Boxing a Southpaw

It is generally agreed that a southpaw has a distinct advantage in a three-round amateur bout. The reason is simple. A southpaw is accustomed to boxing a right­hander, whereas most right-handers are unfamiliar with southpaw tactics.

Normally southpaws are strictly left-handed punchers, and use their right hand merely to offset the right-hander's extended left hand. It is for this reason that, when we get a southpaw on our squad, we immediately teach him how to deliver a right jab and a right hook. The right hook is very effective as an offensive punch; also as a counter-punch thrown immediately after a short hop-back. A southpaw who uses his right hand efficiently along with his normally effective left hand is hard to beat.

We have taught the following successful tactics: The right-hander must very definitely circle to his left, away from the southpaw's potent left hand. He must keep his left hand high, and either beat the southpaw to the punch with a sharp right, or feint with his right-hand punch, hop back, and then counter with a sharp right. After each right-hand, follow immediately with a left hook. The sequence, therefore, is: a straight right, followed by a left hook, rather than the normal sequence used against another right-hander—i.e., the left jab, followed by the right cross and sometimes the left hook.

If the southpaw maintains a proper stance, with his right hind high, the right-hander’s left jab will be ineffective. It is for this reason that we teach the lead-with-the-right-hand, followed immediately by the left hook.  The right-hand lead is bad against another right-hander, but must be used against a southpaw. The important thing to remember at all times against a southpaw is that you must never move to your right, into his left hand.  Be sure you come back immediately with your left hook after your right cross.

Boxing a Right-Hander

A right-hander must keep his chin down, and his left shoulder and left hand up. When the left hand or shoulder drops, the chin is exposed, leaving him open to a right-hand shot. We make it a rule that whenever an opponent is careless enough to drop his left hand the opening calls for an immediate right-hand shot.

Odd as it may seem, one of the most frequent mistakes made by a boxer is dropping the left hand, thereby leaving himself open for right-hand punches. As a result, all boxers should be carefully trained and coached to take advantage of this mistake by throwing sharp, straight rights, once the opportunity presents itself. Your boxer should be taught that a short, straight right, rather than a hard, telegraphed right will do the trick. The opportunity is usually there only for an instant, hence the short, fast right rather than the looping, hard right.

Many opponents carry their left high when they start the jab, but carelessly drop the left law after the jab. The boxer should be taught to size up the situation readily and take advantage of it by riding away from the left jab, and immediately riding in with a straight right over the returning low left. If your boxer does not take advantage of this opportunity, it is your duty to advise him in the corner just how he may do so.

A grave mistake often made by boxers throwing left hooks is the practice of either dropping the hook upon delivery, or throwing it in too wide an arc. This error naturally makes the boxer very susceptible to a straight right hand, and should be taken advantage of as soon as the left shoulder is lowered or the wide arc begins. Again, if your boy is making this mistake it is your duty to point it out to him. If the mistake is being made by the opponent, see to it that your boy takes advantage of it. When you are throwing the left hook, your right hand must cover the left side of your face, as a precaution in case your opponent beats you to the punch with a right-hand counter.

Boxers often make the mistake of trying to lean away from a hook rather than bending inside the blow as they should when competing against an opponent with a good left hook. If an attempt is made to lean away from the hook, on the second try the hooker will merely reach out a little further and connect. If the opponent bends inside the hook, even though he does not counter with the right hand, the left hook will end up harmlessly around his neck.

It is often hard to get an amateur boxer to use body punches effectively. We try to convey to the boys the idea that they have a foot of body to shoot at for each inch of chin. Further, by driving punches home into your opponent's body you usually cause him to lower his hands, thereby presenting you an excellent opportunity to land on his chin. Often a boxer will aim constantly at the chin, even though his opponent's hands and shoulders are high, thus presenting easy opportunities to land a punch to the body. A boxer with a variety of body and head punches is obviously a more dangerous opponent than one who directs all his punches at the head.

Advice from the Corner

Many bouts are won or lost through the advice given between rounds. With rest periods lasting only one min­ute, every second should be utilized. The coach must first realize that his boy is coming back primarily for a rest. He should not allow his boxer to sprawl all over the corner as in Illustration 82. The boxer should assume a com­fortable, natural sitting position as in Illustration 83. The knees should be bent, not stretched out as in Illustration 82, nor should the arms and gloves be stretched over the top rope as shown in the same illustration. The boxer should be made to take good deep breaths as a means of regaining his normal breathing. Water should not be given until about 20 seconds of the rest period have elapsed. The mouthpiece should be removed immediately and washed, then replaced in the mouth at the 10-second whistle.

As to the advice, that naturally varies according to the bout and the boxers involved. I believe, however, that a big mistake is made in trying to cram too much advice into the boxer in the short time allotted. As a result, the boxer often becomes confused and does not retain any of the advice. It is much better to pick out the one or two main weaknesses of the opponent. The second should no­tify his boxer of these weaknesses and tell him which punches to use to take advantage of them. Further, the second should pick out the one main mistake his boxer is making and emphasize that point alone. I have often seen boys come to their corners between rounds compara­tively calm, only to get no rest whatsoever because the coach or second was excited and tried to fill them too full of advice.

Often a coach must teach his boys to heed advice given between rounds. Some boys are too excitable and pay no attention. Others drink in every word of advice. This point should be impressed upon the boxers before the match: the second or coach in the corner can see many of the faults of the opponent that the boxer misses, hence the advice given between rounds may very well be the difference between winning and losing. The principal things to be remembered are (1) complete relaxation; (2) water after 20 seconds; (3) not too much advice. Point out the important mistakes being made by both boys, and advise how to take advantage of the opponent's mistakes. Don't confuse the boxers by pointing out many things all at one time.

Additional Equipment

Illustration 84 shows the specially designed glove now used in college and high school boxing. Note the webs between the thumbs and forefingers. This prevents thumb injuries and eye bruises. The padding is thin at the wrist and heavier over the hitting surface. The glove widens out over the knuckles or hitting surface. Twelve-ounce gloves are now used in colleges and gloves of 12 and 14 ounces in high schools.

Illustration 85 shows a suggested padding arrangement for ring corners. The pad runs from the padded cap over the corner post, down past the first rope from the floor, over to the bottom of the post. This eliminates any pos­sible injuries from contact with the turnbuckles.

Illustration 86 shows (at the left) the competitive head­gear now used in actual matches. It is very light in weight and snug; it is adjustable under the chin, on top and in the back, and does not obstruct the vision in any manner. It completely eliminates the possibility of eye cuts or bruised ears. This headgear is now mandatory in actual matches in both colleges and high schools and has met with 100 per cent approval from both boxers and coaches. The headgear shown at the right in Illustration 86 is the regular training headgear. It is heavier and more sturdy, thereby providing the necessary protection for training work-outs.

A full-length mirror as shown in Illustrations 87 and 88 is a very valuable piece of equipment for all boxers. Boys can correct many faults by shadow-boxing in front of the mirror, watching the position of their hands, their feet, checking whether the shoulder is up and the chin down, whether their punches are snapping in, and all such items of importance. A good practice is for the boxer to start off in the regular on-guard position as in Illustration 87, check each point, then throw a punch, as in Illustration 88, hold the position, and again check the "rights and wrongs." This method of visually watching one's own motions has proven invaluable to many boys. The boxer should check each punch in this manner to find out his own mistakes and to improve his technique. Mirror shadow-boxing is particularly good immediately after coming out of the ring during a work-out when the mistakes and good points are uppermost in the boxer's mind. A good boxer uses his head only to think with, and not as a target for his opponent.

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