full blown high intensity hard sparring that is as close to a real fight as can be.

Sparring allows you get to hit an opponent who hits back. You get to work on your offensive and defensive skills while wearing bigger gloves and headgear to absorb shots. You get the full conditioning benefits all while working on your fight game. Done properly, sparring is one of the best ways to work on conditioning and honing your fight skills.

Sparring requires you to make the same movements that you would in a fight at a similar intensity. If you have any weaknesses in your fight game, hard sparring will help to expose them. If you need a quicker jab or you have a bad habit of dropping an arm too low, sparring could make it more obvious. Then you can spend some time honing those skills and improving your weaknesses to eliminate them as much as possible.

Is hard sparring necessary to become a good boxer?

How Hard Sparring Might Harm Your Fight Game

While it always is great to gain good experience with quality hard sparring, it also is possible to overdo it. The old adage of “practice makes perfect” more correctly is “perfect practice makes perfect.” That means you need to be on your best fight game and fighting your best to get the most out of hard sparring.

If you are too tired due to already putting in a good workout, hard sparring could just show you are tired and not provide any real benefits. Even worse, it would subject you to potential injuries.

A concussion, sprained wrist or a pulled muscle could make it even harder for you to prepare for a quality opponent. In worst-case scenarios, you might suffer an injury that could jeopardize your fight ambitions, like a detached retina.

Who to Choose for Hard Sparring?

Hard sparring is a potentially excellent tool for sharpening your best fight skills while also working on your weaker ones. The key is to have ideal sparring partners who can push you but are not going to dominate you.

A fighter of about equal capability and who also would benefit from the hard sparring without getting carried away would be a great option.

The best partners for hard sparring are those who have good fight skills and can take advantage of your mistakes. Nothing will help you to remember where you screwed up than taking a blow that you feel but does not cause damage. But you need to spar with fighters capable of doing that.

You cannot improve if you practice against weak sparring partners that you easily could beat. But you also cannot learn if you consistently go against a significantly superior fighter who is less likely to make mistakes like your next opponent would. Your best sparring partner is one slightly under your level so that it’s not too hard but not too easy.

How Often for Hard Sparring?

The best training method is one that requires a high frequency of decision making and high frequency of feedback but where you don’t get hurt. That means quality sparring that tests your skills and forces you to improve or get hit more than you should in a live sparring situation.

Someone who doesn’t get punched much could spar every day, so that is what you aspire to accomplish. The better your defense, the more you can focus on your offense and devising a strategy to beat your opponent.

Someone who gets hit a little, can spar two or three times per week.  Someone who gets hit a medium amount of time should not do hard sparring more than once a week. And if you are someone who gets hit too much, you shouldn’t spar until you improve your defense.

Beware of Toxic Gym Wars

Boxing is not a sport for timid people. When you have high-level fighters working out in the same gym, some natural competition is bound to happen. Gym wars could turn training into a competition of ego, which might have a negative effect on the quality of hard sparring.

Gym wars can be very bad for training by something that doesn’t have anything at stake into something huge and very personal. That increases the chances of injuries and could force you out of the gym. A gym needs to be supportive and develop young fighters. That does not happen if gym wars are getting in the way of productive training.

The Finite Game

When you are preparing for an upcoming fight, you need to maintain your focus while at the gym. That focus needs to be on the finite game. The finite game is the competition in the bout the counts the most for you. For all fighters, the next fight is the bout that counts the most, because you cannot advance without winning. Even a quality loss against a fine opponent could prove beneficial to your fighting career.

With your focus on the finite game, your entire goal is to win it at all costs when the big fight date arrives. You need to keep your mind on that end goal, which is the finite. If you fail the finite game you stand a much stronger chance of losing against a quality opponent. In the finite game, you’re willing to get hurt and you’re willing to injure the opponent.

The Infinite Game

The infinite game is the training at the gym. You cannot win at the infinite game, you cannot win at sparring or training. The only goal of the infinite game is to last as long as possible in order to become as good as possible. The goal is to maximize your potential.

If you injure your training partners, and you find yourself alone to train, you will fail the infinite game, because you’ll have no one to practice with. To last in the infinite game, to maximize your potential, you need to help your partners get better. So you get better fight practice later on.

Minimizing the Bad Effects of Hard Sparring

You do not want to make hard sparring punishing for you or your sparring partners. It is important to give a breather to the weakened sparring partner who might be worn out and needs to heal up from a recent fight or excessive hard sparring.

Unlike in a fight, you don’t have to win at all costs, you can give a break to a stunned partner. Avoid sparring with much better boxers who have bad intentions but do work with those who are willing to help you to improve aspects of your fight game.

Calibrating the amounts of sparring sessions will help to minimize the potential for taking punishment that is similar to a live fight. It also will help you to focus on competitive sparring with other fighters of similar levels and similar weight classes.

Consider Alternative Sparring Methods

Shadow boxing, using the heavy bag and the speed bag also are good ways to improve you fight skills. It also helps to adjust how you use hard sparring in your training. Much more skilled boxers often throw only jabs to the head and all body shots, while less skilled boxers throw everything.

When you watch movies or TV shows about boxers, you probably see hard sparring in the ring. There’s always some drama associated with it, some animosity or competition. But those portrayals of hard sparring may have given you a faulty view of what sparring is, what it’s used for, and what types of sparring are typically the most useful for training and growth as a boxer.

While sparring can be an effective way to learn skills and practice fighting strategies and techniques, hard sparring may just go a little too far. It’s always possible that instead of getting a really great workout, you’ll end up injured or worse.

What is Sparring?

Sparring is usually considered a form of practice for boxers. It’s when you go through all the motions of boxing, but in most cases, you don’t land heavy blows. Your goal is not to destroy each other. Instead, it is usually a way of preparing for a fight in the ring, whether it be eventual or imminent.

Here are some of the most frequent reasons you might undertake sparring.

• It supports your growth as a boxer, but more importantly, it allows you to develop skills
• Sparring helps you build speed while beginning to get a sense of the cadence of blows in the ring.
• It allows you to build up stamina, as you gradually build to longer sparring sessions with more experienced partners, etc.
• Sparring encourages and requires situational and tactical awareness.

It doesn’t matter how much you’ve been learning in your time at the gym. If you’re not able to implement that knowledge and use it in the real world, it is useless and hopeless. You need to take the theory and apply it to your boxing style in real-life scenarios.

Why is Sparring Important?

Sparring is important because you’re able to test your skills, put your theoretical knowledge to the test, and prepare for upcoming battles, tournaments, or other boxing events. Sparring is a way to learn from your fellow boxers, since you can carefully watch and emulate every move they make. It’s also a way to test out new moves and evaluate how and where adjustments still need to be made. Here are a few top reasons to try sparring.

• Sparring gives you a taste of what a fight will really be like, albeit in a controlled way.
• It allows you to practice your skills and techniques against a live-and-moving target.
• You will accept the realities of the fight, with the inevitable conclusion that anything can and will happen.
• Sparring allows you to prepare for the idea that you must defend yourself.

Sparring is a great way for boxers to learn and push beyond those preconceived notions of limitations in a safe and controlled environment. It’s also a great way to let off some steam in a high-intensity workout situation that releases endorphins to make you feel better, more relaxed, and energized. That’s also part of why sparring can be used as a positive for mental health.

How Does Hard Sparring Differ?

Hard sparring necessary boxing is usually how you refer to a more aggressive, even violent form of sparring. Even hard sparring should not be an excuse to try to beat up your opponent, but it may be misconstrued in that way. It’s often used to prepare for a big fight, because with hard sparring you can get a sense of what it’s really like to fight.

Hard sparring can also give you a better sense of timing, speed, and distance. It’s designed to feel more real, which may lead you to perform in ways that are a bit more uncharacteristic for you. If you’ve been training, you should expect that you will rise to the challenge and perform as you’ve been trained to do. While hard sparring should not be undertaken on a regular basis, coaches sometimes recommend hard sparring as a way to knock out the cobwebs and get the boxer in the right frame of mind for a fight.

