Most of the people I've had to box in the past have usually been shorter than me. But recently I've been matched up against a couple people who have been like 2-3 inches taller than me. I find it really hard to get inside and get shots off when i'm matched up against these people. I have a general idea of how to be an inside fighter but I could still really use some tips, especially because I'm not used to fighting this way.
Get used to bobbing and weaving punches. tie a rope from one end of a room, or ring, to the other end and work on bobbing from one side to the other. Once you get comfortable with doing that then practice throwing punches after the bob, or weave. Shorter guys who are good at bobbing and weaving can put a real scare into taller fighters.
Thanks but I already do this and I'm pretty decent at bobbing and weaving already. I just feel like there's something I'm not getting when I fight somebody taller than me but I don't really know what it is.
Be proficient in parrying or slipping the jab, Get them cornered and try work on body shots and upper cuts. From a shorter mans POV it's an easier target and good advantage where a lot of people head hunt, punch the body and the head will come to you.
Cutting off the ring is the biggest thing IMO when fighting short (which for me, is always). If you give the taller guy the space he can run from you all night, if you take that space away, you can really do some damage. I don't know what info you're looking for, but if you're used to fighting off the jab as a taller guy, it more than likely won't work quite as well when you're the short one. Jabbing to bait your opponent and then following with a slip works, as does jabbing to the body and coming up to the head once you're inside. It may also help if you turn your jab into a lead straight, it can help to work your way through their guard when you're on the offensive. *of course, this is all just in addition to the slipping and weaving, as you've already said you're proficient at that.
One tactic that works (against me anyway) is to counterpunch. They expect you to bumrush them and try to get inside. You make them do the hard work for you. Early on, every time they throw at you, step/lean back. (This will make them reach with their punches and possibly lean forward. It's important that you let them make this mistake a few times before capitalizing.) Then start countering. They come in to jab, you jump back, then in and counter. Whenever possible, steer them into a corner and POUND on them. When you land a shot/combo, don't always follow up on it immediately....jump back out and see if they follow you (they'll want to match you shot for shot). If they do, then just whack them some more. The key is to make the tall guy come to you. That doesn't mean all the way to you, because he's probably not looking to get inside with you. Make him move forward so that when YOU move forward you have less distance to cover. The added benefit is that if he's coming toward you, odds are he won't be able to change direction quick enough to get away from you.
Timing is vital. A taller guy will punch down and will leave themself open, take abit of leather, give abit of leather.
A really lazy habit I've gotten into as a taller fighter is jabbing over the top of my opponent's punches. It's effective against a shorter opponent with a shorter reach, but not so much for my size or taller. So lately I've been practicing countering from underneath - dropping down and jabbing up, slipping outside and hooking to the body, that kind of thing. I don't know if this is something you've also seen yourself do, but it's something you might watch out for.
jabbing from angles works well in my experience, my coach taught me a more vertical jab after getting to about mid-range, where I end up jabbing upwards under their chin. It sets people's heads back nicely for a follow up.
Shorter man needs to be more thoughtful when moving backward, an opponant with more reach only needs a half step to catch you moving back. Try pivot away if you need to move back and remember he'll be looking for that.
Best thing to do, fight with a wider stance, use perpetual upperbodymovement as you apply pressure, hit the body, cut the ring down. Remember, there is a difference between head movement, and upperbodymovement. Against a taller opponent you cant seem to counter, you might want to do two things, either roll into position with your head movement, then bang the body, bring your punches up top, or cut the ring off and stablize your man with the jab, then bang the body once inside. Its not easy to jab, AND cut the ring off simultaneously, but it is essential, cause you dont wanna be coming in straight with the jab, cause the movement will offset you and negate the jab. If wanna see how to apply pressure form behind the jab against a taller fighter, a perfect execution of this is Cotto vs Foreman.
use your assets. as the taller man, do you usually box with in-out and lateral/circular movements? everyone knows the shorter man has to get inside. taller opponents are going to expect you to come out, chasing and pressuring. imagine you're the taller man and use "boxing" ringmanship strategies. as the shorter man, of course you need to get inside of them. when you can outwit the taller man into chasing you and coming at you, you've just made your job (of getting inside) twice as easy. use this in conjunction with what everyone else has mentioned. it is all necessary for a complete "short" game. bait him in then pressure.
