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.