Top Tips to Achieve Success in Sparring

Sparring is a great way to build toughness and resilience in what feels like a real-world scenario, but it should still be a safe, learning environment, where you still get a great workout. Here are a few top tips to consider when you start sparring.

• Get the Basics Down: Initially, your primary goal with sparring is to get the basics down. You have a lot to learn, and one of the best ways to do that is to watch other boxers in action.
• Practice: Remember that sparring is all about learning and growing as a boxer. It’s a way to practice skills and learn from mistakes as you see how to improve.
• Listen: Sparring is always more effective if you have a coach who is walking you through the process, encouraging you with tips on when and where to land punches, how to move, etc.
• Breathe: You can’t just hold your breath the whole time, so sparring is a great way to learn when to inhale/exhale, how to regulate your breathing, and when to take a break to catch your breath.
• Keep your eyes open: You should be watching what’s going on and learning. So, don’t close your eyes or daydream. Pay attention and learn from the entire sparring experience.
• Think defense: Particularly as you are starting out, you should be on the defense. You can’t be effective in your offensive strategy until you know more about how to defend yourself.
• Pace yourself: Don’t exhaust yourself, take on more than you can handle, or throw yourself so completely into the sparring experience that you or someone else who we know get burned out, injured, etc.
• Visualize: Can you visualize what will happen when you are able to land punches on your opponent/partner for sparring.
• Pick the right partner: For the best, most effective sparring experience, you need the right partner. It should not always be a partner that you can easily get the upper hand on. You should vary your sparring partner to incorporate a variety of skill levels and experience.

Sparring really is effective as a way of testing your knowledge and skills as a boxer. You can push those boundaries to prove to yourself and others that you really have what it takes to succeed as a boxer. While no boxing scenario is completely devoid of risk, it’s a fun and high-intensity way of training to become the boxer you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

There are two ways to throw a punch. The first is weakly with little to no real effect on the target other than to let him know you are mad about something. That could get you hurt if the other guy responds with a correct punch that uses leverage to greatly improve his punching power and the effect on your face. Leverage is a function of physics and requires your entire body with a good motion and correct form to maximize your punching power through leverage.

The Sweet Science of Leverage

You might be familiar with the old-time description of boxing as the “sweet science.” That is because of the science that goes into throwing an effective punch. It also helps to know the science of the anatomy and how to make it work in your favor with properly leveraged punching power.

In pure scientific terms, leverage is a combination of force and distance applied to a lever to overcome resistance. In boxing, your arms are the lever, your swing is the force, and the distance helps to provide the leverage needed to overcome the resistance put up by your foe. The resistance is what it takes to make solid contact and, preferably, punch through the intended target for maximum effect.

Leverage Behind Bruce Lee’s 1-Inch Punch

Martial arts legend and film star Bruce Lee famously would demonstrate the power of leverage with a punch thrown from just an inch away from the target. that target usually was a large man who volunteered to take the hit. Most were astonished at the massive blow they received and said it felt like getting clobbered from a greater distance by a much larger man. That is because leverage maximized the punching power in even a very tight combat space.

Most people cannot generate any power with a fist aimed just an inch from the target because most people have no idea how to add leverage at such a close distance. Bruce Lee was not most people. Lee used his entire body to generate the power behind the 1-inch punch and made more than one person on the receiving end feel like they just got walloped by a sledgehammer.

A whiplike action created by quickly twisting, leaning into the punching uncoiling his punching arm like cracking a whip generated enough force to wallop anyone. Lee’s 1-inch punch is a perfect example of how using footwork, bodywork, shoulders and arm length simultaneously generated enough leverage to overcome his potential foe.

How Leverage Improves Punching Power

No matter how heavy, tall or muscular you are, you can generate a great deal of power with properly applied leverage. Creating that leverage using the sweet science of boxing could make you a truly powerful puncher. You need to use your body weight, strength, speed and arm length to generate punching power that is well above your weight. When you correctly and swiftly combine those four basic elements with the proper footwork and body motion, you generate leverage that your opponent very much feels when making contact with their body or head.

Torso Rotation and Footwork

Any car enthusiast can tell you that horsepower is great, but it is torque that really makes the drive wheels go round and round with lots of power. Your body is very much like that wheel that needs torque to maximize its power. You get that torque by rotating your torso into the punch. the torque increases your punching power while adding the weight of your upper body and shoulder to your punching power. The overall effect can be very devastating.

Accompanying that torso rotation is footwork that enables you to lean into your punches and put a highly controlled amount of weight behind your punch. The footwork makes it easier to quickly shift your weight and generate more punching power. And you can use your legs to put more weight into your blow at the moment of impact.

When you twist your torso and your feet are positioned at a wider stance with your body leaning into your punch, the torque really creates a strong impact. You also want to use your legs to drive your weight up off the floor and into your opponent. Your legs are the most powerful muscles in your body and can add a lot of power to your punches. When you can combine the proper quickness, rotation, distance and lift, the leverage becomes more pronounced and your punches far more effective.

Elasticity and Leverage Made ‘Hitman’ Hearns a Legend

Tommy “Hitman” Hearns is an all-time great boxer who held world titles in five weight classes ranging from welterweight to cruiserweight. Many of his title fights are classics and fully affirm Hearns absolutely earned his famed “Hitman” pseudonym. Hearns also has another famous pseudonym from his early days with Kronk Boxing in Detroit: The Motor City Cobra.

That name does a better job of demonstrating the source of Hearns’ legendary punching power. Hearns was 6’1” and had long, lean arms with hands that made relatively large fists. When he coiled his body and applied the proper leverage with a twist of his legs, hips and torso, Hearns’ would generate punching power well above the norm for his weightclass. His lean body, long arms and long legs gave Hearns a lot of elasticity that he could use to maximize his devastating punching power.

Arm Angle and Swing Arc

Hearns also used his arm angle to create devastating punching power with his full weight behind a very well-timed shot to his opponent’s head. Hearns often angled his elbow up to create a downward striking angle that punished his opponent with the full force of his fist and forearm. The repeated effects of that punch thrown many times along with other blows likely is what caused Sugar Ray Leonard to suffer a detached retina in his badly damaged left eye after fighting Hearns in a title fight in 1981.

Hearns also would adjust the arc of his swings to create a tight and very powerful right cross. And Hearns used his left hand and arm to deliver jabs, block his opponent’s vision, create distance and deliver a brutal blow with his right hand and forearm.

As Hearns grew older and added weight, his punching power did not diminish in relation to his larger foes. That is because he always had leverage on his side. Combined with fast hand speed and nearly three decades of professional fighting experience, Hitman Hearns fully affirmed his punching power with 48 knockouts among is 61 wins in professional fights. And those fights often were against the best in the world because Hearns still ranks among the best of all time.

Current middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin very much fights like Hearns and likely models his fighting style after the Hitman’s. Like Hearns, Golovkin has mostly knockouts among his many professional boxing wins due to his highly leveraged punching power.

Choose Your Target for Better Leverage

You need to set up your target and proper distance to maximize your punching power. Just like Hearns and Golovkin, you want your fist and forearm to pass through the target area. When the target area is your opponent’s head, your fist should travel about 6 inches beyond the point of impact for maximum effect. If you are doing a blow to the abdomen, your opponent’s body should rise up slightly from the impact.

Good targeting requires the correct distance to maximize the effect of your punches. As much as possible, you want to set up the blows with the correct distance that includes the 6 inches of punching effect. Using your free arm to set up the correct distance can help you to get the ideal range. You can adjust your swing arc and arm angle to create the preferred effect.

As your blows reach the target, your footwork should help to increase your punching power by quickly shifting your weight into your swing. If you have a free hand on your opponent’s shoulder, you should try to turn him slightly and shift his weight off-balance. An off-balance opponent creates less resistance to your punching power. Less resistance adds up to greater leverage and a much better blow.

