Never as a fighter are you more alive, tuned-in and primed than when you are at close range – in the pocket.
To become dominant at close range, also referred to as infighting, you need to demonstrate a whole host of personal qualities and fight skills.
Courage, coolness and clinical execution are in my experience very much borne of possessing the right boxing skills and being aware of the right boxing tactics.
Close range fighting is complex – there are many variables and munch unpredictability due simply to the reduced time to think and plan ahead.
During my own workouts, I often dedicate full rounds on the heavy bag of staying at very close range – ‘in the pocket’.
I also do this when I am leading a team of boxers on a training session.
Long-range punches are not allowed.
You stay close on the bag and use smart feet and body movement along with dynamic punching to create openings and varied attack sequences.
I find this approach really effective at exercising your boxing brain (and blast your lungs too) – I urge you to give it a go.
Cheers
Fran
PS – If we were to make this video “5 Tips for Infighting Dominance”, what would you make the 5th tip? Quite curious to get views
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Very excellent demonstration and lecture Sir.
Thanks Owen👍
Thank you, are you the best couch online. I have really improved my fighting stance and skills as well as lost my fat stomach from constantly working the bag. Thank u once again
Excellent, thank you very much for your comment, very kind of you 🙂
Yes. Thanks Fran. Now it makes perfect sense. We have talked before about using hula hoops for the same purpose, albeit for different range. Another variation of that is using small tires with each boxer having to keep their lead foot inside the tire at all times while practicing infighting. But I’ll definitely give that one a go for drilling purposes.
Move to the right whenever possible, away from the back hand.
Good shout Tom
Thanks Fran.
My coach is always making me practice that.
The information and techniques that you give are
great.
Thanks
Chris.
Thanks Chris
I have the same pet peeve. It is a common fault with amateur boxers who have not learned or been taught how to fight inside, ie. with short punches, while maintaining a tight guard. They end up over-shooting their opponent or throwing the wide looping punches like you demonstrated and exposing themselves for a counter punch. One thing that piqued my curiosity though, is the foot placement you demonstrated with your lead foot inside and underneath the opponent’s groin. I have never seen that done before so I immediately scanned some old fights with one of the greatest inside fighters, Roberto Duran to see if he did that. I did not see him doing it. More often than not his feet are set back as he leans his head on one of his opponent’s shoulders and shoots his punches as he pushes off his opponent. Then I tried it myself and as I worked the bag. My lead foot inevitably came out to the edge of the bag or slightly further; or, as in many infighting situations you end up in a slightly more squared up stance as you shift your head from one of your opponent’s shoulders/one side of the bag to the other, a la Duran. I’m curious to know what your reasoning is behind this. I’m thinking maybe it’s a better way of staying in the pocket and not allowing your opponent to escape as easily as he might do if both fighters feet are further apart. I’d be interested to see video clips of fighters doing this and to see how long they stay in that position.
Thanks Pug. The reasoning came from technical sparring with the boxers. I was frustrated that when we were attempting to do close range drills the boxers were reluctant to be up close. They were leaning forward slightly to let hooks go to the body, they were not using the double arm block in the proper way.
I ordered them to ensure that their front foot was under the groin of the tech spar opponent – this led to a much more effective learning experience.
I am not stating that the foot should be there all of the time. The situation is and should be dynamic with pushing out to mid range and back again, so inevitably foot placement alters.
It was something born of practicing in the gym. That make sense?
HI FRAN,rule number 5 for me mindset , with out a doubt, trench war fair who wants this the most ? nice example tommy hearns v marvin hagler closer to home chris eubank v nigle benn , ouch those body punches .
keep up the good work.
DUNSTAN.
.
Yes Dunstan, would absolutely agree.