Just wondering if anyone here is a Southpaw pressure fighter? Been sparring at a new gym lately, and found a lot of speedy Orthodox jabbers. I've encountered a problem, that is, I'm always the one on the offense, the one staying in the center of the ring throwing more punches and bobbing like a madman... the problem from doing this is that noone will come forward nor use combinations, they will just flicker their jab and hop back. I generally ignore it and just bob in or bound it off my forehead, but now I am facing an endless amount of retracting opponents. Sure, I can grab, move them to the ropes and unleash, or dive and go to the body, but there seems to be noone who will stand and fight toe to toe. My style of defense is a tight, lots of upperbody movement, difficult to land shots on, never take one step back. But now it seems liike I am doomed to be facing opponents who WONT COME FORWARD!!??? WTF Just want to know any tips for what will lure them towards
Have you tried moving back yourself to lure them in? Move backwards, and the moment they step forward to close the distance you do the same.
Listen man, you just described me to a T. However I am a righty and have a gym full of south paws. So we are the same but complete opposites. I pattern myself off of an early tyson, not because he's my hero but because I am agressive and everyone is faster than me so I keep the pressure to stop them from setting their feet to fire off a combination. You'rre worring to much about fighting toe to toe and should be worried about using that style to take every oppurtunity to make your opponet pay. Like if they flick a jab, you should easily counter that. When some-one's on your ass, in my opinion, you don't want to really "flick" anything. You want to hit them with a stiff jab to put some starch in thier shoes and slow em up. That's what they should be doing to you. IMO Anyway, don't worry about going toe to toe. You have a good style to get in, and STAY in until they can get away. I don't believe in "getting in, hitting, and getting out", it's too much work to get in. When I get their, I fire off until they get back out of my range, or turn it around and start countering on me. Just my opinion man. I don't know a whole lot and many here will have better advice.
Consider yourself lucky. If you only have sparring partners who play right into your strengths, you're not going to be a very well rounded fighter. By having sparring partners who don't play your game, you get the opportunity to: 1. Learn how to make them play your game 2. Learn to change your game and adapt As for tips to lure them in: 1. Backing up will force them to move foward. 2. Learn to fight from on the ropes. 3. Improve on cutting them off. True this last option is more about you getting to them but that's the way it's going to have to be. Last word...Be careful what you wish for. Any guy who's willing to stand and trade just might be better at it than you are! Versatility is always an asset. Learn to win on both sides of the equation. Check out later Winky Wright on how to pressure from the southpaw stance.
Thanks for the tips, you three. Have a good point with the backing up, I am psychologically adverse to the idea, but being in stalemate rounds is no fun either. Maybe my distance game needs work.