Being a right-hand dominant southpaw can have some advantages including having your dominant hand forward allowing you to have a faster and more troublesome jab. In this article, we will focus on 5 tips every right-hand dominant southpaw should use. 

The Top 5 Tips For Right Hand Dominant Southpaws:

1. Use the Lead Right Hook
2. Perfect Your Jab
3. Utilize Your Lead Uppercut
4. Improve Your Left Cross
5. Don’t Neglect Your Imbalances

1. Use the Lead Right Hook

He wasn’t a boxer, but one of the simple and powerful principles that Bruce Lee taught that’s used to great effect by smart fighters is to use the weapon that’s closest to your opponent. Your dominant hand is naturally the more powerful one, and in this case, it’s the “closest weapon.” Your right hand is closer to your target and the hook can be devastating when it connects. So, you want to use lead right hooks a lot. Practice the lead right hook a lot when you’re training, until it becomes a fluid single move. It can be a game-changer.

To throw an effective lead right hook, you’d need to pay attention to your lead foot and right hips. As you extend your hand creating an angle of 90 degrees, you’d pivot your lead foot slightly inward, in the hook’s direction, and also twist your hip inward a bit. This combo of hand, lead foot, and hip movements lend greater power to your hook. You’re effectively engaging more parts of your body, not just your hand. When the hook connects, it can unbalance and disorient your opponent. Imagine following it up with an uppercut, before they regain their balance!

 2. Perfect Your Jab

As you know, the jab is the first and most basic punch. So, it’s tempting to think so little of it. That would be a huge mistake because it’s also the most vital punch. It’s incredibly versatile, you can use it for a variety of combinations. In fact, a boxer’s ability and dexterity is reflected in how well they can jab. It’ll help you immensely as you level up as a right-handed Southpaw. So, how can you perfect your jab? 

Use it a lot. Use it as a rangefinder, use it to distract your opponent, use it to annoy them, use it to fight from the outside…You can use it for so much. But, above all, use it to set up power punches such as the cross, overhand, and the uppercut. The best thing is to have a sparring partner you train with often. And make sure you’ve got a punching bag. 

3. Utilize Your Lead Uppercut

The conventional uppercut is power-packed and is often used to knock out an opponent. The lead uppercut may not pack as much power, but it’s also effective. One of its advantages is that the target may not see it coming at all. It’s unlike the conventional uppercut where you unwittingly telegraph the fact that a sucker punch is on its way, something that a nimble fighter could easily evade, making you lose your balance, and leaving your defenses wide open. The lead uppercut is not as long. It’s more “from below,” rather than the side. Of course, the power is coming from your side. 

You’ve gotta do it fast if you want it to be powerful. It’s not a jab. As you extend your lead hand upward to unleash the uppercut, you raise your lead foot on the same spot. This simple movement imbues the punch with more power. Try it with and without moving your lead foot, and you’d see the difference. When you move the lead foot, there’s a tightening of your arm and thigh, which makes the uppercut more directed and efficient. But there’s no need to be rigid. At times, you may not need to raise your lead foot at all. Maybe you just ducked and rolled, your weight would be on the lead foot. Raising it would feel unnatural. You can simply throw the uppercut, even as you “rest” on the lead foot.

4.Improve Your Left Cross

Crosses and uppercuts are the most powerful punches. So, you’d be giving yourself an edge if you improve both. Of the two, the cross is actually more powerful because it travels over some distance, and if it’s not countered, it has the distance to travel over which it can gather momentum and power. When it connects, it’s bound to shake the target. A cross as its name implies is a punch that’s thrown across your body. It starts from the rear. Here, the focus is on the left cross. 

Your left hand and rearfoot are the factors you’ve got to play with. When throwing a left cross, you twist your waist inward (to the right side) and pivot your rear foot inward, too. Both would help lend more power to the cross. To be effective, shortly before the hand lands on the target, it’s slightly rotated. While doing this, don’t forget to keep your right side protected. And, make sure to raise your rear shoulder, to protect your left chin. As a right-handed southpaw, you’re relatively new to using your left hand. 

So, to improve, you’ve got to use it more. You’ve got to deliberately employ it often so that it no longer feels like the spare hand. And be patient, it’d take some time.

5.Don’t Neglect Your Imbalances

There are probably a few boxers in the world who have mastered the orthodox and southpaw stances (switch-hitters, they’re called). They can switch from one to the other with seamless dexterity. And that’s an intimidating and effective skill. Most other boxers, on the other hand, have a stance they’re comfortable in. Guess what happens to them when they meet someone superb at employing an opposite style or someone good at both. To give yourself an edge, you know there’s probably a side or a stance that’s hardly good enough.

 You want to find the time to practice each technique in both stances. Of course, I won’t advise you to do this if you’re a beginner boxer. It might confuse you. Pick a stance you’re comfortable with, get the basics down, then incorporate the second stance. You’d have an edge if you’re a “balanced” boxer. You’d hardly be surprised because you’re clued-in on how it’s done from different stances and angles.

Before we wrap things up, I’ve got more tips for you. Read on to find out more.

Keep Lead Foot Outside

Make sure that you place your lead foot outside your opponent’s. It’s a lot easier for you to move, slip, duck, and clip them from outside. In this position, you’re off the centerline, which makes it more difficult for your opponent to get you. Of course, experienced boxers know this. So, it’s a position you have to keep working on as the game progresses. You also have the advantage of speed, seeing as your rear hand is closer to your target.

Be Vigilant of the Target’s Lead Hand

This relates to the tip below, where I suggested hand-traps. But, even when you’re not able to trap the lead hand, you want to watch it all the time. In a sense, it’s the most powerful weapon at your target’s disposal and they’d be using it a lot. In fact, they’d be looking for an opportunity to use it to unleash great damage. They’d be stymied if you’re alert to their playbook. If you’re alert and nimble, you’d be safe from harm’s way most of the time.

Trap Opponent’s Lead Hand

One of the smartest things you could do is to cripple your opponent’s defense time and time again. So, now and then, trap his dominant hand, and unleash a flurry of different combinations. Say the opponent is good at defense, focus on the most exposed parts, the head, the liver, the body. A barrage of blows to the head can be hard to bear, even for tough dudes. They can’t fully defend themselves. Their rear hand is weaker, but yours isn’t. So, use this technique a lot. It’s one of Vasyl Lomachenko’s go-to techniques. It’s brilliant in its utter simplicity. He bends a bit, springs forward, plants feet, traps the opponent’s lead hand, and he unleashes a powerful left cross. He does it so swiftly. It’s hard for the opponent to predict what’s about to happen.

As we conclude, it’s a fact that southpaws have an edge over orthodox boxers. But, like most things, you’ve got to earn it by working on your conditioning and techniques. You don’t want to assume that being a right-handed southpaw means you’re gonna win. The most skillful and smarter boxer always wins. And, they know that the battle is won long before the day of the contest, it’s won in the numerous (read: countless) training sessions, where you’d hone the tips we shared above and several others that have been proven to work for “sweet scientists.”

The Philly Shell is an effective style. Little wonder, it’s used by some boxers who are at the very top of their game. Fortunately, there’s no perfect, impenetrable style. In this article, we’d check out tips that’d help you crack boxers who use it.

Top 5 Tips Against Philly Shell:

• Attack The Body
• Keep Your Lead Foot On The Outside
• Double Your Jab
• Throw The Overhand Right
• Take The Fight To The Inside

Shane Mosley used some of these tips in his fight against Floyd Mayweather. In fact, at one point, he almost knocked Floyd out. We saw Floyd’s knees buckled, and he seemed a tad dizzy. Now, let’s check out each tip and how you can use them effectively. 

1.  Attack The Body

The shell is effective, but if you’re observant, you’d notice that there are openings in the lower part of the body and a part of the chest that may be exposed. Of course, your opponent will try to protect these areas. And, now and then, in the heat of the action, their defense will crack. One trick you could use is to feint. You could make them believe you’re about to crack them on the head, so they’d raise their lead shoulder (and consequently the lead hand). Instead, use the left to unleash a couple of jabs to the exposed part of the body. And aim for your initial target (head), before they’re able to get back into the shell. 

