Height and Reach play a role in " striking " distance. A better way to look at reach?

Here's is my semi scientific who has the " striking distance "advantage in a boxing match. I have never seen it discussed on TV.

A boxer's maximum striking distance is a straight line from his fist to his shoulder. However as the punch angles up to reach the opponents chin face or head, it losses about 1/2" of striking distance for every inch it has to travel upwards.

Allow me to to illustrate. Extend your fist straight out from your shoulder to the point where your fist barely grazes the wall. Then move your fist upwards 6" and see what happens. It should not longer touch the wall. There should be at least a 3" space.

So outfighting is not all about reach in the traditional boxing sense. It is also about height.

Here's are some examples of how reach and height play a role in striking distance:

1 ) Fighter A has a 76" reach. Fighter B has a 74" reach. However fighter A is 6" shorter. Result... fighter B has an estimated 1" striking distance.

2 ) Fighter A has a 80" reach. Fighter B has a 74" reach. Fighter A is 8" taller. Result...Fighter A has an estimated 10" striking distance advantage.

3 ) Fighter A has a 78" reach. Fighter B has a 78" reach. fighter B is 4" taller. Result...Fighter B has an estimated 2" striking distance.

4 ) Fighter A has a 79" reach. Fighter B has a 78" reach. Fighter B is two inches taller. Result....even striking distance.

 

I am glad you brought this point up

Actually a much taller person's straight shot more often than not is pretty much parrell to the shorter guys chin.

So no he does not have to punch down much to score to the head, face, or chin.

I think what I wrote to start this thread is true.

 

I hope we agree that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

If you look at photos during stare downs of a fighter where there is a 6" height difference, the taller man shoulder is pretty much lined up with the shorter man's chin. So he does not need to arch down any.

In terms or reaching down, this can also be accomplished by bending the knees a bit. However there is not such equalizer when you have to reach up.

 

If the reach is the same, YES you are correct.

However do you know any fighters that would rather take a punch to the chin over the chest? I know none. Chest punching is rare in boxing anyway.

for those claiming an agenda, I must ask is it that hard to admit that height plays a role in striking distance? I think I have adequately illustrated the reasons why. Height is not an agenda in boxing. It is an advantage, at least from an out fighters standpoint.