hey everyone, first post here so don't know if I have to introduce myself but going to do it a lil' bit. I'm 21 years old and have been boxing about 8 months now, as you can read in the title I'm a southpaw (I'm aware that this may cause some people to go crazy ) I'm about 185 cm (6 feet) and 81 KG (178 pounds) I originally started boxing at 87 KG so I've lost a few pounds which is good :thumbsup I've been sparring about a month now and have some difficulties with it: -I'm mostly keeping my opponents at a safe distance with my right jab but I don't really have the guts to throw a left lead because I'm afraid this will leave me open to big counter-shots. -If I notice my opponent is going to punch I have the tendency to blink my eyes (which is obviously not a very good attribute inside a boxing ring) my trainer and I agree that's it's not anything physical but it's more just being scared of getting punched. - My defense is something I have great difficulty with(since I blink my eyes very quickly this is pretty obvious) is there any way I can improve my defensive skills without having to spar? Thank you in advance for any tips/advice. Grtz Liston :good
I'm a southpaw, a short stocky kind of guy, I've been boxing for 2 and a half years and had 8 fights (hope you don't mind reading advice from a 15 year old). One of the things I like doing is keeping them away with a consistent right jab while keeping my left hand high. The right jab hits their jab and keeps them off (but to watch for a left hook I keep my chin under my shoulder). When the opening is their I add in a hard straight left down the middle. They are expecting another pawing jab and then BAM big left comes through. I also like the Manny Pacquiao countering the jab right a right hook (the guys NEVER expect it) which goes right around the guard, I sometimes follow this from a straight left. This might be abit advanced and risky because you need to time it well if you don't want to eat a jab. You should also have success throwing the jab and moving to the right, away from their right hand (keep your lead foot outside theirs), this means that you are out of their 'power zone' so long as you keep tight and watch for left hooks. The right hook is probably our most awkward and effective weapon so I would recommend working hard on it. Guys are so busy looking for a hard left that they often miss the right hook which they aren't used to. What I've said may be a load of bull****, but this has worked for me and I hope it helps. Ps. the blinking when getting hit will go away in time, you've only been sparring for a month.
No don't mind getting advice from a 15-year old, think that every single bit of advice on this can help. I've been keeping them away with my jab and it works quite well at times and I think your right about the left hand that has to be high(which I obviously forget at times). I think I'm able to pull off the pac-man combo (I don't really have any problems to put my punches together) it's just I don't really like to throw my left because I feel this leaves me open too much. The advice of always moving to my right is something I'm doing constantly (lucky me) because I feel I can jab off of it and occasionally throw a right hook to the body(maybe should put a straight left in this aswell??) Don't think You've wrote a load of bull**** man, like I said: I think I've not been sparring or boxing long enough to say I don't need any advice. Lets just hope the blinking goes away in time because it's really irritating if you want to be counter. Thanks for the quick reply mate, good luck with the boxing
Thanks. Watch the right hook to the body, I only throw that after slipping a jab to the outside, otherwise you're open to a left hook. I do enjoy throwing a jab-lead right hook to the head combo though. If you can move to the right then also work on moving left too, it will keep a guy off balance even more. Straight eft to the body is good, but it leaves you more open than one to the head.
Same problem yesterday, went 3 rounds with a guy who was actually pretty good and he hit me really well at times.. Came away with a bloody nose
