i just spar and do boxing training for fun and fitness. I am 32 so not trying to do any serious fighting at this point. I've gotten pretty decent at sparring and have done okay against some amateur guys. One spot I keep having trouble with is the straight right, especially from guys with relatively fast hands. The problem is my mind can't decide quick enough whether to slip it or try to block it. So sometimes I hesitate for a split second and get hit flush. I don't have this problem with any other punch really...just the straight right. Is this just something that is going to have to come from experience? Or should I just decide in my mind ahead of time that I'll either slip or block all the right hands?
Both: the experience will allow you to decide faster wich defensive move is more comfortable for you. Check your guard becuse you are maybe too open or with your hands too close to your face and frontal so you can't see the straight punch and have no distance nor angle to parry, step back or evade it.
Keep your feet moving and move your head in the direction that you're feet are moving, but just be aware of potential traps. Ducking is usually a good option too.
you have to slip and crouch all the time, even when he is not throwing straight right. That makes you moveable and aware all the time, there is no time to think when he is already throwing a punch. Watch top fighters, they make slips and other defensive movements when opponent is not throwing, they also use that as a feint.
You should be trying to slip it and your guard should be in place to if you fail at slipping that you just block it.
If there was a perfect answer, nobody would get hit by straight rights. Consider the tips in this thread, advice from coaches, and other resources online. The important thing I think is that you go into your next sessions focusing on one or two strategies that make sense to you. Try them out. If they don't work, rinse and repeat until you find something that works for you. I think the important thing is that you're focusing on the problem, and you're trying out solutions.
Thanks for the advice guys! I will be sparring tomorrow so I'll try the suggestions out. There is this one particular amateur fighter that I have trouble with. Obviously he's a lot more experienced than me but I have about 30 pounds on him, which evens it out somewhat. Anyway, he likes to throw the lead right ala Floyd (obviously no where near Floyd's level), and that's what gives me the most problems. I'm pretty good at slipping the right when it comes after the jab bc I'm expecting it but it's that lead right that gives me trouble. Also, everyone else I spar with seems to fight in a certain rythym that I can eventually figure out to a certain degree. But this guy doesn't have any set rythym or tendencies I can figure out and adjust to...I'm sure he actually does have tendencies but I'm just not experienced enough to break the code. He also switches stances which gets me all confused. Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
I presume your a right hander so really practice your footwork moving to your right. Will take you out of the straight line setup, force him to turn or over reach and allow you to come over and around with a hook on the ear.
No worries - takes a few months of regular work to get it down, seen lot of guys dodge doing this work because they feel uncoordinated, turned ankles, can't get power on the shot or they start to change / cheat on the work and change stance instead. My gym it's a must, guys gotta do it and get fluid at it before they even get a go. IMO when you get it down it really gets in opponents offensive head and opens up a lot of canvas and targets.
So I sparred the same guy this morning and definitely felt like I improved in terms of defending the straight right. At first, I was probably overthinking things a little caught and caught a couple glancing blows from the right. But once I got warmed up and a little more comfortable, it started to become more instinctive to me, and I was doing well slipping the right. I still haven't gotten to where I can counter very well off of it, but I'll continue working on it, and hopefully that will come with more experience. But the real exciting news was that I scored a knockdown on this guy. This is the first KD I've had against anyone with any real amateur experience. To be honest, it was probably mostly luck but it came from a left hook to the body. It wasn't even that hard of a punch from my perspective but I must have placed it perfectly somehow. I threw it just as he was throwing a hook to my head. It wasn't a counter...we just happened to throw at the same time and by going to the body, I ducked just enough to miss his hook. He seemed fine but like 3 seconds later, all of a sudden, he had to take a knee. Even though it was definitely a lucky shot, it was an awesome feeling, especially since several people were watching. I got a lot of props from the guys in the gym, and I actually felt like a real boxer for a minute! Anyway, thanks so much for all the advice, and I will definitely continue working on all the tips I've received. I think what worked best for me was to make sure I continued moving and circling, as well as making defensive maneuvers before he was actually punching. In the past, I've tended to either be in a defensive or offensive mode, and have had trouble seemlessly transitioning between the two. However, this time, by focusing on continued circling and head movement, it was much easier. Now I can't wait to get in there again! It's a lot of fun when you see improvement in yourself, and I really appreciate everyone's help!
If you want to be real fancy, set a trap for the right hand, time it coming in where you roll your chin to take most the steam off the shot while throwing a hook or uppercut at the same time. Old fashion trick, never see it coming
Are you talking about the Mayweather style shoulder roll? I love watching that style but don't think I have the reflexes or defensive IQ to pull it off at this point.
If it's a shoulder roll, he's rolling the punch off of his shoulder. I'm talking about something more advanced. I don't watch Mayweather enough(at all) to know his style exactly cause it's boring and doesn't lend well to how I fight unless I want to learn how to run and grab whenever someone dives in.
Good stuff - you had no time to learn anything new so the success is due to mental improvement. Three months, four days a week, half hour dedicated circling work, changing direction sharply and punching off the back step drills and you won't recognise your sparring.
