You know what your opponent is going to do before they even punch. You’ve seen this combination a thousand times and you’re ready. You glide past their jabs, then fight back with a cross of your right hand and slap their head back. After a few seconds, their legs are shaking, desperately trying to stay upright, while you raise your fist to track them, ready to attack again if needed. If only real boxing were that simple! In fact, things don’t always play out as they do in movies or when we practice in the gym. Sometimes, our opponents catch us off guard with unconventional offense, catch us off guard and almost lose the game. These unexpected moments are precisely what makes boxing such a complex sport – there is no “best way” to win every fight, but rather it depends on which technique is most effective at different moments in the match.
What you need to know to win in boxing
All the techniques we have mentioned in this article are useful, but you need to know which ones to use when. This will depend on how your opponent moves, the type of punches they throw, and how your body feels. You need to pay attention to the game and react accordingly. This may sound overwhelming, but with a little practice and patience, anyone can learn it. Another important aspect of boxing is knowing the opponent’s fighting style. Not only do you need to know what type of boxer they are (i.e. counter-strikers, swarming, etc.), but you also need to know what type of boxers they are outside the ring. Do they have a strong left hook, or do they prefer to jab from the outside? Are they slow but powerful warriors, or nimble warriors? Knowing the type of fighter of your opponent will help you plan your attack.
Footwork is key
It may seem obvious, but in boxing, footwork is everything. Without a solid foundation and solid footwork, you won’t be able to resist powerful combos or even win! Footwork is crucial for two reasons: defense and mobility. For newbies, a weak or flawed foundation can make it harder for you to fend off your opponent’s punches. The sturdy base allows you to move your upper body quickly while keeping your feet still. This allows you to easily turn to the right or left while using your hips to move your upper body in the opposite direction. To maintain a solid foundation, spread your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your knees bent at all times. You should be able to squat and hold this position without falling. If you can’t, you’re either not close enough with your feet together or your knees are not bent enough.
Defense is just as important as offense
Honestly, no opponent will let you hit them as much as you want. They are trained to block, parry, and avoid your punches and kicks at all costs. Even if you stab a few times, you will feel like hitting the wall. Sure, you’ll want to do a lot of jabs, hooks, uppercuts, and crosses, but don’t just rely on your attacks. Mix a lot of defense techniques. When you are not punching or moving towards your opponent, raise your hands. This will help you block most of the punches that come in. It is also important to keep your elbows close to your body. This will help protect your face, ribs, kidneys, and even groin.
Learn how to throw a hook and an uppercut
Both hook and upper hooks are very powerful punches that can end a fight in seconds. A hook is a wide-curved fist that attaches to the outside of your hand and can be thrown from your front or back hand. This is a great trick when your opponent happens to be out of range of the strike. An uppercut, on the other hand, is a short, powerful punch thrown with a forehand connected to the inside of the wrist. It is perfect for knocking someone out or cutting off blood flow to the brain, causing dizziness or even knockout. When throwing any of these punches, make sure your body is turned towards your opponent. This will help you generate more power. When punching, you should also keep your hips forward to prevent your lower body from moving backwards.
Throwing is more than just jabs
Jab is a powerful and versatile technique that can be used by both amateur and professional boxers. It can be used to set combos, control the distance between you and your opponents, and even cut off rings. We’ve already discussed how to use jabs to combine, so in this article, we’ll focus on controlling the distance and cutting off the ring. You can use your jab to control the distance between you and your opponent by slowly extending your arms while your front foot takes a small step back. You should stretch your jab far enough to reach your opponent, but not so far that they can easily reach. This will help you maintain a safe distance between you and your opponent, while also forcing them to take a step back if they want to approach you. This will give you a slight advantage in terms of positioning. You can also use a jab to cut the ring. This will force your opponent to come back to you in circles. While this can be extremely disorienting and even cause your opponent to fall, it will take a little time. If you can successfully cut the ring, your opponent will not be able to approach you for a few seconds. During this time, you should look for empty spots to combine, or use your footwork to prepare them for another truncation attempt.
Make good use of rings
Not only do some people think that boxing is a bloody sport, but it also happens on a small ring in the middle of the playing field. The ring itself can give you a slight advantage, especially if your opponent is not used to fighting in one person. We have already discussed how to use jabs to control distance and cut off boxing circles. You can also use the horns of the ring to your advantage by forcing your opponent to stand directly in front of one of the corners. When they are between rounds or waiting for you to get ready, move to the farthest corner from them and get as close to the rope as possible. When they are in the middle of the ring, this will force them to turn around and walk towards you, which takes time. This can be crucial when you need a few seconds to catch your breath or recover from a heavy hit.
Conclusion
Boxing is a complex and challenging sport. If you’ve ever stepped into a boxing ring, you know how difficult it is to stay calm and focused. The battle itself lasts only a few minutes, but pre-battle preparations can take months or even years. That’s why it’s so important to know about the sport and what you need to know to win. The best way to do this is to practice, practice, and practice. Once you’ve perfected your technique in the gym, you can apply what you’ve learned and really try it out as you step into the ring. There is no magic formula for winning a boxing match. Getting there takes hard work, patience, and practice. If you want to be a better boxer, you need to be willing to put in the work.