There's a guy at my gym that I spar regularly and always have problems with. He's got about 1.5 years more experience, he's about a head taller than I am, and he has a much longer reach than I do. At first he took it really easy on me and I was fairly successful against him the first few times, but now he's starting to turn it up and hit me harder and more frequently. I know there's some info on this in the strategy sticky, as well as articles about it online, but I was hoping to make a thread to ask specific questions, hear other people's stories with taller fighters, and hopefully get some updated youtube links. Here are some of my problems/questions: 1) Counter jab - If I stay on the outside, he'll keep me outside with his jab. Whenever I try to jab and get on the inside, he'll take a step back and counter jab me right in my face. I've tried going in with my right hand anticipating his jab and ready to block, but this limits my vision on the right side and he usually hits me anyways. I've also tried bobbing and weaving while going in or throwing multiple jabs, and this works sometimes, but I still get hit on the way in more often than not. The same thing happens when I try to jab to the body. Is there a better way for me to get inside? Or is getting hit on the way in pretty much the only way? 2) The overhand right - I've read that taller fighters are not used to getting hit with punches coming down at them. The problem that I have is that I can rarely get in range to land one. Think I landed some today after faking the jab, but it's rare that I'm close enough to land one without eating a jab. Should I be trying to set up the overhand right with some jabs, or is it better to lead with the overhand right? Any general tips on this punch? This is one punch I never really practiced until I started sparring this guy. 3) In fighting - I watched one of the Title instructional DVDs on pressure fighting on the inside and tried to use that today. The last 30 seconds of the last round I was able rush in and push him into the corner and against the ropes. I haven't learned how to fight on the inside from my coach yet, so I really had no idea what I was doing. I just tried to land as many shots as I could while I had him against the ropes, but it all happened so quickly I forgot to think about defense. He ended up landing better and more shots on my head and body the whole time I was trying to hit him. 4) Uppercut - One thing I've seen him do with more experienced guys is lean to one side, then come up the middle with a left uppercut. He started doing this to me for the first time today and kind of threw me off guard. I tried doing this back to him, but I wasn't surprised when I wasn't successful. If I see that he's about to do this in advance, what can I do to counter or stop him from throwing the uppercut? Thanks in advance.
1) You don't have to try to hit him in the face with the jab right away. Just jab his gloves or forearms on the way in. Keep him busy as you step/shuffle your way in with head movement. The head movement will make him less accurate with his jab so you can get within scoring range. And remember, because he's taller, not only does he have reach on you, but also his stride is probably longer than yours, meaning for every back-step he takes, you'll need to step in twice. 2) Gotta get in range first, period. Unless he foolishly lunges in with a t loosing balancejab. But it looks like this guy won't. 3) Getting inside seems to be the hard part for you. If you had more success on the ropes, then make more effort to get him there. Feints, bobbing, fake punches without losing balance, cutting off the ring. Because, once he's on the ropes, that stride length advantage is completely taken away. And keep him there. 4) You must be leaning forward for his uppercut to work on you. Learn to keep your head back a bit and deflect uppercuts with your forearms. Good luck!
Feints, throwing more often to keep him wary and cutting off the ring. I usually sparr a much shorter guy and majority of the time i get trapped on the ropes because of those 3 things. Watch out comming in though, the first few times i developed a good left hook counter when he'd come in then eventually he adapted after a few sparring sessions.
To get in close, without getting hit and paying for it, you have to create an opening to move through. It sounds like this guy is pretty smart about using hit height and keeping his distance. Do you know how to parry a jab, or how to slip one and move in? That is the simplest and most obvious way to close distance, because he can't hit you with a right while the left is still out. A real basic move is to slip inside his jab and throw your straight right hand to his heart as you pull in close with it.
Thanks for all the tips. Will definitely keep 'em in mind the next time I spar him. I've successfully slipped jabs when sparring other guys, and occasionally with this guy too, but he rarely jabs first. He usually waits til I jab and counters. I'm still pretty weak when it comes to the other guy attacking and pressing forward and me defending and moving backward, so I tend to press the action more. I'll wait for him to jab first next time and try to slip.
Given the above, I would suggest watching video of Ruben Olivares, and Alberto Davila. They were both good at closing distance on taller fighters, though their styles were different. What they both exhibit is a masterful control of distance. See, you need to press him to make him jab, but not so close so that you are in range to get hit with the jab. You stay right at the end of it, so his arm stops just short of your nose, and only react when you move off of his miss. Watch how good fighters do it; that is how to learn. It is natural, when you are starting out, to be uncertain when punches are coming at you. But you are already getting hit, right?, and it seems that that concerns you less than being unable to hit him back. So you are at least half way there mentally. Push the distance, make him miss, and counter him, then look for your hook as he tries to re-establish distance. Watch good fighters and steal moves.
If he counters with his jab, then when you make your first move, immediately shift your head so his jab will miss while stepping in at the same time. Because he's gonna jab where your was just a moment ago. So, you could pump a half jab out there without over committing, then slip his counter jab and throw your counter punch.
