Chuck Bodak

Former coach of fTluhammad Ali

and current coach of All's
amateur boxing team
Boxinc
uuith n«il milbert

\
Boxinc
Chuck Bodak with neii miibert

Boxinc

Contemporary Books, Inc.

Chicago
Library uf Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Bodak. Chuck.
Boxing basics.

Includes index.
SUMMARY: Outlines the fundamentals of boxing including
psychological preparation, physical conditioning,
offensive and defensive strategies, and ring psychology.
1. Boxing. 2. Boxing— Psychological aspects.

[1. Boxing] 1. Milbcrt, Neil F.. joint author.

II. Title.
GV1I33.B617 1979 796.8'3 79-50983
ISBN 0-X092-721I-3
ISBN 0-8092-7210-5 pbk.

Photographs by Sharon Petty unless otherwise credited

Copyright © 1979 by Neil F. Milbert

All rights reserved
Published by Contemporary Books, Inc.
180 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 79-50983
International Standard Book Number: 0-8092-7211-3 (cloth)
0-8092-7210-5 (paper)

Published simultaneously in Canada by

Beaverbooks. Ltd.
150 Lesmill Road
Don Mills. Ontario M3B 2T5
Canada
DedJcatioA
I earnestly dedicate this book to my daughters, Vanessa Ann and Mary
Lynn, as well as to all youth, in trust that the disciplines and skills
inherent in mastering boxing will enrich their lives. I express my warmest
appreciation to Muhammad Ali and Harold J. Smith for our continuing
and valued associations. My thanks also are extended to John Lira,
Harry Wilson, and Jill Koehl for their technical assistance and coopera-
tion.

Vasil "Chuck" Bodak

 1 1

Contents
1 Psychological Preparation 1 7 Escape and Evasion 45

2 Physical Conditioning 5 8 Style and Execution 49

3 Gymnasium Training 1 9 Southpaw Strategy 59

4 Technique 19 10 Ring Psychology 67

5 Offensive Fundamentals 27 1 Professional Competition 73

6 Defensive Fundamentals 37 Index 77

Psychological
Preparation—
An exercise of the intellect is the first calis- priate time: you make a choice and react
thenic you must perform in your quest to correctly in a fraction of a second.
master boxing. You must make up your Because of the skills you will acquire,
mind to make boxing an important part of boxing itself will become more exciting and
your daily life. This demands an enormous satisfying. You will be able to capitalize on
amount of willpower. The food you eat, the your strengths and overcome your weak-
number of hours you sleep, your social life, nesses. Seasoned boxers display a high de-
and your way of thinking, all will be af- gree of physical and mental self-control.
fected by your commitment to boxing. Winning is the most exhilarating expe-
Motivation is mandatory. To stay moti- rience in athletic competition. If you master
vated you should make a mental picture of boxing, you will often enjoy the experience
the rewards that will be yours when you of winning. Positive thinking will become
attain your goal. You will earn recognition second nature, and its benefits will become
and respect. You have a feeling of confi-
will apparent in other areas of your life.
dence, a sense of achievement. You will look There aren't any shortcuts to success.
and feel better. Should you kid yourself into thinking that
One of the foremost qualities that boxing you can cut corners, you already are on a
develops is the ability to keep calm and dead-end street. And, if you decide to coast
poised under pressure. This enables you to for a while, you really have shifted into
take swift and efficient action at the appro- reverse.
2 BOXING BASICS

Winning is a habit that can be acquired.

Plan your work and work your plan. Set adapt their techniques to your style. After
short-range goals to guide you on the way your left hook is fundamentally sound, you
to achieving your long-range objective of add a daily session in front of the heavy bag
mastering boxing. They will give you a daily to the shadow-boxing routine. Then, when
incentive and keep you from getting dis- you spar with a slower foe, you experiment
couraged, lazy, or careless. For example, with the punch in the ring. You study the
lei's assume you have been successful in situations in which the left hook seems to
your first few amateur bouts by using a left come naturally. You make a mental note of
jab to set up your best punch— a straight how your sparring partners react.
right. But you realize you will be a much Finally, you are comfortable delivering
better boxer if you develop a left hook. the punch against sparring partners. The
Developing a left hook becomes your short- time has come to use the left hook as a
range goal. means of scoring points in your matches.
Reaching your destination is a step-by- When you connect with the left hook in
step process. You study the techniques of your bouts, you have attained your short-
boxers who are expert in using the left range goal and moved closer to your long-
hook. You set aside a specific amount of range objective of mastering boxing.
shadow-boxing time in front of a mirror to This was only an example. Your coaches
 PSCYHOLOGICAL PREPARATION 3

and fellow boxers can help you set up short- The first time he fought Spinks he was
range goals that can be attained through a neither emotionally nor physically prepared,
series of steps over a period of weeks and and he surrendered his title to the younger
months. and stronger man. Immediately after losing,
Constantly remind yourself of both long- Ali made up his mind to become the only
range and short-range objectives. The body heavyweight in history to capture the cham-
tries to act on the suggestions that it re- pionship on three occasions. Soon he was
ceives from the mind. That's why it's essen- back in training.
tial for boxing to become an important part Prior to the defeat. Ali had embarked on
of your daily life. crash training programs before his fights.
I chuckle when hear a boxer say he has
I He had rushed everything, and his lack of
"made up" for breaking training for a day proper preparation finally caught up with
by doing two or three times as much work him. Now he knew he had to do it the right
the next day. He's kidding himself. First, he way.
has disturbed his concentration. Second, his Ali realized that the key to victory was
thinking is all wrong: it's not the length of outmaneuvering Spinks. Through a slow
time that a boxer works that is most impor- natural process over a long period of time
tant, what he accomplishes physically
it's he readied himself. Day after day, he ran
and mentally while he's working. The boxer mile after mile. He did more than 8,000 sit-

who tries to cram has a tendency to forget. ups. This wasn't a crash program. This was
Not only that, he probably won't get as training by the book.
much as he should out of his next workout The second time Ali met Spinks it was
because his mind and body will resist the Leon who was unprepared. He couldn't
overexertion. cope with a man who had solidified his
Without proper emotional drive one will body, strengthened his legs, and stoked his
never become an outstanding fighter: competitive fires to a fierce flame. Ali didn't
"There's a chink in Spinks' emotional ar- win the heavyweight title for a third time
mor," said Angelo Dundee, trainer of Mu- because of his punching power. He did it
hammad Ali, when told of Leon's late-night because of his willpower.
escapades that were followed by gruelling To master boxing you will have to be
training sessions prior to their September, motivated, dedicated, and self-assured. In
1978, heavyweight title-bout. the ring, these traits inspire the body lan-
Ali, meanwhile, had learned his lesson. guage that is translated into triumphs.
 —

Physical
Conditioning
It doesn't matter if you're a sub-novice or a good care of your body by maintaining the
world champion, the soundest advice 1 can right eating and drinking habits and getting
giveyou is to get in shape and stay in shape. plenty of rest. All it takes is a little common
The fight isn't won in the ring so much as it sense and a lot of willpower.
is in the constant training of the body. Getting in shape is a process that involves
On the amateur level, lack of physical some self-inflicted suffering. If you go easy
fitness probably causes more losses than any on yourself you can't expect to get very
other factor. In the pro ranks, getting out of much out of your roadwork, exercises, and
shape is inviting disaster. I've seen boxers of calisthenics. You have to pay the price, but
tremendous natural ability take terrible your investment in time and pain will pro-
beatings because they were out of shape and duce dividends when you put on the gloves
couldn't cope with an average boxer in peak and start practicing the fine points of box-
condition. The late Green Bay Packers foot- ing.
ball coach. Vince Lombardi. once said, "Fa- Boxing takes more out of you than any
tigue makes cowards of us all." By being in other sport. Therefore, your input has to be
the best possible condition you minimize the greater than it was for any of the sports in
possibility of being overtaken by fatigue which you previously participated. It takes a
during the course of a match. solid foundation to sustain hard knocks and
Unfortunately, there isn't any secret for- respond with speed, power, and strength.
mula for physical fitness. You've got to take Before getting down to the specifics
 —

