In this 90 second boxing tips video I am going to give a quick and simple view of the ‘peek-a-boo’ boxing style.
This style of boxing was made famous by Iron Mike Tyson, the principles embedded in Mike by the great trainer Cus D’Amato who also guided such boxing luminaries as Floyd Patterson and Emile Griffith.
D’Amato encouraged his fighters to use this ultimately defensive style, and whilst it was really about managing the risk of taking incoming shots it was also geared toward turning defense into attack. It is about evasiveness and speed of assault.
The peek-a-boo style is especially effective for shorter fighters to use against taller guys, nullifying reach by using deft slips, ducks and rolls.
Here’s the video and then some a short summary follows.
The key tips to applying the peek a boo style:
Boxing Tips #1
Keep the hands high at all times, especially at long range. It’s almost like the double arm block. This was a non-negotiable for D’Amato – the hands remain in the guard position…always!
Boxing Tips #2
Use slips and ducks proactively to make you evasive. Fire the jab off the slips to crack open the defense of the opponent and lay the ground for the follow up combination.
Tyson used to slip a lot from the waist with some drive from the legs. I coach slips to be driven from the legs, I just feel that you get a more responsive outcome in terms of balance and punch effectiveness.
Boxing Tips #3
Be careful about going ‘square on’ at long range, if you take an incoming shot your balance can go.
Nice and simple, the peek a boo style.
Any comments or questions below please 🙂
Cheers
Fran
by 
Sir I have been down for a week. One week ago we got 35 inches of snow in 36 hours here in Peterborough, NH. For several days after I could not raise my arms w/o pain. Went to Las Vegas for my daughter’s wedding and then upon return got a stomach virus for a day. I am slowly getting back into my routine. I like the peek-a-boo lecture, I have a maize ball in my gym that I use, but do not let it hit you in the head. I will be doing mor reading today and I loved Emile Griffith as well. Yours in health,,, Owen
Hi Owen
Glad you are getting back on an even keel after the weather and Vegas, I hope you had a great day at your daughter’s wedding. I love the small maize bags. Head hight, great for movement and really nice for uppercut and hook work👍
Hi Fran
I am a beginner, but I would like to discover the method to reach the confidence of hands-down fighting and attain great head movement, footwork, and reaction.
Many Thanks
Hi Ahmad
That really takes time and experience. You need to learn about range and be really precise about that, knowing when to let the hands lower and when not to. Time and experience, that’s what it’s about.
Thank you Coach Fran for your response.
Hi Fran
I beginner but I would like to Discover what is the method is to reach the confidence of hands down fighting and to attain a great headmovement and footwork, reaction.
Many Thanks
Good one fran I did a lesson plan today for part of my grading on this and non leverage punching Just monday coming I give my first lesson on this to prepare for Portsmouth at the GB acadmy , Anyhoo any tips on moving whilst doing this . . Cheers
Hello Euan.
Not sure what you mean on non-leveraged punching. Is this punching without adding extra leverage, for example using a slip to add more power, or is it punching without engaging the legs to drive rotation? Not heard that term.
Hello Fran
It is the punching without engaging legs and hips . unload 1 or a few . fast and fierce . From what I have seen not a lot of defence in this . It leaves the head open a bit . It seems to be have been taken from Thailand when Thai Boxers took it from Kickboxing and now because nothing illegal about it a few westerners have applied it . Seen a couple of youtube vids that skipped back and fourth on the different people using it .
OK, got you. Unless it’s a decoy shot (like the Hatton-style ‘Tap and Whack’ – https://www.myboxingcoach.com/killer-body-punching-tap-whack/) I prefer to see those legs engaged👍
Pls I really want to become a great boxer but I don’t really have any sponsor, so pls what will do
Find a gym Samnyek and work hard, keep learning and don’t stop!
Love your coaching Frans. Love boxing. Peak a boo is fantastic defensive strategy. For those of us with shorter reach…move inside and throw a few strategic combinations. If Rocky Marciano then keep driving and throw punches in bunches. Tyson, just slip and knock out. Thanks.
Very solid philosophy Rick, very solid 🙂
Love these 90 second videos Fran! Spartan! The way it would be demonstrated in the gym with coaching tips as flaws and mistakes became apparent. I’m from the same school Fran. That is, using the legs and flexing the knees. One old coach I knew used to say, “Use them Pins!” I used to marvel at the way Tyson did it from his waist like high speed pendulum and so explosively. But Tyson was so thick and compact he moved like a solid unit. His core and upper body strength built on tree trunks for legs that he could plant and throw from any angle like a gyroscope. I see some of that in Chris Eubank Jr. I predict he is going to give GGG or Canelo a fight that is going to produce fireworks! This guy is exciting as hell to watch in action. A real showman like his father and just as explosive!
Thanks Pug – the 90 seconds format is really about how we coaches have to move around a gym and maybe take 60 to 90 seconds explaining key things to boxers, thought it might transfer well to online so thanks for the feedback. We’ll see with Eubank Jr, not really been tested (was fairly well schooled by Billy Joe Saunders) but as you say he whacks a bit. We’ll find out soon enough.
I use this style. As an older boxer I found in sparing sessions that peek-a-boo is perfect for me. I can take a lot of shots, on the gloves or the forearms, which I am not fast enough to duck or weave away from. It gives me confidence to get in close. As the shots come off the weave I can give in power what I lack in youthful speed.
One step ahead in the mind Andrew, this style allows some forgiveness on the reflex side of things.
Another top video. Thanx Fran. P.S. I’d love to see a video on the double-end bag at some point.
Cheers Gerry, will see what I can do.
As Good As Always Fran, thanks, have a nice xmass and hogmany, boom, jab, jab nowotamean
Haha. Merry Christmas to you too Alexander.
Great intro. And as a shorter heavyweight who likes to use explosive movements, I’d love to see more on this style.
I’ve made a note, will see what I can do. Thanks Jonathan
Re: peekaboo tip,excellent presentation for a short guy like me,Thanks
You’re welcome, thanks Stan
Always nice to see your videos. I’m still impressed by your “Boxing Kata” idea. Seems to me it would work really well for Pad Drills, if you have two people and room for mobility. But with simpler movements it could be useful against the Heavy Bag too. So instead of “Kushanku” (named after an Old Master) you could have the “Mohammed Ali” Kata.
Great advice. Let’s see what the new year brings Frank. Thanks pal.
Hi Fran, interesting video, any chance you could do a couple of videos on the peek-a-boo style of boxing. Having watched Tyson in his prime, it would be interesting to see his style of boxing broke down and explained. I might even learn something that I can take and use it my MMA practice.
Thanks Rob
Will see what I can do, I’ve added it to the list.
Cheers mate