Rolling your head with the punch...?

Rolling with or Riding punches is an old school technique for shortening recovery times in order to counter an opponents attack. A rolled straight hand actually allows you to counter attack faster in some cases. For example, look at the recent Raymundo Beltran vs. Ji-Hoon Kim match. Beltran started seeing the straight hand coming from Kim. Instead of blocking with his lead hand and using the torque created by that block to load his own right hand counter, he would roll the straight and fire off his own straight. It saves him a little time and he doesn't use the energy ducking, slipping, blocking, parrying, Etc.

You see a lot of riding/rolling punches from Beltran. It has its weaknesses. You can throw off your punch timing and catch guys flush from time to time, which kinda puts rolling punches in almost a showboat-esque level of boxing technique, as there are alternative ways to accomplish a lot of the same things.

I DO think that rolling punches offers more counter punch opportunities though, for example, Beltran could just as easily take a slight step to his left and roll Kim's straight hand while executing a simultaneous left hook counter then follow up with the straight hand of his own, which is a pretty devastating response. His timing would have to be really sharp though.

 

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I think the best example of this is Donaire's beautiful hook that KO'd Montiel. He set him up with the high guard, rolled Montiel's hook, then countered with his won....PERFECT!!!

 

Like I said, not the most obvious example, but it looks like a roll to me; he dips his head and turns it as Diaz lands.

Perfect example.

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Problem with Linares is that he didn't quite know the difference between rolling with a blow and just turning your head away from the punches.

 

Great topic & great answers. We obviously have some ex-boxers here, or just some very observant fans.

I have nothing technical to add, only an observation that this technique is especially useful for a tall fighter facing a shorter opponent, but that in such cases it's probably best to use more of a "straight back" movement than an actual roll. This is because that makes it easier to stay focused on your opponent. (I think.)

Ali was very good at this, and of course the Klit Bros are masters at it.

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A similar technique, worth discussing, is turning the body when hit with a body shot. Very few boxers are really good at this.

 

JMM rolls his head when hit in the face. He does in the Mayweather fight several times.

If Papa de Pacquiao does it, it must be good.

JMM = BOSS

 

Ray Beltran is a huge fan of this method of defence, in real time it seems like he's talking big shots that snap his neck back, but in slow motion you can see its a great skill when done right, I wonder do the judges see it that way.

 

What's interesting is that as a tall fighter I've mostly experienced it used against me. But I do see what you mean, the added range gives more room to roll.

 

Problem with rolling with the punch is that it makes shots look a lot worse than they are. The other guys glove is touching your face and your head is moving. Without the benefit of replay and slow motion a judge which may not be sitting at the ideal angle will often score it as a landed shot. The crowd, many of which are sitting far away, will react in awe thinking that you just got rocked even further influencing the judges. If you are rolling with punches you need to be putting a hurting on your opponent in return to avoid a scoring disaster.

 

Agreed, it's imperative to follow up with stiffer counters.

 

Canelo does this aswell, not very well. Morales and barrera is a trilogy where both fighters used it, even when they traded they didnt take many punches flush. Linares is bad at it, its about timing and JL gets it wrong alot, Locche relied on this heavily aswell

 

also has few advantages over the more traditional block, it tires the opponent more when he misses completely, if he over commits it will lead to him losing balance, leading to counter opportunities, will make most opponents reluctant aswell