6 BOXING BASICS

roadwork, jumping rope, and calisthenics foods: potato chips, popcorn, pretzels, past-
let's go back to your sleeping, eating, and ry, peanuts and cashews, candy, cake, salad
drinking habits. dressing, and soda pop. All are bad for
Get eight to ten hours of sleep every aspiring athletes.
night —more if you feel you need it. Figura- Much worse are alcoholic beverages
tively speaking, when you sleep your mind (whiskey, and beer), tobacco (cig-
wine,
recharges its batteries, and your body gets a arettes and cigars), and drugs and narcotics.
tune-up. I recommend a nap every day, but Obviously, something potentially haz-
I realize this may be very difficult for boxers ardous to your health has the power to
who are attending school or working. If you diminish your reflexes, strength, and stam-
can't fit a nap into your schedule, see to it ina.
that you set aside a daily quiet time devoted Your purpose in training is to produce a
to relaxing and conserving your energy. To peak performance when you enter the box-
derive maximum benefits from your condi- ing ring, not to try to repair any abuse you
tioning program you need stamina. Don't have done to your body. Being in superb
waste your energy. physical condition beforehand means you
Your diet should be carefully planned to will have a head start when you go to the
provide you with plenty of energy. There gymnasium to work on your boxing tech-
are twenty-two essential nutrients, and they nique.
come from four food groups: (1) meat. (2) Roadwork — simple running — is the most
dairy products, (3) cereal. (4) fruits and elementary form of conditioning, and it is
vegetables. For the boxer, the emphasis an exercise you must engage in throughout
should be on proteins, which come primar- your boxing career. It strengthens the heart
ily from meat. and lungs, stimulates circulation, increases
I strongly recommend that a boxer exist stamina, and eventually provides a reservoir
—
on two meals a day breakfast in the morn- of built-in energy. For the amateur boxer,
ing and dinner at night. You can do without two or three miles of running every day is
lunch. If you become hungry between these enough.
two meals, I suggest that you eat an apple I'm not in favor of boxers running with
or drink some fruit juice. Never eat just one another competitively. Running isn't
before or just after a workout. only a physical exercise; it's part of your
A recommended breakfast is eggs psychological preparation. You should find
(poached or boiled but not fried), cereal, the rhythm that best suits you. If you get
fresh fruit, toast, and tea with lemon. The cramps, slow down to a walk but don't stop.
evening meal should be your biggest meal, Walk .run. .walk run
. . until you
. . . . . . .

consisting of a main course of lean meat get to the point where you have developed
(usually steak but sometimes chicken or the proper rhythm and you're running with-
lamb), salad, fresh vegetables, a baked po- out strain or effort.
tato, and fruit for desert. Again, tea with Boxers living in large cities should do
lemon is the preferred beverage. Tea their roadwork in the morning before the
quenches thirst, replaces fluid, relaxes the air becomes contaminated by auto exhaust
body without bloating it. and washes away and industrial waste fumes. Equally impor-
impurities. tant is staying off concrete and asphalt sur-
Fried foods have no place on the boxer's faces. Pounding the pavement puts too
menu. Your foods should be broiled, boiled much strain on the feet and legs. The ideal
or baked. The taboo list also includes junk place to run is the park.
 PHYSICAL CONDITIONING 7

Skipping rope develops

footwork, balance,
and coordination.

When you get back from roadwork, relax exercise — even if you feel clumsy, for that's
for ten to twenty-five minutes, depending on a sure sign you lack the coordination that
how you feel and how much you've exerted the rope can develop. It's a good investment
your body. If you begin the day feeling to buy a rope. If you're in the gym, you
stress and strain, you've gotten off on the won't have to delay your training routine by
wrong foot. waiting for others to finish their ropework.
You can work on acquiring flexibility and And, if you're having trouble mastering the
muscle tone both at home and in the gym- rope,you can do some homework.
nasium. Skipping rope is an excellent In order to learn the rope jumping tech-
8 BOXING BASICS

Working with the medicine ball hardens the stomach.

nique, run in place slowly, and then begin to Also essential are the strengthening
spin the rope as you alternate your feet. As calisthenics — sit-ups
and pushups -that can
your footwork improves, accelerate. You're be done both at home and in the gym. Sit-
not only skipping rope, but also developing ups provide the stomach with a protective,
footwork, balance, and foot-hand coordina- muscular shield against bod\ punches, in
tion. Follow the three-minute-round meth- addition to taking flab off the waistline.
od of measuring time three minutes of Pushups build the shoulders, arms, and
work followed by one-minute rest intervals. wrists. Another valuable at-home exercise is
Stretching exercises such as touching squeezing a small rubber ball to build mus-
your toes with alternate hands while in cles in your hands and forearms.
standing and sitting positions also can be In the gym, working with the medicine
done at home. These flexibility exercises ball is an excellent means of hardening the
tone your muscles, guarding them against stomach. Roll around atop the ball. Let
strains and pulls and enabling them to per- someone drive the ball into your stomach a
form a variety of tasks with ease. dozen times. Keep your stomach muscles
 PHYSICAL CONDITIONING 9

and breathe out through the nose when

Stiff, tine: (!) it teaches you and
punctuality
the ball hits. When you get into the ring this keeps you in the proper psychological frame
"preventive medicine" will serve you in good of mind conditioning is a natural part of
stead. your life; (2) there will be days when unex-
Just your roadwork, go about
as with pected events will make it impossible for
your calisthenics in a gradual manner. Re- you to get to the gym to train. If you are in
member that you are conditioning your the habit of giving yourself days offfrom
body, and strain is an impediment to condi- your physical conditioning program, more
tioning. than sixty hours may elapse between work-
1 tell my fighters, physical conditioning is out sessions. This will cause you to fall a
a seven-day-a-week routine. Like uranium, step behind.
exercise has a half-life. The half-life for Through physical conditioning you in-
exercise two and one-half days. Just to
is crease the capacity of your body to perform
maintain your fitness level, you must rein- acts that require strength, agility, and en-
force your body with exercise every sixty durance. You look good and feel better than
hours. ever. A disciplined and superbly condi-
There are two reasons that I recommend tioned body is the first sign that you're on
making physical conditioning a daily rou- your way to mastering boxing.
Gymnasium
Training
The gymnasium is the boxer's school. Your should go back to the basics. The first thing
education in the gym prepares you for the to do is loosen up. Roll your head and neck,
tests that will come during the course of then your shoulders. Bend your waist, mov-
your boxing career. Since your opponents ing it forward, backward, and sideways.
will have varying physical characteristics, Rotate your arms in your shoulder sockets.
styles, strengths, and weaknesses, you must Run in place.
become an outstanding student in the gym
in order to excel in your matches. Every SHADOW-BOXING
round you fight ought to be prefaced by Now you're ready to start shadow-boxing,
hundreds of hours of training. Every minute which is a training exercise rather than a
counts. Workouts must be carefully planned loosening-up routine. In shadow-boxing, all

and well balanced. that you are hitting is thin air, but there will
Many fighters look forward to going to be times in your bouts when you swing and
the gym. Your workouts can be interesting miss your opponent. If you haven't learned
and exhilarating too. A typical training ses- how to pull your arm back properly after
sion consists of shadow-boxing, punching missing your target, you can strain a muscle
the light and heavy bags, sparring, skipping or lurch off guard. Try to shadow-box in
rope, and doing calisthenics. All are of con- front of the mirror so you can detect possi-
siderable value at all levels of the sport. ble flaws and check out your footwork.
Every time a boxer goes to the gym he The mirror is the most important piece of

11
 12 BOXING BASICS

The mirror is the most important piece of equipment m the gym

 GYMNASIUM TRAINING 13

equipment in the gym. After you have been HEAVY BAG

instructed in the correct techniques, it en- Using the heavy bag is like shadow-boxing,
ables you You observe and
to train yourself. only now you're landing punches on your
correct the same things that would if
I 1 imaginary adversary. Utilize all of the
were watching you. The mirror makes you movements that you use in boxing. Control
alert and aware. the bag at all times instead of letting it

In shadow-boxing concentrate on throw- control you. When the bag is standing still,

ing sequences of three to five punches. Work move into it. When itmoves
away, pursue
on the combinations that have been giving it. Don't shove the bag. Propel it with your

you difficulty during sparring sessions. Keep punches.

moving, pretending an imaginary opponent Start with your jab and run out your
is ready to retaliate. You want your moves combinations. Stop the bag with a series of
to become reflex actions. jabs and combinations, just as you would
The time schedule for shadow-boxing, halt the advance of an opponent. Don't
like that for all of your exercises, should work sideways. Your opponent should al-
simulate combat conditions. Shadow-box ways be directly in front of you in the ring.
for a three-minute round, take a one-minute Therefore, so should the bag.
rest break, and resume shadow-boxing for Execute, experiment, probe, and test as

another three minutes. you box the heavy bag. And always put

Control the heavy bag by propelling it with snappy punches.