You’ve got to repeatedly attack their body anytime you get a chance. And also use jabs to create openings. The goal of attacking the body is to wear them down. Since the shell offers them relatively good defense, you want to rob them of energy, so that an uppercut or dizzying hook from you could crack their shell. A right hook to the body is highly effective too. You’d want to aim behind the elbow, otherwise, they’d simply block it.

Julius Caesar Chaves focused mainly on attacks to the body to win his fight with Roger Mayweather (Floyd’s uncle and trainer) who’s a Philly Shell fighter. At one point, the attacks on his body took a toll on him, and he couldn’t continue the fight.

  2. Keep Your Lead Foot On The Outside

The Philly shell is a great position. I must have expressed that sentiment before. So, one of the ways to beat it is to also work on your own positioning. Don’t keep your lead foot on the inside. If you do, you’d limit your ability to move fast and you won’t have much access to the side of their body, which is a great place to target and hit repeatedly. So, keep your lead foot on the outside. Compare having it inside and then outside while you’re training with a partner and see the difference. 

When you’ve got your lead foot on the outside, it’s also easier for you to duck and roll, and it’s a bit more difficult for some of the punches he’s gonna be aiming at you to reach you. One of the best ways to get this foot position right is to do it while you’re punching them. Don’t make it too obvious. Another way is to bait your opponent to throw a jab, and then slip outside when they do. That way, it feels natural. If it’s obvious, a good boxer may move back or sideways to prevent you from getting into that position, because they’re hip to the damage that can be done from that angle.

 3. Double Your Jab

The jab as you know is the most versatile punch. It’s also the most vital punch, and you can use it for a variety of purposes. Naturally, you’d need it to weaken your opponent’s defense. Against a Philly Shell boxer, you want to employ consecutive jabs to the head, midsection, and lower torso, which are uncovered. They’d try to cover them, but if your jabs are consecutive, and coupled with feints, you’d be able to weaken the defense and then land unexpected hooks and crosses. 

So, you want to use consecutive jabs, now and then, to upset their defense and set up power punches. Being in the shell makes your opponent a bit secure. You want to heighten the pace of the fight and make them insecure by throwing consecutive jabs. Let them know who’s in charge.

4. Throw The Overhand Right

It’s hard for many Philly Shell (PS) fighters to defend the overhand right. So, you wanna capitalize on this weakness. The overhand right is “the nemesis” of many who use the PS. You can use it well if you’re taller than your opponent or if you’re quick at pivoting. But it’s also effective, even if you’re about the same height. When you crack them with an overhand right, it destabilizes them. It’d probably push them back a bit. Don’t waste this opportunity, unleash a flurry of punches. If they move out of the shell, use an uppercut to end them.

When you deploy an overhand right correctly (and you’re not too short) it’d connect with a side of the opponent’s head. If you’re able to make it a sucker punch, then it’s more lethal. If your opponent’s got experience with the PS, they’d angle their body back and shoulder roll. So, to get them, aim, expecting they’d lean back and let your punch follow the trajectory of their head movement. Let it connect. Make it count.

5. Take The Fight To The Inside

Many fighters who use the Philly Shell often focus on defense (and they’re good at it). So, they’re more comfy when they’re not too close to their opponent. One way to trounce them is to take the fight inside: that’s to say, take the fight really close to them. Close the distance. They’d feel uncomfortable psychologically and vulnerable physically. Take the fight inside. This will help you heighten the intensity of the fight. It’d put more pressure on your opponent and they can become easily frustrated as they find it difficult to execute their playbook. 

You’d be able to crack their defense and exploit any opportunity the intensity opens up. The pressure can also help negate some advantages they may have over you. Because you’re close to them, jabs would be a tad difficult, but you can wield hooks and uppercuts, and both are even more lethal. So, you’ve gotta take the fight to ‘em. Smoke ‘em outta their shells.

Read on for more effective tips to help you clip the wings of Philly Shell boxers.

Heighten The Pace

If you study many PS fighters, they’re kind of laid back and cool. They focus more on the defense. Of course, they’re studying you, looking for an opportunity to clip you. Rob them of that “calm” demeanor. Increase your speed and be alert to openings as you do this. Ruffle their feathers. Roy Jones did this excellently in his fight against James Toney. Toney is a strong PS dude. Jones didn’t allow him to enjoy being in the shell, he was all over him. He used blows to the body and some powerful uppercuts to prise open the shell.

Jones was fast and gave Toney a lot of grief. In fact, he kept rushing him and unleashed about 5 blows to Toney’s head! By the second round, we could see that Jones’ approach was already yielding fruit. He almost knocked Toney out! In the third round, Toney fell. He could stand, but the shell had been cracked.

Be in Great Shape

Truth be told, cracking a master of the PS won’t be a walk in the park. They’re gonna be able to parry and block a considerable chunk of your punches. In addition to all the points we’ve explored above, one subtle, yet effective way to trounce them is to work on your conditioning. When Zab Judah was asked why he thought Floyd Mayweather was the greatest boxer ever, he said Floyd’s work ethic was crazy. The kind of dude that’d go on a 10-mile run immediately after a 5-6 hour gym session! 

So, you’d better come correct if you’re gonna crack dudes like that. Being in great shape would make you more mobile and swifter and your punches would pack more power. In the words of the great poet and pugilist (:-)), you’d be able to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” What’s not to like. A great PS fighter is calculating. He’s looking for an opportunity to make you eat sucker punches. If you’re in great shape, you’d be nimble, and it’d be easy for you to duck, roll, pivot… And you’d make the best of the few openings you’re gonna get. 

The game doesn’t belong to the person who threw the most punches. The game belongs to the master of defense, who also makes the best of the shots they get (however few they may be). Think Pareto Principle. Boxing is a cerebral game, champ. That’s why it’s called the “sweet science.” Master the tips we explored in this article, they’d help you create bitter experiences for those confident, Philly Shell fighters. 

 

It’s good to be a strong boxer who’s capable of unleashing a barrage of power punches. But, if your defense is weak, you might still experience a gruesome beatdown in the hands of a more “balanced” boxer who’s mastered the Philly Shell. In this article, we’d check out tips that’d help you level up your game. 

Top 5 Tips on Perfecting the Philly Shell:

1. Tuck Your Chin in at the Centerline
2. Maintain Your Fundamental Defense
3. Don’t Block Your Vision
4. Leverage Your Upper Arm to Block
5. Pivoting While in the Shell

Truth be told, the Philly Shell is not for beginning boxers. It’s nuanced, so I expect you’ve got basic boxing moves down before you use it. It’s an excellent position that allows you to defend, execute set ups, and counter punch. Now, let’s explore the tips in some detail.

Tuck Your Chin in at the Centerline

You’d agree that sometimes, something that seems like a little thing can have an enormous impact on whether you win or lose. One of such things is tucking in your chin at the right position. When you’re standing in the classic or peek-a-boo boxer stance, you tuck in your chin in the centerline of your chest, right? It’s understandable that when you use the Philly Shell, you might tuck in your chin closer to your collarbone and shoulder. After all, you’d be using the shoulder a lot. It’s understandable, but it’s a rookie mistake. 

If you do, it actually reduces your ability to defend yourself, because it limits your chance of doing a full shoulder roll. The length of the roll is shortened, and that limits the chance of deflecting the punch. When your chin is tucked in right at the centerline, you have more mobility, which translates to more coverage from your lead shoulder. Granted, the distance between the collarbone and the centerline of your chest isn’t much. It’s just about an inch. But, trust me, it can mean the difference between protecting yourself or going home with a broken jaw! So don’t forget, champ. Keep your chin tucked in, right on the centerline of your chest.

