Edit... For beginnners, it does feel more natural initialy to lead with their strong hand, but I find that very quickly, fighting orthodox becomes natural, you can develop a jab pretty quickly.
I fight orthodox but I'm left handed, just feels more natural to me, I'm a beginner when it comes to actually pulling on the gloves and doing it myself, I'm sure I'll convert to fighting southpaw in time.
Im suprised no-one has mentioned Manny Pacquiao as a converted southpaw. Chad Dawson. Tyson was originally southpaw, converted ortho, as was Oscar and SRR. Also Cotto as mentioned previously.
Thats the point. To you it feels unatural, whereas to me fighting orthadox feels totally unatural. I found my straight left improved quickly and I can hook with both hands.
Interesting thread, Im right handed and southpaw is my usual stance, (not that im much good!) it makes fast, springy footwork much more natural to me, as well as faster and more accurate punching. Have you practiced pivoting on your front foot (both feet basically pivoting at the same time) when doing right hooks etc? This really puts extra power in, and obvioulsly much more speed than getting a left hook off. The right lead hand feint/right hook was used really effictively here by Paul McCloskey [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FbpLu5MtMk[/ame]
in most sports being left handed is an advantage because 90% of your opponents are not, thats why right handers such as rafa nadal, martina navratilova, rocket ronnie taught themselves to play with their left
I actually use a lead jab that I pump back and turn into a hook. The foot pivot thing is fine as long as you retain your balance. Also a good one is to throw a straight left intentionally just missing the right hand side of the opponents face. This has the effect of moving the opponent to your left. You can then naturally step forward into an orthadox stance and smash a straight right hand down the pipe into an opponent that is now right infront of you and well in range.
I remember it being mentioned before/during one of his fights on Sky, along with the same old bollocks about training to be a lawyer and how Erik Morales has a Barrera voodoo doll.