14 BOXING BASICS

snap into your punches. Your training exer- attack the bag at half-speed. Eventually,
cises aren't meant to exert you. They are you'll accelerate naturally.
intended to maintain the movements of the When your punching rhythm is broken
body and produce the ability to activate and the bag starts to bob. allow it to stop
your muscles without strain or exertion. before continuing. Trying to hit a bobbing
bag is taking a foolish risk. You could strike
LIGHT BAG the swivel and injure your hand.
The bag is better known as the speed
light Keep your hands up when attacking the
bag because its main purpose is developing —
speed bag it's a habit you want to carry
hand speed. In addition, it produces hand- over to the ring. Don't forget your foot-
eye coordination and strengthens arm and work. Strive for rhythm and smooth pivots.
shoulder muscles.
For most boxers, it takes a lot of practice Inshadow-boxing and working with the
to perfect the snappy rat-a-tat-tat technique speed and heavy bags, it is essential that you
on the speed bag. If it doesn't come readily. make certain vour hand and wrist are func-

The speed bag develops hand-eye coordination and strengthens arm and shoulder muscles.
 GYMNASIUM TRAINING 15

tioning as a unit. The proper way to make a After form is acquired, efficiency of move-
fist is by doubling your fingers into the ment will induce speed. Form and speed
palm and closing the thumb across all but combine to produce power. Constant repeti-
the little way, the bones and
fingers. In this tion of correct techniques makes form sec-
knuckles of your fingers are protected. The ond nature.
shock is absorbed by the knuckles at the Long before you step into the ring to
base of your fingers. Keep your wrist spar, all of the elementary techniques, such
straight and firm regardless of the type of as punching properly and maneuvering with
punch you are throwing. rhythm, should be down pat. The objective
A boxer doesn't derive his power from of everything you do is perfection, relaxa-
the hands and arms. The force comes from tion, and control. The great athlete is a
shifting the body at the time the blow is relaxed athlete..
delivered —
putting your hips into the punch Observe, study, and absorb. After you
without strain or pressure. have completed the book, return to this
Form is much more important than force. chapter and see how you can apply what

Don't be afraid to spar with a boxer of superior skill and greater experience, even if his name is
Muhammad All. Elite Studio photo.
16 BOXING BASICS

you have learned to your gymnasium ses- opportunity to learn like a scientist. You
sions. For example, when you can execute experiment with the material that you have
the fundamentals, you should develop style studied during shadow-boxing and work on
by working with the heavy bag. Throw a the heavy and speed bags. You work with
series of jabs, then a right hand and a cross- your fellow scientists to test for strong and
over right; another series of jabs, then a weak points.
cross-over hook. Jab and block. Jab and brush. Alternate
you are developing
In these exercises di- your moves. By utilizing your strengths and
versity, timing and the ability to correcting your weaknesses, you acquire
manipulate— all of which are essential in confidence and overcome fear. Mind rules
advanced competition. matter. Fear is the unknown. Fear is doubt.
In boxing you can never separate the brain
SPARRING from the body, and in sparring you discover
When you spar, you proceed to higher edu- the unknown and dispel doubt.
cation. Sparring is the laboratory. It is your Sparring sessions aren't boxing matches.

Spar with fighters from other weight classes to discover your respective strong and weak points.
 GYMNASIUM TRAINING 17

Never bully an opponent with less skill or body from A to Z. As a trainer, I can tell
experience. But don't be afraid to spar with you the things observe. But only you can
I

boxers of superior and greater expe-

skill acquire body feel the ability to synchro-
rience. They can expose your flaws, en- nize the movements of the feet, trunk,
abling you to correct shortcomings prior to hands, and head without strain or effort.
your matches. This higher level of competi- Then, when contact with an opponent is
tion often will bring out the best in you. made in the ring, the body's response is a
There's nothingwrong with sparring with reflex action.
a boxer from another weight class, as long Although training combines work and
as both of you treat the session as a lesson. study, it can and should be enjoyable.
A heavyweight, for example, can learn to There's nothing wrong with bringing your
cope with a fast and by rehearsing
agile foe sense of humor along to the gym. A few
against a middleweight. Every chance you laughs are great for both the mind and
get, spar against a lefthander. body. Just don't get carried away. You're in
In the gym you should get to know your thegym to become a boxer, not a clown.
Technique.
Your object in the ring is to control yourself place the left foot in front of your body and
and at the same time control your adver- slightly to the left so that it points directly
sary. You want to hit your- opponent with- at your opponent. The right foot is behind
out allowing him to hit you. Technique you with the toe pointing at a forty-five-
provides the ways and means of reaching degree angle, slightly to the right of your
your objective. Hands and feet collaborate body. The knees are relaxed.
to furnish protection and striking power. This is nature's way of starting. The feet
Stance and movement are the most basic are flat. In moving, the principle is toe and
fundamentals. Balance is the key to both. heel. All of your movements are made by
The balanced boxer is better able to bouncing from your feet and twisting your
thwart his opponent's advances and brush body.
his punches. The effect of the blows that By landing on your heel very lightly, you
your attacker succeeds in landing is mini- relax your joints and muscles naturally. The
mized if you retain your balance and reply rhythm flows upward to your joints, hips,
with a counterattack. On offense, balance and waist. Except when you pivot, the
helps you to exploit openings and put your upper part of the body doesn't move. The
weight behind your punches. only movement is a slight bend to the waist.
I am very much against bending, crouch-
STANCE AND FOOTWORK ing, and
bobbing-and-weaving type of
To get into the proper righthanded stance, movements because they put a boxer in

19
20 BOXING BASICS

ment side to side mobility — was the key to

our success in Montreal." By shitting your
weight you move forward and laterally.
Everything is based on rhythm, which is

both a timing mechanism and a method of

relaxation. Without relaxation, psychologi-
cal tension will keep you from performing
to the best of your ability. Rhythmic moves
are the basis of muscular control.
It's a common misconception that boxers

move best on their toes. This is false. You

move on the flat of your feet; you execute
on your toes. This gives you the effect of
Move — Set . . . Move — Set . . . Move — Set.
Because of the intricate muscle move-
ments and split-second timing that boxing
—
demands, the Move Set method is vitally
important. It enables you to go from de-
fense to offense, and vice versa, in a fraction
of a second.
Move in reference to the position of your
feet. When the left foot goes forward, the
right foot follows. When the right foot goes
backward, the left foot follows. In moving
laterally to the left, the left foot moves, then
the right. In moving laterally to the right,

The feet should be flat when in a righthanded

the right foot leads and the left follows.
stance. Your basic position never alters. You merely
move in and out of it, shifting from offense
to defense and defense to offense.
unnatural positions and make some parts of What about the hands? The hands are
his anatomy deadweight. It's ridiculous for alongside the body. The right hand is
a boxer to get so low that he's virtually slightly in front of your shoulder and to the
impossible to hit. You should maintain your right of your head. The left hand is in front
leverage. When you assume
an abnormal of the left shoulder and completely relaxed.
position you cannot box according to the Your arms lightly touch your body. This is
best of your ability. very important because it is the basis of my
A good way to see if you're in the right fundamental strategy for both offense and
stance is to stand in front of a mirror and defense —
bouncing the arms to and from
check to make certain that your feet are the body.
pointing to the left and right. They Your hands are cupped at all times as if
shouldn't be directly behind one another; if you were holding an egg. (The timing is so
they are, it will hamper your lateral move- precise that you have only a split-second in
ment. which to squeeze and lock your punching
Lateral movement is very important. In hand, and supply it with the necessary
the opinion of Pat Nappi. head coach of the power.) They are cupped slightly inward to
1976 U.S. Olympic team. "Lateral move- help lock the wrist, one of the weakest joints
 TECHNIQUE 21

John Lira, a United States

lightweight title-holder and
leading contender for the
world championship,
demonstrates the ideal
stance for a righthanded
boxer.
22 BOXING BASICS

By hitting with an open hand, the boxer on the left is risking injury to his thumb and wrist, and the
judges will deduct points from his score.

of your body. Thus, when executing a move punch is hard enough, it knock you out.
will
properly, by flipping your elbow with a I'm a firm believer that you should watch
snap, your wrist will be protected at the the hands of your opponent. Trying to de-
moment of contact with the opponent. cipher his intentions watching his
by
Your head is in an arched position, and shoulders and feet causes mass confusion.
the chin is tucked toward your chest and He doesn't hit you with his shoulders and
pointed to the left side of the body. When feet: he hits you with his hands.

you get hit, the head shouldn't move, fall Although you concentrate on the hands,
back, or turn. It's a similar principle to your field of vision should take in your
tucking a rifle alongside your head to elimi- rival's body from the waist up so that you
nate the "kick" that comes when a round is can immediately attack when an opening
fired, in this way you absorb the punch and appears.
it through the body, lessening the
travels
shock. If the head takes the full force of the STYLE
blow, the nerves will be pinched and the Style evolves from technique. Many great
supply of blood will be cut off. This will fighters, such as Muhammad Ali, have in-

either make you dazed and groggy, or, if the stinctive moves that are completely natural
 TECHNIQUE 23

Watch the hands

of your opponent
.... He hits you
with his hands.

for their physical gifts. But 1 don't recom- While you shouldn't copy fighters. Ien-
mend that amateurs emulate Muhammad's courage you to experiment and try various
unconventional technique of keeping his left styles in your sparring session. No matter
hand dangling and firing the jab from waist how intelligent your coach is, you are still
level. Neither do I advocate Floyd Patter- the one who must prove yourself in the ring.
son's peek-a-boo style or Ken Norton's un- Many times you will discover that you can
orthodox stance in which he keeps his left add to what you have learned from both
down and crosses his right hand in front of your teachers and this instructional guide. 1
his head. want you to make learning a continuing
24 BOXING BASICS

process. A trainer's work is to educate a because of their slugging ability. This is the
fighter, not to dominate him or act as a worst mistake they can make. Being ob-
dictator. sessed with getting a KO has resulted in
countless losses, particularly on the amateur
The fundamentals of stance and move- level.The first thing you know, the fight is
ment are all-important. Even if you have a over and your opponent has outscored you.
knockout punch that lands like a ton of He has won simply because he was con-
bricks, you need a good, fundamental foun- stantlyaware of your ability to hit with
dation which will enable you to attain a power and he was always defending himself
position to make contact with your oppo- against it, scoring points in the process.
nent, and which will make a positive impact Remember, the object of boxing isn't to
on the judges' scorecards. Moreover, the throw punches with the intent of knocking
time will eventually come when you need someone out. Strive for perfect relaxation
boxing abilits to bail out of trouble. and control. You want to be so relaxed and
Many knockout punchers forget about so much in control that you aren't even
technique when they achieve early success aware of which punches you are using to

You can increase your punching power by perfecting your technique.

