This content is protected Following up on the thread i made on why some boxers keep their front hand or lead hand low You can make the case that the punch that lead to the finishing rally was landed by Wardley as Joe Parker was keeping his lead hand low. This is the old thread i made after Joshua's low lead hand led to disaster vs Dubois What is the strategic advantage of a low guard? | Boxing News 24 Fan Forum I know feinting, throwing up jabs, being more unpredictable etc. are huge advantages of a low lead hand. But IMO for certain fighters like Parker or Joshua, it doesn't work as their defense isn't good enough to make it work. It worked well for Floyd who was a small man with exceptional defensive awareness, shoulder rolling ability, reflexes, understanding of positioning etc.
true although Andy Lee is training Parker and that is a flaw that Joe has too. Andy Lee should have corrected that.
Yeah, one of those things that can work a lot of the time for some fighters, but even then there are times they realize the best option was to put their hands up. Ali and Floyd come to mind.. Everything isn’t primarily “strategic”, sometimes fighters just operate better with a lower guard. For some it makes them get into a flow or stay looser better, improves upper body mobility, just “feels better” (which often matters more than it might seem.) Like many things in boxing, its also situational, or another tool in the tool kit. Some fighters will get more or better use out if it than others. Ironically, Wardley fought with his hands low quite a bit..
If you are using your footwork, positioning to defend correctly then a low lead hand is fine. Fury for example. Plenty of fighters who use a high guard and get their faces mashed up because positional defence is more important than a high glove. Heavyweights especially a glove isn't going to protect you.
Not everyone should be using a lower guard. In fact, I would explicitly tell a beginner to NOT do that as it can create bad habits and leave you open for a devastating counter. I've lost count of how many young guys I've seen fighting in the streets or having sparring matches attempting to do their best impression of Floyd, only to get clipped by something and embarrassed. It's not just about having good hand speed and reflexes to avoid getting hit. Tons of guys have good reflexes. You have to know how to position yourself to be able to land without getting hit back, to pivot, to time your jab so that you can pull it back or get out of the way, set up another shot, combo the up jab into a hook, mastering angles and range, etc. Boxing is a curriculum requiring diligent training to work on many facets before you become the finished product. And even after extensive training, you need to spar while having an expert coach watch you to see how sharp your timing is. If you can't spar for 8 rounds with a skilled opponent without getting nailed hard every round, you shouldn't be using a low guard, period. I get some guys think they look flashy and it helps them get advantages with the odd angles, but the most crucial thing is to know how to block and parry in that stance.
