3 Tips for When NOT to Power Punch

When should you power punch and when should you not power punch? Actually, I think that the 2nd one of those things is the most important (and the most subtle). This video on when to power punch will give you 3 tips for being dynamic in your boxing and deciding when NOT to power punch.

Most novice boxers will try to power punch with every shot that they throw. This is really not a good place to be. The more seasoned boxer will be more considered about when to power punch. The primary reason for this is that constant power punching will tire you out really quickly.

So, the 3 tips that I outline in the video in respect of deciding when to power punch are:

1. Vary the power of your jab. This can help you control and estimate range, it can defuse your opponent, constantly tapping away with the jab and then choosing when to crack home a power jab. Or you can follow up those tap jabs with bigger hook bombs or back hand bombs. Check out Roberto Duran for an amazing reduced power jab.
2. Tap and Whack. This is all about using a reduced power 1st punch and then following it up with a crashing 2nd power punch. Ricky Hatton was superb at this, tapping a hook around the ribs of the opponent to bring back the guarding arm and then hammering home a power punch up the middle (or vice versa). This is about diversion, laying a decoy to punish the opponent.
3. The Lifter. Use a long (low power) uppercut to lift the head and then follow that up with a bomb straight back hand power punch, or a fight-ending hook. So this is about disrupting your opponent to set them up with the killer power punch. This one feels very Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns to me, long, crisp uppercuts followed by doomsday right hands.

So, don’t be tempted to load up all the time. Be dynamic, use these 3 tips to help you build the right ratio of power punches.

Cheers

Fran

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