Do Brits really call a straight a "back hand"?

Yes, in the UK I’ve heard the straight right (straight left if southpaw) being referred to as a “back hand” fairly often in my boxing gym, on commentary of fights etc

Most common is just “straight right”, sometimes you hear “right cross”, sometimes “back hand”

 

Don't know why they'd call it that since every org lists a backhand as an illegal blow.

Might as well call a right hand to the head a "head butt." Makes about as much sense.

 

Can you imagine the corner instructions?

Now jab your way in and then backhand and headbutt him.

 

Lead hand
Back hand

Nothing special here

 

He can if the feet are near parallel, something like Tyson fought, or many inside fighters. They have a normal guard outside, but once they get inside, their feet get parallel, so they can throw uppercuts and hooks with both hands equally.

 

I'm a Brit and the way I've interpreted it while watching and listening to commentary is it's just your right hand if your orthodox. Its not referring to the part of your hand you hit with. It's just referring to not your lead hand (left) but the one at the back, behind it or however else it could be described. And vice versa obviously of youre southpaw. Some commentary seems to stick in different sports, in recent years in snooker if someone leaves an easy pot over a pocket the commentator will say "hes stuck it up" Dennis Taylor started that one I think.

 

Makes sense to me to be fair.

 

It’s not the back hand you’re thinking of. It’s literally just another name for a straight punch with your rear hand. It might be more of an MMA thing potentially but it’s a common term here, nothing special. I’m surprised so many have never heard it before, I guess it’s more regional than I realised

 

Orthodox fighters left hand is his lead hand and his right hand is his back hand.

 

Backhand is a foul. Hitting with the back of the hand.

Strange ive never noticed backhand used to describe a cross

 

Only heard Barry Jones use that term

 

Definitely a UK thing, but is well-established
See for some references
https://www.eliteboxing.co.uk/the-basic-back-hand/

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Honestly here in UK, specifically England, a "back hand" is a tennis stroke, or it means htting someone with the back of your hand, in a slap-like swiping fashion, reverse of a punch. It is illegal in boxing, and more associated with how a bully or a wife-beater might go about their business. I have lived in UK my whole life and I'm English.
But I'm old school.