1. Maintain Your Fundamental Defense

While leveraging a Philly Shell, it’s tempting to just focus on the frontal part of your body. After all, it’s closer to your opponent. The truth is, excellent pugilists, focus on all parts of their body. So, you want to make sure that you’re not neglecting your rear side. You’ve got to be super-alert so that your reflexes are right on the money. The way you position your rear hand and how you’re using your rear elbow are vital. Your rear hand and elbow are powerful weapons, don’t forget to wield them. Your rear elbow must be raised high, so it acts as a cover.

In other words, make sure you’ve got your fundamental defense down. Adding the Philly Shell makes you more lethal since your standard defense is already in place. But, if you ignore your rear side, a swift and smart opponent could feint, make you think they’re coming at you from the frontal part, switch mid-action, and deploy a deadly blow to your undefended side. That’s not fun (if you ask me).

1. Don’t Block Your Vision

To execute the roll, you’ve got to turn a bit, as you use your shoulder to deflect the punch. When you turn, it’s all too easy to turn too much, and momentarily block your vision. That way, you may not see a hyper-swift blow aimed at you. No matter the angle you assume when you turn, you don’t want to unwittingly use your shoulder to block your eyes! So, even when you turn, you must still be able to see your opponent at all times. If the roll is too short, you’re unprotected. If it’s too long, you could cover your eyes. When you roll, you just need a small motion. Nothing exaggerated.

You’ve got to find the sweet spot: the midpoint between too much and too little. While you’re training, you could practice with a partner or in front of a mirror. If you’re in front of a mirror, and you’re at an angle where you can’t see yourself, then you know you’re doing it wrong. Don’t be Joe Frazier, in the Thrilla in Manilla. At a point, Mohammed Ali had beaten him so much, he could hardly see! You’ve got to see and anticipate your opponent’s moves all the time.

1. Leverage Your Upper Arm to Block

In addition to the shoulder roll, you can also use your upper arm to intercept punches. You’d raise your elbow up a bit to block effectively. The elbow is a powerful part of the body. If your opponent threw a power punch, and you blocked it with your elbow, they’re likely to feel serious pain, when their knuckles connect with your elbow. Even if their punch were to glide off your elbow as it continues forward, its momentum and impact are reduced or even halted. When you’ve got your elbow up, you can block, you can frame, you can clinch, you can come around…it gives you a couple of options to set up your next move.

1. Pivot While in the Shell

The ability to pivot, dip and duck is one of the most vital skills in your defense playbook. You’ve learned how to do that while in the classic stances. Now, you’ve got to practice them while in the shell. Distribute your weight, so that you’re resting more on your back leg. You’d be more stable that way. You’ve got to maintain your rear hand positioning and be ready to shoulder roll even when you dip, duck, and pivot right or left. That way, no matter what angle the punch is coming from, you still have your chin tucked in right on the centerline, your shoulder ready to roll. And your rear hand is ready to deploy the elbow and other parts are ready to block punches hurtling at you.

You just need to practice the moves several times and it’d gradually become second nature. When you become good at it, you’d become more evasive, you’d be better at countering, and you’d be able to set up an awesome offense. Imagine that you dipped… and before your opponent could stabilize their balance, you unleashed an uppercut that connected! Such is the power of being comfy in the shell so that you can move with ease.

Get Your Stance Right

You’ve got to get your position right. Your right hand should be on your cheek (to protect you from hooks and crosses). From that position, you can easily block jabs, too. While the left hand should be placed on the abdomen. When a punch is aimed at you, you roll the shoulder (that’s to say you twist it inward a bit and at the same time raise it up). When a hook is aimed at your body, simply use your right and left elbows for defense. Most of your weight is on your back leg.

Bend your Waist

When you’ve just aimed a powerful hook at your opponent, and they’ve retaliated. What do you do to defend yourself? By the way, the simple defense tip we’re looking at is for when you sent the hook all the way through. They’re hurling right at you with a hook that can take your head off. Bend your waist considerably, while keeping your feet firm. Trust me, they’d miss and close the distance, because they’d be unbalanced. You got off their hook. But, immediately unleash another hook to the left side of their body. It’d startle them. That’s if they don’t fall to the ground.

Adjust to your Opponent  

If you’re about the same height (or a little taller) as your opponent, all that you’ve read so far is enough. But, if they’re taller, you’d need to improve your speed, so that you can lean forward or backward to duck the punches. If you don’t, because they’re taller, they have a better reach, and can easily hurt you. If you checked out Mayweather vs. de la Hoya, you’d see how “Money” defended himself so well against “Pretty boy” Hoya, who’s taller. 

Finally, it’s vital to remember that you’re only gonna be as good as the number of times you actually practice. The Philly Shell system is probably the best position in all of boxing. Mayweather is undefeated, and this system is his go-to stance. I suspect it’s one of the secrets to his astonishing success. The shell is not impenetrable, but it’d protect you from a lot of blows.

So, you wanna practice it often with a good coach and sparring partners that’d help you master it so that it becomes intuitive. You also want to work on your speed and reflexes. You’ve got to be swift, champ, to bring out your best as you punch and roll in your shell.

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.

The left hook is an important punch an orthodox fighter can use against a southpaw due to the nature of the opposing stance angles. In this article we will explore how to perfect the left hook against a southpaw including when to use it and how to use it offensively and defensively.

If used correctly, the left hook can be the deadliest weapon an orthodox fighter has against a southpaw. The move can be used to prevent the opponent gaining the lead foot on the outside, as a counter against incoming jabs and blows, and for forcing the other fighter into the perfect position for your incoming cross, leaving them totally blindsided. To help, we will now explore using the left hook against a southpaw in more detail.

What Is The Left Hook?

It goes without saying that a left hook is an essential motive for any fighter to master, whether they are orthodox or southpaw. When practiced and used effectively, this simple punch can become one of the most dangerous weapons in your arsenal, and forms one of the most powerful punches – provided you manage to land right on target. Missing with a left hook can be catastrophic however, due to the power, weight and momentum which is put behind the blow. A swing and miss will leave you off balance, in the wrong position and, most importantly, super vulnerable to an incoming counter punch. For these reasons, you need to always go in confident that you can set up the move and execute it flawlessly – this could be the difference between failure and success; one missed swing has the potential to cost you an entire fight in an instant.

How Do I Execute It?

As a foundational punch, the left hook gets its power by pushing into the ground, from a strong, secure boxers stance. Make sure that your feet are spaced shoulder width apart, and place one foot slightly in front of the other – this is usually the left. Keep your knees slightly bent, and angle your hips angles away from the opponent.

When in the correct position, ensure that your lead foot is flat, back heel elevated, and weight on the ball of the foot – don’t forget to distribute the weight equally between lead and back foot. Then, keep your fists up in the guard position, and shift your weight to the back leg. Technique is everything here; you need to be rotating your lead foot and knee towards the right – this creates the power to move through your torso as the hips twist round.

As the torso moves round, extend the arm outwards, left shoulder to chin, and create a 90 degree angle at the elbow, remembering to keep the bottom of the fist parallel to the ground as you punch – your knuckles should be perpendicular to the body. Always keep your other hand up in the guard position; some enemies may come in with a ‘hook for hook,’ using your hit as a counter punch – protecting your face helps to reduce the chances of this.

Performed correctly, the left hook could be the secret to slaughtering a southpaw – but you need to have the confidence to pull it off flawlessly.

Why Is It Useful?

The left hook can be a killer blow, but it is particularly valuable if you are fighting against a southpaw, due to their preference to lead with the right hand side. The left hook can therefore be the catalyst you need to gain the upper hand in a fight.

The Left Hook As A Leading Punch

Balance is a key element in your favour here, especially due to the potentially brutal nature of a left hook. One of the key tricks to defeating these fighters is to establish your lead foot – the left – on the outside. This places you in a perfect position to control the fight, giving you greater power over the direction, speed and moves employed by the opponent. This benefit also feeds into the importance of the left hook, especially as a leading punch. With your lead foot on the outside, you can throw a left hook aimed at the body or the head with relative ease; you have your power on your side. At the same time, a left hook can prevent the enemy from achieving this lead foot advantage, by preventing them from moving in that direction, and forcing them to the right.

