Top 5 Advanced Boxing Techniques

If you want to learn something that’s unconventional but often effective, then check out the following advanced boxing techniques. You must be warned however, as they’re not that easy to perform and sometimes it involves great athletic ability.

Even if you can pull of some of these techniques, it’s important that you don’t do it all the time as a good counterpuncher will eventually figure it out and time you.

To learn advanced footwork, balance and punching power techniques, I can recommend the Advanced Boxing Workshop, which you may find helpful.

1) Corkscrew Punch

The corkscrew punch is a punch that is thrown while twisting the shoulder, elbow and wrist all in one motion, so that your thumb ends up facing downwards and your palm facing the outside. For some fighters, this technique can be awkward and many choose to avoid using it. The benefits of this punch includes:

• Hand Protection: Your forearms add more stability in the wrist by placing it sideways. Many fighters injure their thumbs when throwing power punches, but when you corkscrew a punch, you ensure that your knuckles (particularly on the forefinger) come in contact with the target first without your thumb feeling any impact.

• Chin Protection: You’ll find that when you corkscrew a punch, the shoulder of your punching arm automatically raises slightly resulting in better protection for your chin.

• Better Defensive Posture: The motion of a corkscrew punch forces you to lean at an angle where it’s more difficult for your opponent to catch you with a counterpunch.

There are certain punches that work well with the corkscrew boxing technique while others I don’t recommend. I would avoid using the corkscrew jab because it doesn’t leave you in a good position to follow up with any other punches and also uppercuts tend to be very awkward to corkscrew.

I would recommend the following corkscrew punches:

• Corkscrew Cross: The cross is easiest punch to throw with a corkscrew motion and it’s a power punch that will hit the target quicker than any other power punch.

• Corkscrew Lead Hook: The lead hook is one of the most effective punches in general, but you may want to consider using a corkscrew motion if you find that you hurt your wrist or thumb when you throw the hook.

• Corkscrew Rear Hook: The rear hook is thrown from the back and therefore, it can often be difficult connecting the knuckles to the target when throwing it conventionally, especially if your opponent is only just within your reach or at a hard-to-connect angle. By corkscrewing the rear hook, you can hit the target with your knuckles much easier without damaging your wrist as you will have more support from your forearm.

• Corkscrew Overhand: This is my favorite corkscrew punch. It’s the same as the corkscrew rear hook but comes from an above angle opposed to the side, therefore making it more difficult for your opponent to see.

2) Leaping Lead Hook

Although it sounds relatively simple, the leaping lead hook, which is literally just a lead hook thrown while jumping in at the time same, is a difficult punch to master.

There are many factors involved that makes up a beautifully thrown leaping lead hook. These include foot movement, body positioning, accuracy, timing and of course, the technique of the punch itself.

Failure to effectively implement any of the aforementioned elements can result in you leaping into a counterpunch instead.

Here are some tips for effectively throwing the leaping lead hook:

• Measure Distance: Never leap in from too far out because your opponent will be able to see it coming. You’re supposed to throw it when you’re just out of range by a few inches.

• Jump Height: When you leap in, the maximum height your feet should leave the ground is only by around an inch. In fact, as you leap in, ideally your feet should sweep the floor as if you’re gliding.

• Bend Your Knees: From the moment you leap and when you land, your knees should be slightly bent. This ensures stability and a quick escape should you miss.

• Keep it Short: Don’t throw the lead hook too wide because you’ll reduce speed and power. If you’re within the correct distance, then you’ll be able to throw a short lead hook that is both quick and powerful.

• Control Your Power: Don’t follow through with the hook because if you miss, you’ll end up swinging wildly off-balance.

• Keep Your Guard Up: This goes without saying, keep your rear guard held high covering your chin.

If you not very experienced or athletic, then you should avoid using the leaping lead hook because it’s risky and can easily go wrong.

You may want to check out the following boxers who have effective leaping lead hooks – Roy Jones Jr, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Nonito Donaire. As you can tell, all three fighters have excellent athletic abilities to be able to pull off the leaping lead hook.

3) Multiple Lead Hooks

It’s easy to throw a single lead hook and even a double. However, very few fighters can effectively throw the lead hook in threes, fours and even more.

Here are some tips for throwing multiple lead hooks successfully:

• Throw Quick: When you throw more than two of the same punch, it’s all about speed.

• Throw Short: In order to throw quick punches in threes and fours, they must be kept short which means that you must be in close range.

• Target Upstairs: Aim for the face and not the body because going for the body with multiple weak punches is ineffective and will just leave you open for a counter. You can however, go to the body for your last hook since it will be your most powerful.

• Control Your Power: Only the last punch of the combination should be thrown with power. All previous punches of the combination should have minimal power to serve as a distraction.

Throwing triple+ lead hooks is flashy and gets your opponent to cover up which allows you to pick your “money” shot. Very quick hands and fast twitch muscles is necessary. If you want to see a fighter implement this punch successfully, then look to none other than Roy Jones Jr.

4) Double Cross

The double cross / straight, holds the same principles as the multiple lead hook, except that the double cross is more effective and less risky. To pull it off successfully, just follow these steps:

1. Throw a cross punch as normal but without following through. This helps to blind your opponent’s vision.
2. As it hits the target, pull your arm back slightly, only by a few inches.
3. Extend your arm again to hit the target again.

All of this should be done very quickly. The double cross will distract and frustrate your opponent and if done correctly, it’s also great for setting up a hard body shot.

I would recommend that you watch Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar De La Hoya for an excellent example of the double cross used over and over again.

5) Shoulder Roll

The shoulder roll technique is a is a defensive maneuver made popular by Floyd Mayweather Jr, James Toney and more recently, Adrien Broner. It involves using the lead shoulder to deflect the cross and overhand, and the forearm to protect the body. Once the punch is deflected, it then leaves you in an excellent position to throw a short counter uppercut / cross.

The shoulder roll requires good reflexes, timing and body positioning. Even the slightest error of judgement can lead to getting hit flush, since your lead arm is held low.

Not many fighters can pull it off successfully (often due to style and technique) and I wouldn’t recommend that you try it without an great amount of practice first. It’s not for everyone and if the shoulder roll doesn’t suit your style, then just leave it out altogether, otherwise you can end up completely messing it up.

To see a failed shoulder roll attempt, just watch Andre Berto’s fight with Roberto Guerrero.

There are two main mistakes Berto made when trying to use the shoulder roll – Firstly, he was using it against a southpaw (which is ineffective) and secondly, he was leaning too far back in the stance.

Let this be a lesson to those who think that the shoulder roll can just be easily implemented. It takes years of continuous practice and experience to master it.