 TECHNIQUE 25

put your opponent out of commission. Your force. After form is acquired, efficiency of
concentration should be riveted on outma- movement produce speed. Form and
will
neuvering, and outpunching
outsmarting, speed combine to produce maximum power.
your opponent, and being razor-sharp on Constant repetition of correct techniques
defense. Ideally, you will be able to KO makes form second nature. Always work on
your opponent with any one of your eliminating your mistakes. When your
punches, not just with your Sunday punch. trainer points them out, he is doing it to
And even if you don't have the ability to help you.
KO an opponent, you can still master box- As a trainer, I'm concerned with
not
ing. Some of the greatest fighters who ever dwelling on what you're doing correctly.
lived didn't have that talent; so consider You know your good points as well as I do.
good company.
yourself in But I'm constantly going to remind you of
Although you may not be able to acquire what you're doing wrong. If you lose a
a knockout punch, you can improve your match, I want your opponent to earn his
punching power by perfecting your tech- victory. I never want you to beat yourself by
nique. Form is much more important than repeatedly making mistakes.

Constant repetition of correct techniques makes fine form second nature.

i

1^
OFFensive
Fundamentals
In order to win a boxing match, you must baseball. At the instant of contact you
either outpoint your opponent or overpower squeeze, just as you do when you catch a
him. Very few top caliber fighters are armed ball.

with a single overpowering weapon, such as In unison with your fist, the left leg snaps
Joe Frazier's famous left hook. Therefore, forward, followed by the right At the
leg.

it's essential to have several weapons at your same time your right hand comes out open-
disposal when you mount your attack. ly in front of your face to catch your oppo-

nent's jab. 1 call this technique "jab and

LEFT JAB block."
For the righthanded boxer, the most impor- Every time you jab, expect your opponent
tant punch is the left jab. By throwing the to respond with a jab. Even if he doesn't, it's
left jab relentlessly, you force your foe to not a wasted motion. Precautionary mea-
assume a defensive posture. His response to sures should become habitual, regardless of
your jabs also creates openings for the other what a particular opponent is doing. Never
basic punches: the right cross, the left hook, take anything for granted. If your opponent
and the uppercuts with both hands. jabs back, you catch the punch. If not, you
The left jab is thrown with the arm fully come right back into the ready position.
extended and with a snap so that you feel I can't overemphasize the importance of

the thrust all the way to your shoulder. your hands. They are the same as a cane to
Think of it as throwing and catching a a blind man. You cannot execute a move if

27
28 BOXING BASICS

Throwing the left jab relentlessly forces your opponent to assume a defensive posture and
creates openings for your other punches.

The left jab is thrown with a snap that is felt all the way to the shoulder.
 OFFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS 29

The feel of the left jab making contact tells you when to move again and where to move. Chicago
Tribune photo.

you cannot feel. That's the principle of the The arm is fully extended with a snap; you
jab. It makes contact and, in the process, move into your opponent; you use a push-
tells you when to move again and where to ing and pressing technique; you feel for
move. It is the key to your subsequent com- openings; and you expect a response.
binations.
You throw your left jab with the palm LEFT HOOK
down and with a pushing and pressing tech- When you use the left hook, the palm is in a
nique. The trajectory depends on the height different position: it faces you. Think of
of your opponent: If you're shorter than pulling the opponent toward you. The
your foe you'll punching upward; if
be punch is called the hook because you're
you're taller, you'll be punching downward. hooking the other boxer.
Regardless, the fundamentals are the same. Because your palm is facing you, your left
 30 BOXING BASICS

rrti

The left hook is a powerful punch, capable of doing sudden damage to the head or body. Chicago
Tribune photo.
!

hand is Your thumb is a weak

protected. put your body's power into the blow. Tuck
digit. If you try to throw a hook with your your left arm close to your body, and twist
palm down, the way you would a left jab, your left hip and shoulder to the right.
you run the risk of injuring your thumb. Again, expect your opponent to respond,
You also will probably misjudge your point and the instant the punch connects have
of contact if your opponent moves. your right hand in the ready position. Don't
The left hook is a powerful punch, capa- telegraph the left hook or you'll be asking
ble of doing sudden damage to the head or for a shot to the head. Don't take a round-
body. Your fist, elbow, and shoulder should house swing, because your opponent will
all be on line as you make a snappy pivot to either slip or catch the punch and seize the
 OFFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS 31

A snappy pivot puts the

body's power into the left
hook.

chance to counterpunch. An experienced parrying, catching punches, and brushing.

foe will have you on the canvas if you fail to But the right can also become a powerful
use your head when you hook. offensive weapon: a right cross can alter or
end a match an instant. The left jab and
in
RIGHT CROSS right cross add up to the old one-two
Righthanders should never forget that their —
punch a combination that's still as good as
right hand is primarily a defensive tool. It gold. As with the jab, the palm is down for
does eighty percent of the defensive work: the right cross. In this instance, also, the
32 BOXING BASICS

The right hand does eighty percent of the defensive work. One of its tasks
is brushing punches.

Launch the right cross with a fast elbow flip that puts the fist directly on
Completely relax
target. until the moment of contact; then squeeze.
Chicago Tribune photo.
 OFFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS 33

For the right cross, note

the toe-and-heel technique,
the full extension of the
arm, and the palm facing
downward at the instant of
contact. Illustration by Jill
Koehl.

push and press principle of extension ap-

plies. I
Remember to always keep your right arm
in constant touch with your own body. This
will enable you to launch the right with the
fast elbow flip that puts the fist directly on
target.
your weight to your right leg, and
Shift
let the entire right side of your body go into

the punch, applying the force. Completely

relax until the split-second of contact. Then
squeeze. Instantly return the right to its

defensive position, touching your arm to

your body.
Unless your opponent is stunned and cov-
ering up, the head should be the target of
the right cross. Aiming at the body under
normal circumstances is foolhardy because
it enables his left jab to go over your right
The head should be the target of the right
and sets you up for a dose of your own cross. Aiming at the body enables your
medicine. adversary's left jab to go over your right.
34 BOXING BASICS

The uppercut can be used

against head or body and
can be thrown with either
hand.

Below, the uppercut often

enables you to penetrate
your opponent's defense
without creating an
opening for a
counterpunch. After the
uppercut, instantly return
the right arm to its
defensive position,
touching the side of the
body.
 v^\>^

^
--<

When you fire the right uppercut, the power flows upward from your right foot. Drop your arm,
bringing the fist below the target. Then shoot it upward as you pivot. Chicago Tribune photo.
36 BOXING BASICS

RIGHT HOOK opponent's defense without creating an

A variation of the right cross is the right opening for a counterpunch.
hook. The palm inward when you
laces No matter what punch you are throwing,
hook with the right hand. The motion is make it a rhythmic move. This enables you
identical to that of the left hook, and either to instantly shift from one move to another,
the head or the body is fair game. The pivot or go from offense to defense.
will produce the power.
These punches can be executed in many
combinations. A well-coached boxer has the
UPPERCUTS ability to execute, manipulate, invent, and
The uppercut (like the hook) is effective as experiment because of his basic training in
both a head and body blow. Both with the the fundamentals.
right and left uppercut, the palm faces up. In my opinion, speed in boxing is just as
Inthrowing the uppercut, the principle is overrated as the ability to throw a knockout
the same as that of lifting. Drop your arm, punch. A directed attack is much more
bringing the fist below the target. Then effective than a furious attack. You have no
shoot it upward and pivot to generate the control over sheer speed. Perfected timing
body power which gives your blow its force. rather than speed is the secret of success on
If it's a left uppercut your weight shifts to offense.
your left foot; if it's a right uppercut, vice A reminder: on offense, always be con-
versa. scious of your opponent's capabilities. Be-
The uppercut is very effective for infight- come careless and you can lose a fight in a
ing because it enables you to penetrate your nash.
Defensive
Fundamentals
Boxing is often referred to as "the manly art fights with Ali. Failure to learn the funda-
of self-defense." This definition puts into mentals of defense means running the risk
perspective importance of defense in
the of being injured. Your knockout punch
mastering the sport. No matter how much won't undo the damage after you have been
slugging power you possess, as you rise to cut to ribbons or suffered a concussion.
higher levels of competition you will dis- This is not to suggest that you should
cover it enough. In the early stages of
isn't become obsessed with protecting yourself.
amateur boxing tournaments, such as the Getting punched is an integral part of the
Golden Gloves, there are many knockouts. sport of boxing. But the most powerful
But most championship bouts are won on deterrent to your opponent is your ability to
decisions. retaliate. The boxer who runs without hit-
Superior defensive skill is the most con- ting is on the road to defeat.
spicuous characteristic of four of the world In amateur boxing, when points are equal
champion heavyweights: Muhammad Ali, the decision goes to the boxer displaying the
Gene lunney. Jack Johnson, and Jim Cor- best "generalship" —the development of nat-
bett. Sonny Liston was one of the most ural advantages, coupled with intuition, and
awesome sluggers of his era; yet he deterio- the ability to grasp quickly the advantages
rated into a groping hulk in his two title of any opening given by an opponent. "Gen-

37
38 BOXING BASICS

Slipping a punch gets you

out of the way but leaves
you within striking distance
on any
to capitalize
openings that present
thennselves.