A left hook can also be used to set up a cross, again, thanks to the power of that lead foot. By preventing the other fighter from gaining the advantage in terms of footwork, you are forcing them to move to their left – usually, not the lead side for a southpaw. Not only can this put them off balance, but it also moves them into a perfect position to be in line with your cross – speed here is crucial, and could win you the fight. A great combination is to jab with the left hook; this will usually bait the southpaw into retaliation with a right handed cross or jab, leaving you free to go right in with the left hook and finish the job.

The Left Hook As A Counter Punch

As well as leading, a left hook can also be extremely useful as a counter punch; again, thanks to the imbalance caused by an orthdox-southpaw spat. Every time your opponent attempts to jab or cross, you can go in with the killer left hook, while simultaneously controlling your weight, pulling it back, or pivoting the lead foot and swinging back in a clockwise direction – this follows through the hook while still taking you safely out of harm’s way.

A simple lean can be deceptively effective, as long as you are in complete control of your balance; as the opponent comes in for a jab, lean your weight back to evade the attack, before following back through with a left hook; the missed contact is likely to have your enemy on the back foot and off balance, leaving the guard wide open to your punch. For this to be effective however, you need to ensure that your other hand is firmly in the guard position – this forces the blow from the opponent to be large and visible, giving you plenty of time to respond.

The Best Examples

An orthdodox-southpaw battle is always exciting, and there are a number of examples which can be invaluable for providing an insight into how this looks in person. Here, we will explore some of the very best examples of a killer left hook being used effectively against a southpaw – time to watch and learn!

• Miguel Cotto v Sergio Martinez

The power of a left hook was a key factor in Cotto’s now famous victory over Sergio Martinez, and he employed one of the techniques we have discussed above – the jab to the left hook. As Martinez vied for control of the inside angle, he was forced to continually counter the jabs being thrown from Miguel Cotto’s left hand, using a jab of his own as revenge – only to be countered by a killer left hook from Cotto.

• Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Zab Judah

Initially, Judah looked like the surefire win when he headed into the ring with Mayweather; his incredible speed and agility had Floyd on the backfoot, knocking him seriously off balance, and keeping him disorientated with a series of left crosses and right hooks. All was not as it seemed, however, with Mayweather being quick to take back the control by blending a series of lead right crosses, followed with a lightning fast series of left hooks as Judah adjusted to the crosses – once again, using the element of the unexpected in order to successfully gain the upper hand.

• Lucas Matthysse vs Demarcus Corely

Matthysse is another amazing example of the power of the left hook, using it to finish his fight with savage southpaw Demarcus Corely – known as one of the best fighters of his time – following a total of 8 knockdowns, allowing Matthysse to be declared victor. The secret to his success was a left hook to the body, often set up with the right cross as we explored earlier. This allowed him to use Corely’s stance, weight and balance to his full advantage, keeping things fresh and unexpected, and forcing the guard down so that the killer blow could be delivered.

• Erik Morales vs Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao is a fighter known for his devastating left crosses; something of a rarity amongst many southpaws. Despite this formidable strength, Morales nonetheless managed to get the better of his opponent, using a deadly combination of overhand rights, right crosses and, you guessed it, surprise left hooks to get Pacquiao right where he wanted him. Once again, the left hook is unleashed as a secret weapon here, with Morales jabbing, feinting and attacking with a right cross or overhand, before suddenly leaping in to deliver the left hook with a vengeance.

Tall, rangy southpaws can be awkward and tricky to handle. In this article we will examine 5 ways to deal with and counter a tall, long range southpaw. There are 5 main techniques which can help you obtain the upper hand over a tall southpaw, and these are:

1. Win The Lead Foot Battle
2. Jab While Circling To Your Left
3. Use The Right Cross
4. Use The Left Hook
5. Get On The Inside Safely

Let’s examine each tactic in further detail and look at why they are effective against a tall southpaw.

1. Win The Lead Foot Battle

One of the major skills to master when fighting a tall southpaw is the ability to win the battle to have your lead foot on the outside – this simple means that your left foot is always placed on the outside of your opponent’s right foot. Though simple, this trick can help ensure that you control the fight. Having your lead foot on the outside allows you to place yourself in a better position to move and attack, and allows you to take the lead and force your opponent’s moves to benefit you. You will also be in a better position to throw left hooks, crosses and jabs, all of which land slightly to the side of the enemy – they will constantly be on the defense in an attempt to keep your punches at bay, allowing you to go in for the full attack.

There are a few simple ways to achieve this:

• Walk Over

If you are fighting an opponent not known for their foot work, you may simply be able to step over, placing your foot in the advantageous position, without them realising that you are gaining the upper hand.

• Bob and Weave or Slip

When you have a chance and your enemy is on the offensive, you can use your shorter height to your full advantage. Move quickly, bobbing and weaving to avoid their blows and punches, but move to the left while you do this – this will provide the perfect opportunity to place your foot on the outside, instantly allowing you to turn the fight,

• Sidestep Jab

Jabs are an essential tool against taller southpaws, as they allow you to use your opponent’s weight against them, Take advantage of this by sidestepping everytime you let loose with a double or triple jab; the jab will keep your opponent busy and distracted, allowing you to place your foot firmly on the outside. These jabs can also be used to set up a cross once you are in position, offering a dual attack to blindside your opponent.

2. Jab While Circling To Your Left

Once you have placed your lead food on the outside – and worked to keep it there – you need to also make the most of movement. As a shorter fighter, you have the advantage of agility over a taller southpaw; every inch in height will slow them down, forcing their reactions to take a nanosecond longer, while the mirror effect of their southpaw stance can be disarming, causing focus to lapse. Once your foot is in place, you can start to circle to the left while jabbing; this has two advantages. You will be in a perfect position to throw a cross and keep up a steady flurry of jabs, and, at the same time, are blocking crosses from the southpaw, allowing you to focus solely on right hooks or the occasional jab. This frees up your focus, allowing you to move more quickly and deliver fast, effective blows.

3. Use The Right Cross

A right cross is a counter which crosses over the left lead hand of your opponent, and can be a real benefit when facing a southpaw – especially for orthodox fighters who will be using their strength the opposite way. Using both of the techniques we discussed above – gaining the outside advantage and circling – you can set up a flawless right cross to the head, without your opponent seeing the movie coming. If you are really fast, you can even throw a right cross at the same time your enemy throws his jab – this will really throw them off guard and could see you claim the upper hand. Feints are also great for setting up right crosses; feint a jab to bait your opponent, and then go in with a killer right cross they never see coming. With enough speed and agility behind you, their height will no longer be an advantage.

4. Use The Left Hook

In addition to a strong right cross, perfecting your left hook can also help you to obtain the element of surprise, and is super easy to set up once you have gained the lead food on the outside advantage. This footwork will leave your opponent continually attempting to establish their lead food on the outside, and a left hook delivered at the right time can totally block this. This will lso force the other fighter to move to the left – perfectly in line with the right cross you are setting up. Continually circling left will also help to offset the balance and rhythm of the fight, keeping you in control, and this means that your enemy is more likely to miss – remember, it takes a lot for energy to swing and miss when you are tall. Over time, this allows you to wear down your opponent, forcing them to constantly fight on the defence, and leaving their guard wide open for you to go in with a killer left hook.

You can also defend yourself this way; every time they go in with a jab or cross, counter with a left hook, while simultaneously pulling back with the lead foot and swinging clockwise, moving you neatly out of harm’s way while still attacking.

