Good boxing combinations against a taller opponent

[Katriona1992]

I am moving up from Featherweight to Light Welterweight for my upcoming fight in April (a difference of 3kg/6.6 pounds- my last fight was in early October last year). While I am having no problem in weight gaining, I am going to have to adapt to fighting slightly taller people on average and was wondering what are some good combinations for fighting bigger opponents.

So far, being only a year and a bit into the sport, my arsenal is pretty generic and don't particularly target any specific boxing style/body type. The ones that are in my rotation are so far stuff like:

Jab-Straight
Jab- Straight- Left hook to the head
Jab- Left hook to the body
Jabs until opponent moves concentrates fully on blocking the hits to the head - steps in- right hook the body
Jab- straight-Left hook to the body- Right hook to the head etc etc

Preferably I would like combinations that are shorter than five strikes since I am more of a "runner" in the ring (is that the technical term? anyways I am the one who likes to comes in, throws a combination then moves back out as quickly as possible...rinse and repeat until round ends).

As always, I appreciate any feedback. Peace :icon_lol:

 

[Katriona1992]

Oh, I forgot to add that I am around 5'4/5'5 (163-165 ish cm) and the few times I have seen light welterweights fight they could go all the way to 5'8 or even 5'9 (172-175cm). For 5'9, imagine Marloes Coenen build- thin but lean.

And I don't know the 1-2-3 boxing lingo either since at my gym we actually say the names of the strikes out loud (so like "straight, jab, uppercut" etc).

 

[JKkiM**]

You won't get too many competent advice from Sherdog. Even had some idiot tell me that your not supposed to punch at the end of your range and that your supposed to find this mystic zone called the "power zone" and nobody called him out for it.

I don't understand your combinations, are you a southpaw?

 

[99Silva]

Somewhere you need to include the uppercut that's all I'm saying. Put any combination you want together but be sure to include some uppercuts. Probably a couple of liver shots to an upper cut. Watch Rocky IV and you should see what may work.

 

[priderulez]

I aint no specialist but as I have trained MT, never just boxing. But I have the same issue- I'm 171cm and most of the opponents I face are taller than me. I basically try to get on the inside or try to stick and move if my opponent is slower than me.

For boxing I'd say study Mike Tyson- he had height disadvantage against almost all of his opponents but he was pretty good in bobbing and weaving his way in where he throws his combos. So imo its pretty important to know how to close the distance and when you learn to do that safely you would be able to sneak in some hooks and uppercuts.

 

[JKkiM**]

Competency of most boxing gyms are unbelievably pathetic. They'll teach you generic combinations and punches, tell you when you should throw them, a few padwork and then throw you in sparring with other people who were told the same thing.

They never actually teach you the concept of range, how to properly adapt your footwork during the fight (even professional MMA fighters don't do this well), how you should approach different opponents depending on their style, how to mindgame.

Mind game is the most important part of fighting. You never want to be a tough guy in boxing, tough guys get hurt. You want to be a smart fighter. Never throw the same combination more than twice, and make sure you make your punches unpredictable.

For example, if you throw a double jab twice, he's gonna expect it the 3rd time. What I like to do is jab again while fully expecting the left cross/uppercut counter, step forward and slip to the right when the counter comes and throw a counter left. This will confuse the hell out of your opponent.

You want to make your combinations unpredictable, that is the most important part. Also, as a shorter competitor, you want to learn how to fight in the inside. Hands up high on your forehead and elbow resting just above your chest and get to the inside of your opponent. Crouch low to cover body shots when they come, slip long range punches to get in and work the inside. You want to be proficient at throwing hooks, uppercuts and bodyshots.

You don't want to just jump inside of your opponent too. Jab as you close your distance or slip a punch as you close the distance. A lot of short fighters get the mentality of just closing distance, just charge their opponent and get KTFO'd.

Like the other poster said, Mike Tyson was a master of this.

 

[JKkiM**]

Competency of most boxing gyms are unbelievably pathetic. They'll teach you generic combinations and punches, tell you when you should throw them, a few padwork and then throw you in sparring with other people who were told the same thing.

They never actually teach you the concept of range, how to properly adapt your footwork during the fight (even professional MMA fighters don't do this well), how you should approach different opponents depending on their style, how to mindgame.

Mind game is the most important part of fighting. You never want to be a tough guy in boxing, tough guys get hurt. You want to be a smart fighter. Never throw the same combination more than twice, and make sure you make your punches unpredictable.

For example, if you throw a double jab twice, he's gonna expect it the 3rd time. What I like to do is jab again while fully expecting the left cross/uppercut counter, step forward and slip to the right when the counter comes and throw a counter left. This will confuse the hell out of your opponent.

You want to make your combinations unpredictable, that is the most important part. Also, as a shorter competitor, you want to learn how to fight in the inside. Hands up high on your forehead and elbow resting just above your chest and get to the inside of your opponent. Crouch low to cover body shots when they come, slip long range punches to get in and work the inside. You want to be proficient at throwing hooks, uppercuts and bodyshots.

You don't want to just jump inside of your opponent too. Jab as you close your distance or slip a punch as you close the distance. A lot of short fighters get the mentality of just closing distance, just charge their opponent and get KTFO'd.

Like the other poster said, Mike Tyson was a master of this.

I meant right cross, uppercut counter.

 

[JKkiM**]

Also, prepare to be the once pushing the pace. You never want to be the one not pushing forward when your the shorter fighter, nothing says free punishment like backing away from a taller opponent with a much longer range. Back out after a combination or engagement is fine, but don't backpeddle. Try and put thought into your combination as well.

