Well I made a big change in the way I fight for the best. Here's something that I really struggled with...Orthodox or Southpaw? I've been boxing for about 5 years, and switch all the time. I'm equally good at both IMO...Probably because I train both equally. When it comes to boxing though I'm never sure which one I'm going to choose. I think being indecisive with fighting probably isn't the best thing (since you may have hesitation). I'm mainly a right handed fighter, BUT did JKD for about a year, and everything is lead hand/ lead leg so my southpaw got super good. I notice my only weakness is my straight left/ left hook (southpaw) when fighting much taller orthodox fighters. I'm short, and to land a left hook I'd have to have my head on there chest! Orthodox though I have a much easier time. I watch some fighters who switch many times during a fight such as Miguel Cotto. So here's my question....Would I be a better fighter if I just pick one (probably orthodox), and train it 100%?
Doing both allows you to be more versatile. It's all about doing the right thing at the right time and doing it with good technique. I would suggest you fight out of orthodox but use southpaw wisely ala Cotto, Haye etc
Straight left is an important punch for a southpaw so you should work to improve that that if you want to fight southpaw.
I can throw it just fine...I'm not sure if anybody realizes it, but orthodox vs southpaw it's harder to reach somebody. Your front foot is straight with there front foot. As opposed to orthodox where your both inside of eachother. I can't hardly reach unless somebody is coming after me as much as I'm after them. Anybody tall fighter with decent foot movement, and smart enough to run away....I can't land many lefts!
Indeed. Your advice on southpaws has been very helpful, especially on getting the jab working. I rely heavily on my jab so without it I'm lost.
The problem with switching is the posture changes because of the eyes. There are a few stretching techniques that can help, but at the end of the day its all in the eyes regarding peripharil vision.
The south paw is not harder to reach for an orthodox. Have your foot outside the southpaws and double jab to close the gap. It may be harder for the orthodox only because a southpaw has more practise sparring a orthodox then a orthodox has with a southpaw. If you have trouble with a southpaw close the gab with a double jab and straight right then work on the inside and stay there.
To the O.P. Which ever stance you do the most damage in choose. Even if your skill level is the same in southpaw or orthodox. If you land the harder shots as a orthodox, like a hard straight right or hard left hook choose orthodox. The straight left is a very important punch for a southpaw and if the power isnt there i would use southpaw as plan B. But in saying all this try both stances on your opponent early and which ever stance give him more trouble, stick with it. Different opponents require different fight plans, if you have the ability to switch evenly i would choose both stances and try them both out on my oppoent in the first round.
Ah, sorry. Missed the part where you said weakness was straight left/left hook against taller fighters. In a southpaw vs orthodox matchup, both boxers should be trying to have their lead leg to the outside of their opponents lead leg. Whoever has outside position is at a good angle to throw their rear hand straight right down the middle. So as a southpaw you want to keep your lead right foot to the outside (right) of your orthodox opponents lead left foot. This will put you in good position to throw a straight left right down the middle. When I fight a southpaw I want my left leg outside of his right so I can throw straight rights down the middle.
I've been training for about 2 weeks 100% orthodox, and I feel so much better. I have a TON more time to practice orthodox now that it isn't 50/50 orthodox/ southpaw. Noticed really how good/ fast my straight right is now. Just mainly working a lot on my left hook. Now I take the time that I trained southpaw, and use it all orthodox. If I'd train for 30 minutes it'd be 15/15, but now I put the full 30 in to one style. I seriously think knowing/ practicing to much isn't always a good thing. Like they say...Good at everything, master of nothing.