Slip a right cross by bending to your left without moving your feet. Chicago Tribune photo.
 —

DEFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS 39

eralship" another name for control. You

is opponent miss; the idea is to hit him before
gain control through timing. he recovers.
My theory of boxing demands that you
always work your way back into the basic BLOCKING
defensive position. Defense includes mov- It's much better to slip a punch than to
ing, slipping, catching, brushing, blocking, catch the blow. If a punch sails past or
rolling, and feinting. around you. the other boxer has exerted
Moving nothing more than the basic
is himself; while you have used very little ef-
footwork that described in Chapter 4
1 fort. But when you catch or block a punch

maneuvering forward and backward, and it causes tension and the expenditure of
from side to side. You bounce from the feet energy on your part.
with toe and heel rhythm. Move — Set . . . Nevertheless, often you have no alterna-
Move — Set . . . Move — Set. tive but to catch a punch. In catching
My cardinal rule in moving to and from punches, step to the side, turn your body,
an opponent is based on the fact that the and use your hands to disarm the force.
shortest distance between two points is a Don't use both hands to block punches.
straight line. It's the fastest and best way to Using two hands leaves more of your body
reach your destination. unguarded and rules out the possibility of
Move forward, then laterally. Move back- counterpunching.
ward, then laterally. Many times a boxer
willmake a lateral move as he tries to get Left Jab
away from his opponent. However, he's still The technique in blocking a high left jab
within striking range. That wouldn't have calls for you to extend your left arm to the

been the case if he had moved backward. side and brush the blow to the outside. If
Slide and out, slipping punches en
in the punch is to the body, brush it down and
route. When you slip a punch you get out of away.
its way, but your feet don't move, which Should your opponent be a sloppy
leaves your body within striking distance puncher you may be able to counter more
and permits you to capitalize on the open- effectively by blocking his jab with your

ings that present themselves. right arm and elbow, and left shoulder.

Never bend your head. Slip by bending at Putting the hands in position is the key.
your waist to the left or right, depending on When you're in the basic position your right
where the punch is coming from. When arm and elbow will guard against left hands
your opponent throws a left, bend to the to the ribs, and your left shoulder will be a
right. If it's a right, bend to the left. The buffer against shots aimed at your chin.
instant the blow goes by. counterpunch. Anticipate. Throw counter combinations
I'm very much against bobbing and weav- and work your way back into the basic
ing tactics because 1 believe they waste pre- position. Set the man up and beat him to
cious seconds. On the other hand, I'm in the punch. Use the element of surprise to
favor of a boxer developing unique tech- keep him off balance.
niques of slipping, feinting, sliding, and
moving laterally. Your first priority is to Right Cross
make the fastest and most effective move The way aimed for
to deal with a right cross
possible and snap back into the basic posi- the head is your right arm to the
to extend
tion. You want to do more than make your side and shove the punch to the outside.
40 BOXING BASICS

^^^
w»* ir^
HEe
Bim ^1 1

If your opponent is a sloppy puncher you should be able to counter effectively.

 DEFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS 41

You can counter after blocking punches with your arms and elbows.
42 BOXING BASICS

Left Hook Uppercuts

To hook, your arm is parallel
deflect the left Against both the and right uppercuts
left

to your body with your elbow close in. you use your right hand and forearm. You
When you see the hook coming, extend the keep your left arm free to initiate an attack.
arm and apply tension. Catch the punch on Always remember, your left is your primary
the back ot your right hand. offensive weapon and your right does eighty
In this instance, an excellent counter percent of the work on defense.
(which for some inexplicable reason is sel- Other than in abnormal situations when
dom taught) is hook with the
to catch the you're under extreme pressure, the left is
right hand and immediately come off the probing for an avenue of attack. Regardless
catch with a hook of your own. The element of whether you're slipping, catching, or
of surprise in your brush and right hook to brushing, the left should be free to trigger
the head is tremendous, and can almost an offensive attack.
always be followed by a sharp left jab. The Set your opponent up with your jab. If he
transition from defense to offense is instan- jabs back, slip to the right, bending slightly
taneous and rhythmic. at the waist, and cut loose with a left hook

When you slip a right by bending to the left, counter with your right hand over your opponent's left.
 DEFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS 43

This is poor form. Keep

your hands high or your

entire defense will crumble.

to the body, followed by a left hook to the shouldn't move, fall back, or turn. You
head, and a jab to the head. Another
left should absorb the punch and let it travel
effective counterattack calls for a right to through your body, dissipating its power.
his body, a left hook to the head, a right to — By constantly going back to the basic
the head, and a left jab. defensive position you minimize the danger
When you by bending to the
slip a right of getting devastated by one punch.
left, counter with your right hand over his — Keep your hands high even though they
left. Come back with a left hook to the are becoming weary from serving as your
body, a left hook to the head, a right cross shield. Should you give in to the temptation
to the head, and finish with a left jab that to let your hands dip a little bit, your entire
puts you back in the basic position. defense is likely to crumble.
Now 1 will review some important points: — Relax . . . relax . . . relax. ... I can't
—Never slip punches by bending your enough. Other than lack of condi-
stress this
head. It takes you off balance and puts you tioning, one of the main reasons boxers
in jeopardy. become arm weary is because of the tension
— When you are hit in the head, it they bring on themselves.
J
Escape and
Evasion
Because of the nature of the sport, every itself. Minimize defense because you have
boxer must be psychologically and physi- nothing to lose. Everything should be based
cally prepared to encounter times of ex- on offense.
treme adversity. Situations will arise when Normally, however, your top priority is
your opponent batters through your de- making it through the round and making
fenses and you are temporarily unable to your opponent live to regret all of that
protect yourself in the customary manner energy he expended in trying to put you out
or launch an immediate counterattack. of commission.
When you find yourself in trouble you Sometimes he become overconfident
will
should immediately try to do two things: (1) in the next round, enabling you to exploit
minimize the damage your opponent is in- his recklessness. On other occasions, some
flicting; and (2) resort to time-killing tactics. of his self-confidence will seep away when
The one thing in the world you don't want he sees that you have survived his best
to do is throw caution to the wind and try shots. And it isn't uncommon for a boxer to
to land a lucky punch. run out of gas after going on an all-out
There is a tiny loophole in this rule. Gam- offensive.
ble if time is running out round
in the final Moments of great adversity demand ex-
and you know you are hopelessly behind on treme concentration, control, and patience.
points. Try to land your most powerful Defense takes precedence over offense. Pick
punch when the slightest opening presents your shots like a sniper running low on

45
 —
46 BOXING BASICS

Gamble if time is running out and you know you are hopelessly behind on
points: try to land your
most powerful punch. Chicago Tribune photo.

ammunition. Wait for your opponent to get and you're too groggy to assume your basic
arm-weary, overconfident, sloppy, and inef- position.
fective. If you must grab your opponent's
clinch,
Move — Set . . . Move — Set . . . Move right arm at the elbow with your left hand,
Set. Maintain your composure and fall back and move quickly toward him, working his
on your basic training techniques. don't 1 arm under your left armpit. Apply the same
advocate clinching. think it's a poor de-
1
technique on the other side. As soon as your
fense mechanism. By clinching you exert grogginess has worn off or when the referee
three or four times as much energy as you shouts "Break!" step backward, pushing
do by moving and blocking and at a time your opponent away from you.
when you can least afford it. Ihe only time Assume your basic position. Jab. block,
you should clinch is when you're really hurl brush, and move. Keep it up. Work from
 —
ESCAPE AND EVASION 47

side to side. Resist the temptation to clinch. Set . Move Set. Block your opponent's
. .