5. Get On The Inside Safely

Getting close enough to cause some damage is often a real challenge for shorter fighters, especially if you are an orthodox taking on a taller southpaw; this can get confusing very quickly, causing you to make silly mistakes and lose the advantage. Getting on the inside as a shorter fighter is really all about speed and agility, and so feints and jabs will become your new best friends. The trick is to keep the opponent on the defence as much as possible, using a series of quick-fire jabs and combos, as well as circling to the left, to reduce their chance of getting in a clean hit.

The goal is to get inside, deliver your blow, and move out of range as quickly as possible – preferably in the same move. The left hook can be a killer weapon here if used correctly – use your weight to move your lead foot back as you follow through on the punch, allowing you to pivot out of range and get back on the outside. Using a combination of inside and outside will help to tire out your opponent, while keeping your energy up and your footwork slick for fast, effective movements. Jabs are also key here – you can get in, attack and get out before the opponent has a chance to react.

Orthodox V Southpaw: How To Secure A Win

A fight between an orthodox and a southpaw is always going to raise a few interesting challenges, and can be a great way to test your skills, versatility and flexibility. The tips above can really make the difference between a win or lose if used correctly – remember that your footwork is likely to be a key aspect to success or failure, so run plenty of drills to work on this.

It can also help to observe a real ourthodox v southpaw fight in action, to see what these tips look like in a genuine fight. Some of the major matches to analyse are exploded below.

• Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Zab Judah

This fight is a great example for those looking to study the benefits of a strong right hand cross. Mayweather started the fight at a disadvantage thanks to Judah’s speed and solid left cross; this was designed to unbalance Mayweather, leaving him continually fighting on the defence. Using lead right crosses, Mayweather regained the advantage, blending these with left hooks to the head and body to turn the tables and keep Judah on the back foot.

• Lucas Matthysse vs Demarcus Corley

Corley’s southpaw style has seen him enjoy wins over some of the best fighters in history, making him a formidable foe. Matthysse managed to gain the upper hand using a powerful left hook, set up by a right cross as we discussed earlier. This allows Matthysse to use his strengths – a killer punch and deadly combos – to his full advantage, even when fighting a southpaw.

• Erik Morales v Manny Pacquiano

A blend of left hooks and right crosses helped Morales defeat Pacquiao’s famous left cross’ prior knowledge of this favored move allowed Morales to unleash a combination which kept Pacquiao on the back foot and fighting on the defense, backing him into a corner to allow Morales to head safely on the inside and unleash punches until he emerged victorious.

While most boxers opt to fight out of one stance there is a rare breed of fighter who prefers to switch between orthodox and southpaw to confound and confuse their opponents. Switch hitting is a tough skill to master but if perfected can be utilized to master effect. In this article we will look at our top 5 switch hitters in boxing who set a leading example. The top 5 switch hitters to study are:

1. Marvin Hagler
2. Tyson Fury
3. Terrence Crawford
4. Naseem Hamed
5. Andre Ward

We will now review the unique switch hitting style of these boxers and how they used stance switching to their advantage in the ring.

1. Marvin Hagler

Hagler is a must have on any switch hitter list, due to his flexible style, versatile moves and a deadly jab. Despite being a right handed fighter, Hagler was predominantly trained as a southpaw, giving his jabs a force which often helped him gain the upper hand. He takes full advantage of these heavy blows by combining jabs with a series of feints and fast movements, forcing nis opponent to stay guessing right up until the last moment, and landing a killer jab when it is too late to respond.

Hagler is also responsible for delivering an impressive sledgehammer jab, which he maximises by controlling the entire situation effortlessly. A precision fighter, he tends to favour a series of diversionary skills such as feints, waiting for an opening to appear, in order to land his sledgehammer jab. Working at the mid to short range, he is patient enough to wait for an opening, and then delivered with plenty of power.

2. Tyson Fury

If we are looking for a multifaceted fighter, Tyson Fury is the man of the hour. He has a unique ability to switch his fighting style in the blink of an eye, keeping things fresh and versatile, and leaching his opponent constantly questioning his next move. He refuses to be simply labelled as a swarmer, a puncher or a brawler, but instead adopts an unorthodox hybrid style which incorporates all three – perfect for keeping the opponent on his toes.

By refusing to be pigeonholed into a particular style, Fury takes full advantage of his southpaw status, and ensures that the opponent is always on the defence. They are so busy trying to work out what he will do next, or the direction he will move in, that they do not have a chance to attack. Fury uses this discomfort to his full advantage, moving quickly and using the benefits of excellent agility to sweep in and take the jab, leaving the enemy reeling. Versatility is the true name of his game, and this ability to adapt, chameleon like, to his surroundings is what makes Fury a truly excellent switch hitter, and forms a major part of the secret to his success in the ring.

3. Terrence Crawford

A natural southpaw, Crawford uses this to add an element of surprise to his fights which help him to emerge victorious. His natural stance is to keep his body weight over the centre line, with shoulders head on, and the head in line with the rear feet – a contrast to the preferred position of many boxers, who favour the head in a central position between both feet. This simple alteration can be enough to confuse more orthodox opponents, who will have a tendency to overcommit with their jabs, causing their balance to falter, their power to reduce, and creating an opening for Crawford to take full advantage of. His unique stance also helps to automatically keep his shoulders square – this, in turn, offers a shortcut allowing him to counter any incoming jabs before they have a chance to make contact.

There is also a certain stillness to Crawford’s style; he limits his head movement, and minimises his lateral movement when fighting at long range. He also keeps things simple, focusing primarily on a flawless execution of the basics consistently throughout the fight, rather than combining several complex moves to a lower standard. Despite this, he is not afraid to make the most of feints and dizzying combinations of these basic moves, and the simplicity of this grants him stamina. He keeps going, relentlessly delivering deceptively simple hooks, jabs and feints as the opponent is gradually worn down, allowing him to reach in and deliver the killer blow when it is least anticipated, ensuring a win.

4. Naseem Hamed

Whenever in the ring, Hamed has long been compared to a snake in his fast, unexpected movements, sudden changes, and reflexive style. There is an unconventionality in everything he does, leaving his opponent constantly on the back foot and unsettled. He is known for a relaxed, almost casual fighting stance, which usually features his guard down and loose, but his body is coiled and prepared to strike at any moment. This confidence lends him power; cat-like reflexes mean that he is reacting to the opponents moves almost before they have realised them, and this helps to keep him one step ahead at any time.

That is not to say, however, that Hamed is simply a reactionary fighter; on the contrary, he is always second guessing the opponent, seeking the opportune moment to leap in and land his famous one-punch knockout.

5. Andre Ward

 Ward is another fighter with a tendency to amalgamate a number of styles into one, and this helps him keep his opponents on the edge. Jabs are his primary weapon of choice, and he once referred to the move as a “lost art” in the world of boxing. Not only does he use jabs as an offensive move, but he takes the opportunity to set up shots, and keep aggressive opponents at range, giving him time to deliver his move. His jabs are versatile and constantly moving, always targeting a different body part to keep the other fighter guessing, while the other hand is constantly parrying and blocking to prevent the enemy getting in too close. As well as focusing on jabs, Ward also recognises the importance of excellent footwork, and has demonstrated the efficiency of this by darting around the ring, ensuring the other player is always on the back foot both physically and psychologically.

Ward’s flexibility is one of his key strengths, and he has been likened to water for his ability to change form in the blink of an eye. This makes it tricky for his opponents to predict his next move; he is always adapting and changing, keeping him one step ahead, and allowing him to gradually wear down his opponent over the course of a fight. Once they are losing strength, he will go in with a killer blow and secure a confident win.

How To Succeed As A Switch Hitter

As we have seen, the top switch hitters recommended above all have a few factors in common: agility, versatility, and a close attention to footwork. Succeeding as a switch hitter is tricky, and requires speed as well as technique, and an ability to adapt when you need to, rather than be tempted to stick to a specific combination. There are a few essentials to bear in mind when practicing, and we will explore these below.

