Mobility – How to Box at Long Range
There are a few articles on the site regarding mobility and how to box at long range. Two articles of note are the Boxing Drill for Range Finding (tag boxing) and the article on Finding Range for Fight Tactics, both well worth checking out.
I wanted to post something that emphasised the importance of controlling range and using mobility to do that. The opportunity recently arose when one of the boxers that I work with, the highly skilled Craig Callaghan, competed in the regional senior boxing championships against a high quality opponent. Craig possessed height and reach advantage, but his opponent is a national champion himself and brings plenty to the ring that could counter those advantages!
I think that this is one of the best performances I’ve seen from Craig…and I’ve seen a few! He keeps the shot rate high, using one-two’s to great effect and following this up with some devastating short/mid-range left hooks. It’s also probably worth noting how effective it proves for Craig to combine long range shots with convincing feints (check out the article on feinting in boxing), he really manages well to provide constant pressure whilst allowing the opponent to be on the front foot, that is he doesn’t become involved in a ‘fight.’ It’s a great vid which I hope you enjoy, as always leave a comment!
P.S. that’s not me in the corner, it’s the marginally less ugly John Jones, my friend and fellow coach from the gym. Ashleigh provides some much needed glamour!
Cheers
Fran
by 
Hi Fran
This video still available ?
Seems to have disappeared
Aidan
Thanks for the notification – fixed now 👍
Cheers Fran!
Hi Fran
Is this video still available? Seems to have go r
Great movement, reminded me of Thomas Hearns the way he threw that right hand. How is he faring now? Boxrec refuses to show me his pro record aha. What weight was this fight contested at? 69kg it looks like to me? Craig must be at least 6’0 or 5’11, how tall is he?
Hey Yusuf – sorry for the delay.
Here you go, Craig’s Boxrec entry 🙂
amazing technique. very much alike thomas hearns style, methinks.
Thanks Jaoquin. Craig is operating as a pro now so keep a look out for him!
Wow! Your fighter is impressive! I would not like to get in the ring with him. I reiterate what the others have said about his impressive footwork. What I also really like is how he keeps that left jab going. He doesn’t rely on finishing his combinations with a power shot but jabs out after throwing a combination to keep his opponent off balance and get himself into a strong defensive position again.
Some great skills.
Thanks Matty. Craig is now boxing as a professional out in Australia. We all at the gym continue to be very proud of him.
Thanks mate.
Fran,
That really was a good boxing video.
My impression is that Craig moves around the ring and jabs a lot like Muhammad Ali. He has very fast hands with a great jab and decent power. His one-two punches were very crisp and he showed excellent defence when needed. What I also liked was the fact that he seemed to be very calm.
Well done, Coach.
Yeah Paul, he is a great mover. He’s got some learning to do now to deal with the major differences between the two sports but he has a sound basis.
In terms of his coaching, he’s had the benefit of a range of guys at the gym as well as going out to Houston for 4 months when he was 20. Went on his own to work out in a gym there. So, a number of people have helped him along the way, I’m just fortunate to have been one of them. Thanks Paul, nice post.
What an excellent display of boxing by both boys. Very refreshing to see neither have been schooled in the amateur, one shot to the head, forget the body and combinations, point scoring style we see in the electronic point recorded bouts of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games et al.
Your boy has great lateral movement and impressive speed. The way he whips those mid range left hooks in as the opponent closes the distance is very impressive. His confidence in his hands slung low style belies a thorough understanding and schooling in the basics.
Should he choose to do so I think that Craig will easily make the transition into the professional code.
Yeah Dave, he’s a very impressive lad. Been in the gym for a long time time now, and he continues to want to learn, great to work with. Interesting that you talk about the pro thing, he spent a few months training at a gym in Houston and learned some real good stuff. His long range work is a real strength, and as you say his movement is effortless. He has a tough fight this Sunday, but there’s no reason he can’t be a big success whatever his chosen path.
Cheers Dave