Don't panic and let the bout deteriorate into punches and move out with your jabs.
a brawl. In amateur boxing, points are de- Often a series of feints and jabs will be
ducted for hitting in a clinch, for hitting your salvation. Anticipate your adversary's
while holding an opponent, and for failing aggressive action. Keep him occupied so
to take one full step back when the referee that he deviates from the pressure he's ex-
gives the command to break. erting.
Relax. 1 cannot repeat that word too Boxing is a contact sport, and sometimes
often. The ability to relax is perhaps the you're going to get hit. As a rule, you re-
most important attribute of a good boxer. spond to your opponent's all-out attack by
Strain, tension, and anxiety take a tremen- slipping, catching, blocking, and brushing.
dous toll on you physically and mentally. The clinch is a last-resort defensive tactic.
When you're relaxed, rhythm comes natu- It can keep you from losing but it can never
rally, and rhythm is the key to your safest make you a winner.
defensive strategy: Move — Set . . . Move

Situations will arise where you are temporarily unable to protect yourself. Maintain your
composure and don't let the bout deteriorate into a brawl. Chicago Tribune photo.
style and
Execution,
IVhen Muhammad AH lost some of his One of the basic principles of art, "form
he could still win with his head. And
skills, I follows function," also applies to boxing. In
can win now by knowing how to win. this case, style follows execution. Forget
about the fancy flourishes, exaggerated
Golfer, Jack Nicklaus
movements, and pretty-boy routines. Think
about winning!
Yes, winning is a habit that can be acquired. Mechanical skill will carry a boxer only
You must remember that weapons alone so far. Beyond a certain point, mechanical
never won a war. It is the way in which they skill, even when backed by proper physical

are deployed by the generals that determines condition, isn't enough to win. Winning
their effectiveness. becomes a matter of possessing the will to
Learning the offensive and defensive fun- win.
damentals is a necessity for a boxer, but it The successful person is one who is confi-
isn't the same as mastering boxing. Rather, dent of his ability to continue to achieve.
it is a means to an end. Correct form in the Positive thinking is a source of his power.
ring can be the proverbial poetry in motion, To condition himself psychologically, a
but inevitably there will come a time when boxer must acquire a positive attitude.
circumstances demand improvisation, and There are many instances of competitors
landing punches will become the name of who lack many of the physical attributes of
the game. great boxers, but who have become consis-

49
50 BOXING BASICS

If you're facing a taller foe,

slip his left jab and counter
with a left jab of your own.
Chicago Tribune photo.

tent winners through work and willpower. of your adversary, undoubtedly you will
In his bouts, the boxer harvests the fruits win. If it's less, you no doubt will lose.
thai he has planted by roadwork and physi- You box with your head and heart as well
cal conditioning, and cultivated in his gym- as with your hands and feet. A successful
nasium workouts. The match is won or lost boxer consistently outthinks, outmaneuvers,
by the composite of physical condition, and outworks his opponents.
courage, intelligence, experience, and physi- Begin by taking inventory of your physi-
cal equipment that the boxer carries into the cal equipment. You must adopt a style that
ring. If your sum total is greater than that makes execution easv. Take into account
 STYLE AND EXECUTION 51

your build, foot and hand speed, and slug- launching a counterpunch it is essential that
ging ability. For example, tall fighters can you have stopped or avoided your oppo-
maximize their advantage in inches by jab- nent's blow.
bing incessantly. If you're a short boxer 1

urge you to perfect the technique of work- Left Jab

ing off your opponent's jab. Let his contact There are several ways to counter a left jab.
provide the impetus for your countermoves. Here are a few:
Eliminate the efficiency of his height by — Parry the jab and counter with a right
getting inside. Jab and block. Jab and feint. to the head.
Jab and brush. — Parry the jab, slide to your left and
throw a left hook to the head or body.
COUNTERPUNCHING — Slip the jab. As
punch goes over
the
Counterpunching is an offensive maneuver your shoulder attack your rival's body with
but it demands defensive dexterity. Before a left hook followed by a straight right to

Even as an amateur in the Golden Gloves, Muhammad Ali (left) was an outstanding counterpuncher.
Chicago Tribune photo.
52 BOXING BASICS

After you block a left hook

with your right arm. a
straight right to the head is
an excellent response.
Chicago Tribune photo.

the jaw, another left hook to the body, a slam a straight right to the chin, or counter
hook to the head, a right to the head, and with a left hook to the head.
finally a left jab to the head. — Brush the hook, pivot, and launch your
— Step to your right to avoid the jab and own hook.
left
deliver a straight right over the outstretched — Slip the hook, throw a hook to the left
shoulder to your opponent's jaw, or step to body, and follow with a right to the head.
the right and attack his body with an upper-
cut. Straight Right
These are basic counter moves. Though For a straight right you can catch the blow
short boxers should specialize in counter- with your right hand and reply with a
punching, they are strategically sound for straight right to the chin or head, or left

all fighters. hook to the body.

If you slip a straight right, the ideal re-
Left Hook sponse is a left hook or right uppercut.
An opponent's left hook also can be coun-
tered in various ways: Uppercuts
— Block the blow with your right arm and To counter a left uppercut, block the blow
 STYLE AND EXECUTION 53

Brush the left hook with your right hand, pivot, and launch your own left hook.

with your right forearm and fire a left hook to make his knockout punch; just as easily
to the head. If it's a right uppercut, a left the KOcan be the result of a well-timed
hook to the head or a right uppercut to the counterpunch.
unprotected midsection will be the logical In sizing up your foe it's a good idea to
answer. jab and block and brush to probe for infor-
mation. How much energy is he exerting?
If you have a powerful punch, a good Does he hit with power? Is he lunging or
tactic is to let your opponent try to mount reaching? Does he bring his hand back to
an early offensive. He may become overcon- the on-guard position? If he is off balance
fident and draw back his shoulder, hoping you can set him up for a prolonged counter-
to put a little extra into a right cross or left attack.
hook. Beat him to the punch. As you progress to higher levels of com-
The slugger does not need to absorb sev- petition, you'll find your foes making fewer
eral direct hits as he searches for an opening and fewer mistakes.
54 BOXING BASICS

^
A feint is a pretended attack meant to lure an opponent off guard.

FEINTING feint and you'll be inviting a jab. II it comes,

It will benefit you greatly to become skilled slip and counter.
in feinting. When you feint you try to lure Many times when you're feinting you'll
your opponent off guard by pretending to have the opportunity to lead with straight
attack. If he falls for the decoy, he will be a right hands or left hooks, using them in
sitting duck for your rapid-fire punches. place of the jab.
Feints are extremely intricate. When they When your prompt an opponent to
feints
don't draw a punch, always come back with throw a right hand, either catch his punch
a jab so you aren't wasting motion. A typi- and hook, or slip his blow and uppcrcut.
cal feint is to start a left jab to your oppo-
nent's body. If he drops his right glove and The slugger in pursuit of a fancy boxer
forearm in defense, either snap back the jab should try to cut the ring in half, containing
and turn it into a left hook to the head, or the speedsterone half of the ring by
in
hammer the head with a straight right. moving from side to side. By doing that
Move your head a few inches forward in a you're denying him an escape route when
 STYLE AND EXECUTION 55

you seize the offensive initiative. A swifty in you stand a chance of getting battered and
round one often turns into a slowpoke by having your strength sapped. The object is
—
round three after his speed has been to try to conserve energy.
drained away by tension and persistent I don't believe in fighting on the ropes.
punches to the body. When you're against the ropes you're
Infighting offers the best route to the trapped. Getting out almost always a
is

body. Be set to work inside your opponent's problem, particularly with a smart fighter in
swings at the first opportunity. Push his front of you. When you feel the bottom
arms away from the body and hit it with strand hitting your calf, it's time to move
close-in punches. Keep slipping and moving laterally. As you're moving, throw jabs and
side to side, trying to keep him from clinch- combinations. Box your way back to the
ing. center of the ring.
When you get almost on top of your
opponent, and he is trying to clinch, rest COMBINATION PUNCHES
your head on his chest and keep hitting his Whatever your style, you can't go wrong by
body with snappy punches. Maintain your becoming skillful in throwing combinations.
own weight. Just touch his body so that Timing and technique are the keys to suc-
your punches can be effective. cessful combination punching. Snap your
To defend against a smaller rival attack- punches without hesitation, and make cer-
ing on the inside, block his punches and tain that each part of the combination is a
move away to long range. If you grab him fundamentally sound punch.

Ifyou're short, try to work

inside your opponent's
swings and attack the
body.
56 BOXING BASICS

When you're against the ropes, you're trapped. Getting out is almost always a problem, particularly
with a smart fighter in front of vou.

