the difference between sharp punches and heavy punches?

Discussion in 'Boxing Training' started by r1p00pk, Sep 3, 2012.


  1. r1p00pk

    r1p00pk Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,554
    1
    Mar 12, 2012
    I've heard people say they're more of a sharp puncher than a heavy puncher but what does it mean? What's the difference between the two. Which one hurts more etc
     
  2. Speechless

    Speechless Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,037
    46
    Mar 7, 2012
    lol, i dunno for sure, but i'm guessing it's a better way of saying, my shots couldn't bruise a banana.
     
  3. Bogotazo

    Bogotazo Amateur Full Member

    31,381
    1,128
    Oct 17, 2009
    There are generally two types of punchers; "hard" and "heavy". Hard seems to mean that the pinpoint location on which the punch lands takes a lot of acute damage, whether it's the ribs, jaw, etc., and it's very potent. Heavy punchers seem to efficiently move a lot of weight behind their punches, so that even if you block the punch or avoid getting hit flush, the mere weight behind the punch seems to move your whole body. This is what Chavulo said when comparing Frazier and Foreman's power:

    “People ask me who hit harder, Frazier or Foreman,” Chuvalo says of the only men to stop him in 93 pro fights. "Joe’s hook was like getting hit by a Pontiac going 100 miles per hour. Foreman’s punch was like a Mac truck at 50 miles an hour. Joe nailed me with three hooks to open the fourth round, and after that I couldn’t see them coming.I looked like a one-eyed cat peeping into a seafood store until he landed the shot that jarred my eyeball loose.I wanted to keep going, but in retrospect it’s a good thing the referee stopped it or I might have been blinded.”

    In terms of Hard VS Sharp, what that generally means is if you stand there and roll shots you see coming as the guy hits you consecutively, you can survive it, and on average a flush shot straight on won't necessarily hurt you bad or drop you. But if you throw a lazy shot he counters with a well-timed blow, or leave a wide opening he zones in on offensively and hits perfectly, it can mean trouble. It also implies the shots are crisp, snapping at the end with torque and speed released at the right time. Hitting a guy on the button and/or out of his field of vision with moderate power is always better than hitting air with bricks for fists.
     
  4. r1p00pk

    r1p00pk Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,554
    1
    Mar 12, 2012
    Thanks bogo, excellent post! :happy
     
  5. JDK

    JDK Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,825
    1
    Sep 29, 2010
    I just happened to watch Mayweather/Corrales a couple days ago. Perfect example of sharp punches from pretty boy.
    Though not as individually damaging as a naturally heavy handed fighter (Maidana/Bailey), his punches because of accuracy, speed, timing and all the other points Bogotazo pointed out, are very devastating.
     
  6. NVSemin

    NVSemin Sugar Boxing Full Member

    504
    3
    Aug 26, 2012
    When you trying to "touch" the target as fast as possible - that would be sharp I guess. Heavy punches is when you are trying to punch through the target.
     
  7. Tar Baby

    Tar Baby Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,744
    0
    Feb 19, 2011
    Bogo got it spot on.

    What I was going to say was that 'You'll know when you get hit with them!'
     
  8. StillWill

    StillWill Dr. Eisenfaust Full Member

    3,265
    12
    Jul 12, 2010
    i generally try and make my punches sharp rather than heavy but sometimes i go for hard when i dig to the body