• Train Both Sides

It can be tempting to favour your dominant side when training, as this is where most of your focus and strength tends to be. In order to succeed as a switch hitter, however, you need to make sure that both sides of the body are treated equally, allowing you to build not only strength, but also balance and agility on both sides. This will enable you to react quickly to your opponents attempts, and throw them off balance by taking it to the other side without putting you at a disadvantage. Not only does this mean training on both sides, but also incorporating ambidextrousness into everyday life – even something as simple as brushing your teeth with both hands can really help.

• Use Your Strengths

One of the advantages of switch hitting is that it allows you to really play to your strengths; if you have a powerful straight with your right hand, but also need to use the same hand to deliver a stinging jab, switch hitting allows you to do both. By knowing where your strengths lie, you can design combinations to benefit these.

• Understand angles

Part of the power of switch hitting is the ability to switch your stance in order to gain the advantage over your opponent. During your training, it is essential that you practice getting used to achieving the optimum angle to attack; this will ensure that you are one step ahead at all times. In the simplest terms, the ‘angle’ refers to achieving a superior position on your opponent, ensuring that you are no longer in their ‘line of fire’, but that they are stuck in yours. Switch hitting means that you can continually achieve this, altering your stance depending on their plan of attack, and always subvert this before they have a chance to land a successful blow.

For many years, boxing has been dominated by shorter, smaller boxers. In this article we will focus on our top 5 boxers any shorter fighter should study. Learning by example will unlock the door to insider hints, tips and skills which can help you make the most of a smaller stature, and maximize your chances of victory. To help with your education, the top 5 short boxers to study are:

1. Roberto Duran
2. Floyd Mayweather
3. Manny Pacquiao
4. Vasyl Lomachenko
5. Ricardo Lopez

We will now review the highlights of each of these boxers and how they utilized their skills in the ring; by studying the best of the best, you can ensure that you gain the advantage each and every time, and make sure that you enjoy win after win, no matter the size of your opponent.

1. Roberto Duran

With a formidable reputation, Roberto Duran has earned his moniker as ‘Hands of Stone’ for good reason. A combination of fast movement, slick footwork, and the ability to avoid significant punishment are all winning weapons in his arsenal, helping to keep his fighting style fresh. He is also famous for his feints, allowing him to draw a reaction from the opponent, and plan his next move based on their reaction – this is an amazing opportunity to gain a valuable insight into the techniques and movements they may be planning, meaning that a shorter height is far less of a disadvantage. Duran also possesses an enviable ability to break rhythm without warning, having set up a seemingly predictable routine; this is key in blindsiding the opponent, allowing Duran to go in with an unexpected jab.

One of the major strengths demonstrated by Duran has to be his ability to read his competitor. This is a fighter who truly demonstrates the value of a strong psychological game, as well as an impressive physical technique. Through close observation, feints and tests, Duran is able to very quickly get the jump on the enemy, reading and predicting their moves and giving him time to offer a killer counter. Height is no obstacle here; with this valuable insider information, it is only a matter of time before he ends up the victor.

2. Floyd Mayweather

A discussion of smart fighters cannot continue without reference to Floyd Mayweather, whose ring IQ is often considered one of the best in the fame. He has an innate ability to predict and recognise a punch, and uses this foresight to his full advantage. Mayweather’s stance has long been a focal point of discussion; rather than face his opponent face to face, he typically adopts a side-on stance, left foot forward, and legs widely spaced. A shorter height is advantageous here; Mayweather uses this to create a low centre of gravity with weight distributed evenly, and this creates a solid foundation which offers the chance to duck, turn or recoil quickly, with minimal foot movement, helping to conserve valuable energy.

Not only does this famous stance help to ensure perfect balance, but it also sets Mayweather up as an impenetrable force from the get go. Any attacks from the right are blocked by his back or left arm, or can be easily absorbed long before they make contact with the chin. At the same time, Floyd favours keeping his right arm free where possible, helping him parry punches from the left. This combination helps ensure protection even from taller fighters, who are likely to expend a great deal of wasted energy on their missed blows. A low centre of gravity then allows Mayweather to dole out jabs and punches from a range of angles, leaving his opponent continually on the back foot and making it easier to gain the upper hand.

3. Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is a fighter who blends speed, power, athleticism and raw talent into each and every fight he faces, and this deadly combination has helped him gain a crown as world champion. One of his key weapons is an incredible ability to use speed and stamina for a deadly combination of punches; a single 12 round fight once saw him throw over 1200 punches. This power, paired with a truly devastating left hand, allows Pacquiao to throw a series of combinations which leave opponents reeling from the volume, and they rarely have a chance to recover before he heads in with the next combo. In this, he is able to physically overwhelm his opponent with sheer volume and speed – competitors are left spinning as they try to keep up, and this can be particularly challenging for taller fighters, who expend more energy when they swing and miss.

As well as killer blows, Pacquiao also uses his agility to his advantage, with his footwork keeping him in continuous movement around the ring, and running circles around the enemy – usually literally – forcing them in closer as they attempt to land a blow. In this, Pacquiao is truly an inspiration to shorter fighters, demonstrating perfectly how a smaller stature lends itself to serious speed and agility which simply cannot be touched.

4. Vasyl Lomachenko

Vasyl Lomachenko is often likened to a dancer by boxing fans, and it is easy to see where he gets this reputation. With agile footwork, a lightness which belies his strength, and a flexible, intelligent way of moving, Lomachenko has no qualms about getting right into the space of his opponents, forcing them onto the defensive. He favours a combination of rapid quickfire jabs and feints which always have his opponents at a disadvantage.

Speed is a critical weapon in any boxers arsenal, especially those who lack the advantage of height. Lomachenko is well aware of this, and has the ability to come at his opponents from a range of angles, changing direction and angle with little warning to help ensure he obtains the upper hand. This also allows him to completely dictate the pace of each fight, as well as the range the battle is fought at. His combatants are constantly trying to keep up and predict his next move; this distracts them from the business of landing blows, allowing Lomachenko to strike and obtain the win.

5. Ricardo Lopez

Some boxers go their whole career with just a minimal amount of losses to their name, and are widely remembered and applauded for a successful winning streak. Ricardo Lopez, however, takes this to the next level – not only did he retire undefeated after a lengthy professional career, but he also never lost a fight when competing as an amaeteur. Such a legacy is not to be taken lightly, and is proof that a smaller stature is no obstacle to success. But how did he do it? Lopez’s success all comes down to his incredible ability to combine technique and power into every move, preferring to stay at close range and take his opponent out with a series of stunning combos, while the heart of his strength lay in technically perfect footwork which kept him constantly just out of reach of the enemy.

Using fast, neat footwork and exceptional agility, Lopez was a master at evading the blow from his opponent, before landing a brutal attack from the inside. He was also highly skilled at disguising his jabs, shifting his centre of gravity slightly onto the lead leg rather than stepping forward; this allowed him to build momentum and power, without warning the enemy that a jab was coming.

Shorter boxers often face a greater challenge than their taller counterparts, but that does not mean they cannot be incredible fighters. As we have seen from the legends above, there are a variety of trips and tricks you can employ to improve your technique, and help you gain the advantage.

• Stay Light

Agility and speedy footwork are a key tool used by all of the fighters we have discussed above, and can help a short fighter obtain a win. A smaller statute tends to mean you are lighter on your feet, making it easier to bob, weave and move around the ring. Focus on making sure that your footwork is as accurate as possible, and make sure that your training includes a good amount of agility work. Used correctly, this can help you to keep your opponent moving and swinging without landing a punch – the perfect chance to tire them out and keep them on the defence.

• Build Up Speed

Speed is a critical element of success, and we have seen how well this is employed by fighters such as  Pacquiao, who prefers to bombard his enemy with a dazzling combination of punches until they are forced to concede. This takes time, practice and accuracy, but putting in the hours can make a huge difference to your performance.

• Work on Your Jab

The jab is a major element of success for short fighters, and can be used in a variety of ways. Use your jab as a rangefinder to help ascertain the best spot of attack, and experiment with different angles and directions to deliver a killer blow when it matters the most.