Body shots in amateur matches

Lol wat?

You haven't boxed for a few years?

 

They are always worth it. If they're delivered correctly, anyway.

 

Scoring 'points' hasn't been in the amateurs for a long time, the scoring is the same as the pros. So bodyshots are very important, to vary levels if nothing else. Even when it was points it was worth it and the best amateurs threw body shots.

 

It was always rewarding, to bring their hands down and to vary levels. It's a lot easier to hurt to the body than to the head as well.

 

A lot of coaches don't even train for defense against body shots.

 

Not throwing body shots is just stupid, for so many reasons.

They're particularly useful as counterpunches. Nobody likes to run into a hard counter to the body while they're extended throwing. Tends to make guys less likely to let the combinations go on you. Really good against guys who are faster than you.

 

Something you don't see a whole lot of (I can only think of Mayweather Jr. offhand as someone that employs it liberally) is the body jab.

Low-risk, not very taxing on your energy reserves, almost guaranteed to score - and it serves a multitude of purposes. (1., while individually not hurtful, they add up over time if you keep sticking them, eventually affecting the opponent's ability to suck wind, 2., it pretty much freezes them wherever you want them for a moment, everybody instinctively stops what they're doing when poked in the belly, 3., if landed regularly enough you plant the seed of expectation in your opponent's mind, so next time he sees you about to jab and it lands on his face, it may come as enough of a surprise for you to build off the jab and land something else)

 

I'm not a big fan. I think it's actually the most taxing punch on your energy reserves, having to dip down and it having to be fast from the outside. You also can't really throw anything off it, and it's easy for the opponent to see and counter off it with hooks to the head.
It's good when you have a hesitant opponent who just has the ear muffs on.

 

...which aptly describes most inexperienced amateurs. :good

 

True true

 

I disagree, if done properly it is very difficult for your opponent to hit you when you throw a proper jab to the body, and once you spend time and develop it*, it's quite energy efficient.

Personally I find the punch to be useful during the first 30 seconds of a sparring round, and in between exchanges to "keep busy", and let your opponent know you're not tired. ( even if you are ). A great punch to throw off it is to come up and throw the right straight, or left straight depending on your stance. ( and you can work from there...)

My boxing teacher loves this punch, and he says what IB mentioned, about how more boxers should add this punch to their tool kit."Low-risk, not very taxing on your energy reserves, almost guaranteed to score."

 

Amateur boxing I wouldnt really throw too many body shots. Yes I know the scoring has been readjusted but if you can show me an amateur world champion /medalist winning his fights by throwing many body shots, well then i can show u a unicorn in my backyard as well. Furthermore the gloves are too soft to really dig into the ribs, most can just be brushed off even when thrown hard, and the short duration of the fight means it wont have such an effect on your opponent. I would say use it sparingly and dont make it the center point of your strategy.