In the 1-2, as soon as the left jab lands, pivot on the ball of your left foot; and
the straight right takes off. Merely shift the launch the left hook from short range. To
weight of your body to your right leg and make it a 1-3-2, transfer the weight to your
let that side of your body swing forward right foot,immediately after the hook lands,
with the punch. and shoot out a straight right with your
in the 1-2-3, a left hook is launched the body behind it. Perhaps you wish to incor-
instant the straight right of a 1-2 hits the porate the uppercut into your combination.
target. All you have to do is pivot on the An ideal spot is immediately after a left jab.
ball ofyour left foot. Like the pool player who uses one shot to
Observe that one punch flows from both sink a ball and set up another oppor-
another. There is no need for abrupt tunity, you try to make each punch pave the
changes in footwork or deviations from way for the next. There are no hard and fast
your normal techniques. Let your feet feel rules governing counterpunching sequences.
the rhythm and your fists supply the snap. Play it by ear; don't get overconfident; and
For the 1-3 combination, slide forward do what comes naturally.
with your left foot; unleash the left jab;
 STYLE AND EXECUTION 57

Timing and technique are the keys to successful

counterpunching and combination punching. The
fighter on the left (A) blocks a left with his right
elbow; (B) counters with a left jab to the jaw; (C)
follows with a right cross to the jaw; and (D) gets
back into the basic position to catch a long left.
Illustrations by Jill Koehl.
J
Southpauj
Strategic
Tall or short,boxer or slugger, the left- For the lefthander, the most effective
hander comes equipped with a very valu- punches are the right hook, left cross, and
able asset —the element of confusion. The left uppercut. Nevertheless, .the southpaw

southpaw is accustomed to clashing with who doesn't develop a right jab is making a
righthanders. Consequently, his style is tai- big mistake. Many times the righthander
lored to exploit the befuddlement of right- will be wide open for the punch.
handed rivals. But there's no need to get If you're a southpaw, the right jab will be
messed up psychologically or be dismayed a valuable punch should the time come
just because you're fighting a southpaw. when you're pitted against another lefty. He
He's actually easier to fight, scientifically, may be a sitting duck for your jab. But if
than a righthander. you don't have one, and he does, you may
Remember always to move to your left turn into a clay pigeon.
against the southpaw. By the same token, if All of the boxing techniques and funda-
you're lefthanded, try to force your oppo- mentals discussed in the earlier chapters are
nent to go to his right. applicable to the lefthander. Let's review
Anticipate the lefty's moves and beat him some of the essentials.
to the punch. Lead with your right and use It is of the essence that the hands and feet
feints to set up openings for combinations work together to provide protection and
with either hand. Use hooks and uppercuts power. Balance is the key to stance and
with either hand. movement.

59
60 BOXING BASICS

Anticipate the lefthander's moves and beat him to the punch.

Slide and fro without crossing your

to movements are the same as those described
feet. moving in all four directions.
Practice in Chapters 4 and 5. 1 he defensive funda-
Lead with your right foot (if you're a lefty), mentals (Chapter 6) also are identical. Com-
and use your left for power and leverage. mon sense demands that you learn to slip,
The first foot to move is the one closest to catch, and brush punches. Countcrpunching
the position to which you are moving. Lat- and putting together combinations are top
eral movement and slipping will compound priorities.
your opponent's confusion. Persistent Because a lefthander is doing what comes
punching will make it harder for him to naturally while a righthander is adapting, a
adapt to your style. Don't be a head-hunter; southpaw boxing specialist will have a tend-
the body is fair game, especially for your ency to appear to be more skillful in the
hook. Weight transfer and upper body eyes of the judges. I herefore, a righthander
Uppercuts and hooks are effective punches against southpaws.
This lefthander has an excellent stance.
The lefthander should lead with his right foot and keep his left hand in position to protect his jaw.
The body is often open to a southpaw after he slips a right jab.
 SOUTHPAW STRATEGY 65

must take special precautions. Resist the nal slide to the left, with a right hook to the
temptation to throw an incessant barrage of body, followed by a left hook to the head.
straight rights, for you will be very vulnera- Another effective tactic throw a
is to
ble to a counterattack to the body, and straight right to the head, then a left hook
you'll be stepping into the power alley of to the head or body.
your opponent. Both right and lefthanders can profit
Use the right arm, elbow, and glove to from studying outstanding southpaw box-
block left hooks. Parry straight lefts, upper- ers. For the lefty, it will provide a means of

cuts, and right jabs with the right hand. If incorporating new techniques into his fight-
escape and evasion tactics are necessary, be plan and devising a stronger defense. For
sure to retreat to the left to avoid the south- the righthander, the homework will come in

paw's Sunday punch. mighty handy the next time he is tested by a

On offense against a southpaw, the left southpaw. 1 repeat my earlier training tip:
hook is an excellent weapon for a right- spar with a southpaw whenever you can.
hander to employ. A good move is a diago-
fiing
Psychologic
Because amateur bouts are only three
rounds in duration, the premium is on skill
rather than slugging ability. The time is too
physically and
fighter fails in the ring,
tracted from
m
psychologically.
something
When

his self-confidence. Early risks

is
a
sub-

short for you to rest your hopes on winning on your part increase the likelihood that
by knocking out your opponent. you will make mistakes that will show up on
Points are given for attack and defense. the judges' scorecards. Later you'll have to
Attack includes clean and effective hits, play catch up.
aggressive action, and well-delivered partial In the ring the first two questions you
hits. Points also may be deducted if you should try to answer are, "What are my
cover up with your hands so that your opponent's weaknesses? How can I pit my
opponent is not in a position to hit. strengths against those weaknesses?" Is your
Your best early strategy is to fight a de- jab keeping him at long range? When you
fensive match with an offensive mental atti- go to the body what's his response? In
tude. By that I mean tempting your brushing your punches does he sweep them
opponent to take chances and then, when he to the outside or is he sloppy? Is he fooled
exposes a weakness, capitalizing on the op- by your feints? Are his movements and
portunity. punches falling into a pattern? When you
You must become proficient in defending aren't fooled by his feints, does he throw the
yourself before attempting to become an jab to keep you preoccupied?
offensive fighter. This is important both Tall or short, you're operating on the

67
68 BOXING BASICS

Lunging is poor offensive

form and invites a
counterattack. Chicago
Tribune photo.

same principle. Work your jab and off

off you can avoid it, never give your oppo-
If

contact initiated by your opponent. Jab and nent an opening for his Sunday punch.
slip. Jab and catch. Jab and block. Jab and As the bout proceeds, keep an open mind.
brush. But never change a winning fight-plan. That
Manipulate your opponent. Anticipate is a cardinal rule. Countless triumphs have
his moves; set him up; and make counter been turned into defeats because the fighter
moves. Slip and counter. Catch and coun- ahead on points in the final round got
ter. Block and counter. Brush and counter. greedy and reckless and went for a KO
After determining your adversary's fight- against a slugger.
plan, work on disrupting it. Force him to By the same token, if you have built your
play your game. For example, when an lead by being aggressive, don't start retreat-
opponent is attempting to pressure you ing and give your opponent the chance to
against the ropes, work side-to-side to keep win the third round in compelling fashion.
him in the center of the ring. It may cost you the fight.
\ RING PSYCHOLOGY 69

Points will be deducted if you cover up with your hands so that your opponent is not in a position
to hit.
70 BOXING BASICS

You must become proficient at defense before attempting to become an offensive fighter.

Psychology and strategy are inseparable. You need emotional drive to master box-
In sizing up your opponent, don't permit ing.But you also need emotional control.
him to psych you. His words and prefight The ability to take a punch, for example, is
antics are irrelevant. Your sole concern in some degree related to a person's feeling
should be discovering his strengths and about his ability to take a punch. A person
weaknesses and executing your strategy who is fearful that he will be hurt, defeated,
against them. The best psychological de- or knocked out is more easily hurt, de-
fense against a con artist is to pay no atten- feated, or knocked out than a relaxed boxer
tion to his needling. By replying, you reveal who feels he can cope with anything that
that he has disrupted your concentration. comes his way.
 RING PSYCHOLOGY 71

Catch and counter: after blocking a left hook, follow with a left uppercut.

Should your opponent take some cheap rages you by his words and actions, resist
shots or hit below the belt, refrain from the temptation to start swinging in anger.
doing likewise. The referee may miss a foul To master boxing you must be a thinking
the first time it happens, but if your oppo- man, not an angry man.
nent continues to fight dirty it will catch up Always strive for perfected relaxation and
with him. By trying to get even you run the control. This is the most important basic in
risk of being the one who is penalized. boxing and, in my opinion, it applies to all

No matter how much your opponent en- sports and to everyday life, as well.

