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Which Boxing Style Is Right For You?
Switching styles can be the difference between lying on the canvas unconscious or celebrating with a world title.
Believe it or not, having a boxing match isn't as simple as getting in a ring and punching someone repeatedly in the face. In fact, it is quite technical, and there are many boxing styles.
Firstly there are two stances: orthodox, which is the most common, is leading with your left hand as your jab and your left foot forward. A southpaw or a ‘righty’ is the opposite; a fighter which uses his right hand to jab and stands with his right foot forward. There are the lucky few which can switch hit; meaning they can change stances at will, and Marvin Hagler is one of the most famous switch hitters.
Style wise, you have the upright or ‘boxer’ type, who like to keep it ‘long’, thus utilising their height advantage and leaner body composition, throwing straight shots at range and making it difficult for their opponents to close the gap to throw their own. Thomas Hearns & The Klitschko brothers are good examples of this type of fighter.
Then there are the close/inside fighters which like to stay as close to their opponents as possible, in order to throw short hooks and uppercuts to body and head, whilst rolling their body and head out of the way of oncoming shots. Mike Tyson is a prime example of this, and this style usually suits the body type of a shorter, more muscular fighter. Someone that carries a great deal of strength and power for their weight.
You then have counterpuncher or ‘loose’ fighters, also known as unorthodox. These fighters tend to carry their hands low as opposed to a high guard, such as the two above. They rely on reactions to dodge punches and to counterpunch immediately from different angles, these fighters usually rely on speed and superior movement to avoid punches. Examples of this type of fighter would be Roy Jones Jnr, Nonito Donaire, Prince Naseem and Manny Pacquiao, though Pacquiao could be considered a brawler or box puncher too.
You also have brawler types which again, like the close/inside fighters, like to be near to their opponents, but they have a tendency to throw wild shots from unorthodox angles and are happy to ‘trade’ punches knowing that their power is superior. Rocky Marciano would be a fine example of a brawler or slugger.
Another category would be the box-puncher; a hybrid style of the boxer and brawler, this would be someone that can box at range but possesses a good amount of punch power and can brawl and throw lots of hard shots in flurries when the time calls for it, usually when they have connected with a good shot and the opponent shows signs of fatigue and/or are unsteady on their feet. Examples of this type of fighter are Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Felix Trinidad.
There are of course many fighters which fall into two or more of the categories and have the ability to change styles and use the attributes of each of the options. For example, Floyd Mayweather is considered a stand up boxer but also feels at home close up and can deliver short sharp shots if need be. He can also drop his hands and avoid punches with superior head movement much like the counter puncher or ‘loose’ fighter. Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya and Joe Calzaghe were all able to mix their styles and box at range, up close or even ‘brawl’ if the occasion called for it.
For my style; I would consider myself a box-puncher, throwing long shots but applying pressure and trying to throw shots on the inside when the time is right. Many modern day fighters apply all of the styles to their arsenal and can switch styles during a contest. It can be the difference between being the fighter lying on the canvas unconscious at the end of a fight, or the one celebrating with a world title.