1. Embrace the Butterfly
Muhammad Ali wasn’t joking around when he made his famous “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” quote.
Unfortunately, most beginner fighters only focus on the bee aspect, creating a ridged movement that ultimately leads to the demise of their bout. Embracing the butterfly enables the fighter to become more fluid and “float” as they should around the ring. The butterfly allows them to be lighter on their feet and more active in their hips, so that dodging blows and stepping into combo punches becomes an easier task.
Power will come with correct punches, but the more important aspect of boxing is to be untouchable. If the opponent can’t make contact with the boxer, they cannot win the bout.
2. Buy the Extra 72 Inches
We’re talking about hand wraps here-one of the only piece of equipment needed for this cheap sport. Boxing is all about minimum gear and maximum contact, so the protection that fighters utilize should be used to their full potential.
Hand wraps generally come in 108 and 180 inches. Their purpose is to protect the wrist from feebly turning in unwanted, self-harming ways, and stopping the knuckles from rubbing against the glove, causing the skin to shear off.
Regardless of the fighter’s hand size, 108 inches is just not enough coverage to effectively cover the hands and knead their way through the fingers. Any fighter that is looking for a long term, daily commitment to the sport would be wise to not even acknowledge anything less than a 180 inch hand wrap.
3. Footwork is Everything
Photo by Holly Stein/Getty Images
Sure, fans love boxing because of the punches, but the savior in that winning bout wasn’t the sweet 3-2 combo-it was the footwork. Without proper footwork attention, a boxer’s punches essentially equate to nothing.
Behind every punch, every head movement, and every step a boxer takes, proper footwork is needed to perfect this movement. This should be the first and last thing a boxer focuses on in every practice for their entire career.
4. Gloves are Extremely Versatile
Between bag gloves, light gloves, heavy gloves, sparring gloves, and fighting gloves (and much more) a boxer can start to feel overwhelmed with their options.
While this topic is controversial, a good rule of thumb is to buy 16 ounce sparring gloves. These are the most versatile of the group, since a boxer can work any drill, and also spar with them.
Of course, having multiple sets of gloves never hurt anyone, but a fighter on a budget would be wise to commit to a glove of this standard. With that being said, a little bit of research on the glove goes a long way, and paying the extra dollar may mean a few years or so of bonding with the gloves.
5. Never Fight While Angry
Photo by Jeff Haynes-AFP
Bag work, contact drills, sparring, and bouts should all be in the sake of fun and love for the sport. A boxer’s mind should remain clear of that day’s troubles, and should be focused on the current punch of each second.
The assumption that boxers are angry while fighting is fictitious, and needs to come to an end. Happy boxers make the best fighters, since there is no irritation or frustration to cloud their judgment and mind.
The moment a fighter finds themselves getting angry in a drill is the precise instant when they should back up, take a breath, and come back in with a clear mind. This is the sport of boxing, after all, and everyone should be happy while they’re in it.