J
Professional
Competition
Although the fundamentals of any sport blocking and avoiding punches as well as
remain the same regardless of the level of for landing them. A knockdown carries no
competition, the athlete must make psycho- more weight with the three judges than a jab
logical and physical adjustments when he to the head.
advances from amateur to professional
The referee uses three words of com-
standing.
mand:
The contrasts between the pro fight game
—"Stop" to halt action
and amateur boxing are even more pro- — "Box" to resume the fight
nounced than the differences between high — "Break" end a clinch (both contes-
to
school basketball and the National Basket-
tants must step back before resuming).
ball Association. Success in amateur boxing
suggests a promising pro career but doesn't It is a foul to hold with one hand and hit
guarantee it. Conversely, some outstanding with the other, to punch backhand, or to
pros were unable to win amateur titles. wrestle with an opponent. After two warn-
Amateur fights generally place more of a ings, the referee has the power to take a
premium on defensive dexterity. The winner round away from a boxer who continually
of each round receives twenty points, the violates the rules.
loser, nineteen or less. When points are When the referee believes a boxer still on
equal, the edge goes to the boxer who did his feet is unable to defend himself, he stops
the most leading. Points are scored for action and gives a standing eight-count to

73
74 BOXING BASICS

In amateur boxing, after

two warnings the referee
has the power to take a
round away from a boxer
who violates the rules.

enable the contestant to recover. As in the tant to stop fights because the outcome has
case of the conventional knockdown, blows a bearing on the contestants' future income
which cause the standing knockdown don't potential, it isn't uncommon to see a fighter
collect a bonus on the scorecards. But ama- who has been knocked down more than
teur refs are quick to stop bouts that are once, and taken an early battering, rally in
becoming lopsided. the later rounds and emerge the winner.
The standing knockdown is nonexistent While amateur bouts are all three rounds
in pro boxing, and referees are more reluc- in duration, pro matches can be four, six.
 PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION 75

Chuck Bodak gets former

heavyweight champ Jimmy
Ellis ready for a sparring
session. Ellis was a Golden
Gloves champion before
turning professional. Elite
Studio photo.

eight, ten, twelve, or fifteen rounds. Pace is tremendous beating for four rounds but
tremendously important, since a contestant have him win the fight by virtue of a slim
has a much longer time in which to achieve advantage in the other six rounds. "Home-
results from his For instance, a
strategy. town decisions" are notorious in pro boxing
body attack that continues for seven rounds on the club level.
can turn a swifty into a man in slow-motion I think it's vital for a boxer who wants to

by round eight, and his entire defense may embark on a pro career to obtain as much
consequently topple. experience as possible in the amateur ranks.
Repeated blows to the head over several I've seen far too many cases of fighters who
rounds may eventually batter a fighter into turned pro too soon, only to have their
submission. Or a slugging specialist may not confidence destroyed simply because their
be able to tag his opponent with a knockout limited experience and immaturity didn't
punch until late in the fight. enable them to cope with their opponents
Because pro scoring is done by a referee and the pro environment.
(and two judges) who is close enough to the Competition in the Golden Gloves, Ama-
fighters to get a good view of infighting, a teur Athletic Union, and military service
probably has a
fighter skilled at infighting tournaments is recommended. Engagements
better chance of picking up points through against fighters from foreign countries are a
his penetration. tremendous prep for a pro career, and the
Scoring varies from state to state. Most best background of all is fighting in the
states use the ten-point system for each Olympics and Pan-American Games.
round, but some score by awarding whole In addition to a boxer's history, his geog-
rounds to one fighter. In the latter case, the raphy and economics must be considered
extent of a fighter's domination is mini- prior to the start of a pro career. Outside of
mized. For example, in a ten-round match California and New York, there is a short-
it's possible for you to give your opponent a age of pro fighters in the flyweight, bantam-
76 BOXING BASICS

weight, and featherweight classes. To find occupation that demands a long-term com-
competition and make some money, the mitment to sacrifice, bravery, and hard
newly turned pro from elsewhere in the work.
nation probably will either have to relocate Getting to the top and staying there re-
or run a gauntlet of one-night road stands. quires an enormous amount of character. A
Before turning professional you should scene from the movie The Hustler brings
talk it over with experienced arid respected out my point. The pool-shark played by
pro fighters. Be wary of the guy constantly Paul Newman had great mental and physi-
pressuring you to sign a contract that makes cal gifts but lacked the discipline to keep
him your manager. It's a good idea to dis- success from going to his head. He was
cuss the proposed contract with the athletic playing a game for high stakes against old
director of your high school or with Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) and had a
sportswriters whom
you have gotten to commanding The more he won the
lead.
know. They may recommend that you see a higher he soared on his ego trip. But a
lawyer who will study the terms of the betting man (George C. Scott) sized up the
proposed contract (for a fee) to make cer- situation and wasn't fooled. "I'm going to
tain that you're getting a square deal. keep betting on Minnesota Fats," the bet-
Pro boxing exerts heavier demands on ting man whispered. "This other guy is a
both your time and talent. You must be —
born loser he's all skill and no character."
truthful to yourself in evaluating your pro- Mastering boxing builds both a strong
gress and potential. Continued improve- body and a strong character. Most impor-
ment is a must if you are to make a living as tant, in striving to reach your goals you are
a boxer. Set short-term and long-term also laying the foundation for a happy and
goals. You must be motivated. Motivation successful life.

means an intense desire to succeed in an

Index
Countering a right uppercut. 53
Countering a straight right, 52
Alcoholic beverages and boxing, 6
Counlerpunching. 51. illus. 51, 57
Ali. Muhammad. 3, 37, 49. /7/m. 51
Amateur bouts, duration of, 74
Authority of the referee, 73 D
Defense against uppercuts. 42 43. illu.s. 42
Defensive fundamentals, 37 43
B
Detlecting a left hook, 42
Blockmg, 39 Diet, 6
Blocking a high lett jab. 39 Drugs and boxing, 6
Blocking a right cross, 39 Dundee, Angelo, 3
Bodak, Chuck, illus. 75

(
Eating habits. 6
Clinching, 46 47 Escape and evasion. 45 47
Combination punches, 55 56, illus. 57
Corbett, Jim, 37
Counter after blocking, 39, illus. 40 41
Countering a left hook, 42. 52. illus. 52 53 Feinting. 54 55. illus. 54
Countering a left jab. 51 52 Fighting on the ropes. 55, illus. 56
Counlermg a lett uppercut. 52 53 Fra/ier, ,loe, 27

77
78 BOXING BASICS

"Generalship," 37 39 Patterson. Floyd, 23

Preparation lor a pro career, 75
Pro bouts, duration of, 74 75
H
Pro scoring, 75
Hand position, 20 22, illus. 22 Psychological conditioning. 49
Head position, 22
Heavy bag practice, 13 14, illus. 13

I
Referee, authority of, 73
Infighting, 55, illus. 55 Right cross. 31 33, illus. 32 33
Right-handed stance. 20. illus. 20 2!
Right hook, 34
Ring psychology, 67
Johnson. Jack, 37 Roadwork, 6-7

Lateral movement, 20
Left hook, 29 31. illus. 30-31 Shadow-boxing, II 13
Sizing up a foe, 53
Left jab, 27 29, illus. 28 29
Light bag practice, 14-15,
Skipping rope, 7-8, illus. 7
illus. 14
Sleeping habits, 6
Lira, John, illus. 21
Slipping a punch, 39, illus. 38
Liston, Sonny, 37
Lombardi, Vince, 5
Southpaw strategy, 59-65, illus. 60, 62-64
Sparring, 16 17. illus. 15 16
Speed bag practice. See Light bag practice
M Spinks. Leon, 3
Stance and footwork. 19 20
Medicine ball exercises, 8-9, illus. 8
Standing knockdown. 73 74
Mirrors, use of in practice, 1 112, illus. 12
Strengthening calesthenics, 8-9
Moving, importance of, 39
Stretching exercises, 8
Style and execution, 22-25, 49
N
Nappi. Pat. 20
Nicklaus, Jack, 49
Norton, Ken, 23 Technique, 19 25, illus. 24 25
Tobacco and boxing. 6
Tunney, Gene, 37

Object of boxing, 24-25

Offense against a southpaw, 65. illus. 61
U
Offensive form. 68. illus. 68 69
Offensive fundamentals, 27 36 Upperculs. 34, illus. 34 36
 —

$6,95 FPT

BOXING BASICS
Chuck Bodak with Neil Milbert

"One of the foremost qualities that boxing develops is the ability to keep calm and
poised under pressure ... to take' swift and efficient action at the appropriate time."
This is the intriguing promise Chuck Bodak makes in this valuable book.
Boxing Basics is made unique by its emphasis on psychological, as well as
physical, preparation for the demands of the ring. It combines the wisdom of a great
trainer with lucid explanations of boxing fundamentals. In its pages. Chuck Bodak
serves as a personal coach, constantly reminding you of the attitude that should
underlie each aspect of your training. Of sparring, he says, "Fear is the unknown
Fear is doubt. . When sparring, you discover the unknown and dispel doubt."
. .

Chapters on offensive and defensive fundamentals tell you how and when to
—
throw, and block, all of the basic punches jabs, hooks, crosses, and uppercuts.
"Escape and Evasion" tells you what to do when you're tired or hurt. And "Style and
Execution" introduces you to the all-important techniques of counterpunching and
—
combination-punching specific examples of each are included. The chapter on ring
psychology outlines sound boxing strategy for the amateur; and the final chapter
explains the significant differences between professional and amateur competition.
The text is supplemented by training photos of a United States lightweight cham-
pion, John Lira, and by action shots of typical ring situations from the Golden Gloves
finals.
Chuck Bodak coaches Muhammad Ali's amateur boxing team in Santa Monica,
California. He also worked with during the champ's Golden Gloves days.
Ali
Nell Milbert is a sportswriter with the Chicago Tribune. He has covered pro and
amateur boxing for fifteen years, and has won several awards for excellence in
sportswriting.

Contemporary Books, Inc. Front cover photo by Mary Ann Carter

Chicago 0-8092-7210-5