Can a puncher be Taught or are they Born?

There are countless examples of punchers being created. Punch mechanics are a huge factor in the power that's generated. Sure being strong naturally can help but with a strength and conditioning program you can increase your explosiveness significantly.

 

This topic has been done before - Punching power can be improved with technique and increased muscle mass but the ATG one punch KO artists like Julian Jackson, George Foreman, Naseem Hamed etc. are born with it

 

^100% this^

 

This question is as old as "The chicken or the egg", haha.

Recently, after Haney fight, i watched interviews from 2 big punchers from the east, namely Beterbiev and Nazarov. They didnt know where their power comes, but both said that you cant punch hard with brittle hands. Beterbiev is advising doing one specific exercise for hands, wrists and fingers (if somebody is interested i can post video with time stamp ).

Learning punching technique is not a rocket science, but still fighters dont become huge punchers like Foreman or Shavers. For example, Canelo working hard on his power, but he is still more of precise and accumulation puncher, he is turning his hips, loading on every punch and his hand speed is A+ too, but he isnt monster one punch artist. I think he gasses so hard because he is trying hard to punch with power.

 

Some great punchers are made, some great punchers are born.

 

I was working with a young fighter who was almost the perfect article. The only thing he lacked, was control. He just couldn't take the power out of his punches, and that meant people didn't want to spar him. To ensure he got the right experience, I knew I had to bring that power down a notch. I did an exercise an old gangster named Bricktop showed me. I gave him a towel, told him to wrap it round his head until he couldn't see. Then I told him to outstretch his arms. Then I got out a big ass axe, and cut off his right hand. No punch, no power.

Genius.

 

Im putting in Thomas Hearns as a taught puncher.
He was a featherfisted amateur with 11 ko's in 160+ fights and turned into one of the most famous and feared ko artists.

 

punching power youre either born with it or you inject it.

 

“There is no such thing as a natural puncher. There is a natural aptitude for punching and that is different. Nobody is born the best. You have to practice and train to become the best.”

— Cus D’amato

 

Being trained in plaster of Paris or the crafty art of stitch over fist, lol. These advanced techniques are only mastered by the truly dexterous of humanity.

 

I think some of what makes a puncher is a mean disposition and an attitude of wanting to hurt somebody badly. It's the extra edge that makes the difference between a boxer keeping defence and offence balanced and a surly MF'r that just wants to take your head off. A puncher often gives up on some of the finer points of the art and he's ok with that. There's (relatively) few guys that can box well AND take your head off.