Boxrite: Successful boxing tactics against Southpaw opponent

Here I will be discussing proven tactics used when sparring or competing against a southpaw boxer. This is a frequent question I get asked at Boxrite. Below are pointers that are not only applicable for boxing but combat sports in general when against a left handed opponent.

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5 Tips to Improve & Strengthen Left Hook

The left or lead hook is an effective punch every fighter should master, a well-timed hook can have a devastating effect on an opponent. The hook travels a short distance from the start point to the target, making it difficult to defend against. The power is generated from the hip rotating in the direction of the hook transferring the bodyweight from the lead to rear foot. In this blog I will refer to this punch as lead hook because Southpaw stance boxers lead with the right hand.

It takes many hours of training in the gym in developing the hook, initially focus mitt training with the coach to learn correct technique and body mechanics, then undertaking set partner drills including defences against a hook. Punching bag training improves timing and gauging range as the bag sways in different directions, the boxer will use correct footwork to manoeuvre into position and strike the bag with either single lead hooks or combination punches that include the lead hook.

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7 Benefits of Floor to Ceiling Ball Training in Boxing

The floor to ceiling ball, also known as the double-end bag, is an air-filled ball suspended by elastic cords from the floor and ceiling. Varying in shape and size depending on the boxer’s intended training objectives:

  • The larger size ball is suited for beginners, being easier to punch at due to the larger and slower target as the cords are not tight.
  • The smaller ball will move faster, difficult target to hit due to the size and speed from the tightened cords. This ball is suitable for experienced boxers training to improve speed and accuracy when punching.
  • Floor to ceiling balls vary in shape such as the peanut shaped or connected top and bottom balls offering head and body targets.
  • Tear drop shaped floor to ceiling balls allow the boxer to focus on angled punches such as hooks and uppercuts.

The tension of the cords effect the movement speed after being struck, if the cord tension is tight the ball will be rebound faster than the cord being slack making the ball move slower.

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5 Tips for Dealing with Ring Performance Anxiety

Recently, I received correspondence from a young boxer. He is having difficulty applying the skills developed in the gym to sparring and competition, due to excessive nerves and anxiety prior to stepping into the ring.

This feeling of anxiety is caused by adrenaline being produced in the body by the adrenal glands. It plays an important role in the fight-or-flight response from perceived threats by increasing blood flow to muscles, maximizing output of the heart, pupil dilation response, and spike in blood sugar level.

This energy or adrenaline rush heightens our state of alertness along with improving reaction time to either escape from a threat or fight back. The downside effects are that the body is being fatigued and lethargic accompanied with a feeling of nausea when this rush wears off.

The following steps can assist overcoming anxiety before sparring sessions and competition. This takes time depending on the boxer’s ability, development of skillset and demonstrated self-confidence.

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6 Tips How to Improve Infighting Skills

To dominate your opponent effectively from the inside position is better known as ‘infighting’. This will not influence the judges’ scoring a round. This demonstrates the boxer’s ability of fighting at long range for a taller rangy style boxer, and medium to close range for a shorter boxer.

Infighting is effective when boxers are of similar height and shorter height. To take the inside position a boxer must either:

  • Set up an attack to close the distance with opponent using similar combinations such as jab, cross and hook to head or body to gain the inside position.
  • Make opponent punch using tactics such as the feint to draw the opponent to attack then slip opponent’s punch and target their midsection with short Hooks and Uppercuts, switching their attack to the head.

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6 Common Styles of Boxers

A boxer’s individual style has evolved from technical skills continually practiced in the gym along with physical and psychological attributes. Physical attributes include height, build and reach and psychological can be aggressive or defensive in nature when competing. Commonly encountered…

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8 Benefits of Skipping Rope Training in Boxing

Skipping rope training is beneficial for a boxer’s fitness level along with improving body mechanics and coordination. Noticeable short term benefits include cardio respiratory fitness, muscle strength and endurance.

Include skipping rope training to a boxing workout for developing vital skills required for sparring and competition such as:

  1. Balance
  2. Timing and rhythm
  3. Coordination
  4. Footwork
  5. Agility
  6. Conditioning
  7. Low Impact on Joints
  8. Cardio

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How to Score a Professional Boxing Round – Part 1

Many factors influence the judges scoring during a bout. They may have preferred boxing styles and tactics that influence the awarding of points, some may favour technical skills whilst others have a preference for power. This is one of the reasons three judges are seated strategically at separate vantage points around the ring to view bout from different angles to score.

I have judged many professional boxing, Muay Thai and MMA bouts which use a similar scoring criteria. I will attempt to explain the scoring criteria and process used in scoring rounds over the following two articles. Also, having trained boxers at all levels, I have managed to apply the criteria into tactics that may influence the judging panel:

1. Clean Scoring Punches
2. Ring Generalship
3. Defence
4. Effective Aggression

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Five tips how to improve your boxing combos skills

A series of punches thrown nonstop in succession without break in between is commonly known as a combination

Being a boxing coach watching many rounds of sparring and bouts, I notice boxers place emphasis on scoring with single power punches to knockout an opponent. This is fine if an opponent offers little resistance and is easily hit. But if an opponent had decent ring skills, this would will fatigue a boxer over several rounds becoming vulnerable to counterattacks, resulting from being off balance, and out of position eventually losing the bout.

A boxing judge will score a round to the busier boxer with clean effective combination punches, as this is perceived as dominating the round.

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The Art of Counterpunch, Boxrite boxing training

A counterpunch is a punch that immediately follows an opponent’s punch exploiting openings created in their defence from the attack

An effective counterpuncher relies on defensive skills and reflex acquired from rounds of focus mitt and partner drills becoming instinctive, practising various defensive skills against a punch. These skills include blocking, parry, slip and ducking to name a few, along with recognising specific idiosyncratic signs an opponent would display when about to commit with a punch, the most common traits being the elbow lifting or shoulder flinch prior to punching.

It is also important to maintain appropriate range (distance) from an opponent to be to anticipate and react to a punch and successfully score with your own counterpunch:

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