Think of something like a left to the body and then a right to the body, your opponent is naturally gonna expect another left to the body. Give him a left to the face, ect. Don't throw combinations that are too long either. You want your combinations to be powerful, quick and below 5. 5 is really pushing it. 3-4 is the ideal number of punches you want to be able to quickly throw in the inside, back away from counters and try and look for another opening.

 

[Katriona1992]

You won't get too many competent advice from Sherdog. Even had some idiot tell me that your not supposed to punch at the end of your range and that your supposed to find this mystic zone called the "power zone" and nobody called him out for it.

I don't understand your combinations, are you a southpaw?

Nupe. I am orthodox. What don't you understand?

 

[thirteen]

Step in behind your jab then throw an overhand right (get your head off cetre and sit on your punch).

No number system?
Weird.

The powerzone lol is that Tekken or Street Fighter?

 

[JKkiM**]

Nupe. I am orthodox. What don't you understand?

The way you have your combinations set up, its like your trying to fight someone similar height and reach. You lead with a jab and try and land a single power shot, definitely not a good way to fight someone taller. Punches like a jab to the head and a left to the body is very dangerous vs a taller opponent as well, your gonna get decked with a right. Unless your jabbing to the head, crouching low and a quick jab to the body, you don't want a double left combinations like that against a taller opponent. You want them to be distracted with a jab while you move in or slip one of their long range punches to move in and throw a quick combination.

You ideally want your combinations to be a left-right-left-right when your fighting in the inside and below 5. Throw unpredictably and put thought behind them. If they get hit with a left to the body and a right to the body, they're gonna expect another left to the body while you should throw a left to the face to confuse them. Then after that you would quickly back out, work your way in again and throw a different combination. Your combinations HAVE to change during the fight. If you went body-body-head when you get inside, you might do head-body-head to confuse their defense. You don't always want to throw the same number of combinations either, throw a 3 combination, then a 2 and a 4. You need to learn to realize during the fight how your combinations should change and what to throw depending on what your opponent does.

 

[thirteen]

How confident are you at slipping a jab to the inside?
Slip to the inside - right uppercut - left hook.

 

[JKkiM**]

How confident are you at slipping a jab to the inside?
Slip to the inside - right uppercut - left hook.

I don't like combinations like that. You only want the left hook after the right uppercut if they slip the uppercut towards your left. If your uppercut lands, its very unlikely your going to cleanly land the left hook also.

Slip or jab to the inside, right uppercut and left to the body will be better if you're planning to land all 3.

 

[Katriona1992]

The way you have your combinations set up, its like your trying to fight someone similar height and reach. You lead with a jab and try and land a single power shot, definitely not a good way to fight someone taller. .

Thanks for the advice mate but I did say initially that my combinations were generic lol. Its more the "one size fits all" for beginners before but now I actually want to go beyond that

 

[JKkiM**]

Thanks for the advice mate but I did say initially that my combinations were generic lol. Its more the "one size fits all" for beginners before but now I actually want to go beyond that

No prob. Being a shorter fighter has its advantages and disadvantages, but its severely disadvantageous if you have the wrong style. Why are you trying to move up? Looking for a challenge?

 

[JKkiM**]

Also, why are you jumping 2 weight classes at once? Are you trying to move up to lightweight or jump 2 classes into light welterweight?

PM me if you want any boxing advice. I don't think your gonna find too many people that can give you usable advice on Sherdog.

 

[Katriona1992]

^Haha I started lifting after my match and got significantly heavier in a short period of time. I also started to train nearly five days instead of three so becoming heavier is kind of natural. I could make a cut down to Lightweight I suppose but yeah...not too keen on dieting lol

 

[JKkiM**]

^Haha I started lifting after my match and got significantly heavier in a short period of time. I also started to train nearly five days instead of three so becoming heavier is kind of natural. I could make a cut down to Lightweight I suppose but yeah...not too keen on dieting lol

Careful with weight lifting. You don't want to lose your speed, especially if your a shorter fighter. Circuit training with lighter weights and lifting explosively with medium weights is what you want to do. Bulking up like a weightlifter is easier and quicker, but it'll cost you a lot of speed and your conditioning won't be up to par.

 

[Hybrid_Killer]

^Don't listen to this guy he obviously has nfi about lifting. Lifting weights with a proper program will NOT make you slow. If anything, it will make you faster and more explosive which is important for a shorter fighter who needs to have the ability to close distance rapidly.

Also, lifting weights != getting bigger and circuit training is overrated. Go to the Strengh & Conditioning forum for good strength training advice to help you meet your goals.

 

[JKkiM**]

^Don't listen to this guy he obviously has nfi about lifting. Lifting weights with a proper program will NOT make you slow. If anything, it will make you faster and more explosive which is important for a shorter fighter who needs to have the ability to close distance rapidly.

Also, lifting weights != getting bigger and circuit training is overrated. Go to the Strengh & Conditioning forum for good strength training advice to help you meet your goals.

Nice to see you plainly ignored the important part of my post. Weight training itself isn't bad, I do it myself. Weight training with heavy weights and lifting like a weightlifter will hamper your conditioning. You don't want to bulk up quick, you want to do it slowly with circuit training or endurance lifting explosively with medium weights. You don't want to be slowly lifting huge amounts of weights to bulk up like a meat-head for boxing. You become slow and unconditioned.