Best Boxing Moves

Stance and Movement

• A boxer's foot positioning and movement around the ring depends on one factor more than any other: whether you're left-handed (a southpaw) or right-handed (orthodox). If you're a lefty, your right foot will always be out in front of you, while your left foot will be in the front if you're a right-hander. Your feet should stay shoulder-width apart at all times to maximize your range-to-balance ratio. You should take plodding steps at first, trying to stay on your toes as much as possible. Don't move more than you have to to get in range to throw a punch or move out of range to avoid one. Practice in an actual ring if you can. Get comfortable using the whole ring, and always keep your hands up. Your gloves should be at the ready to block when not throwing, near or above your chin. Your elbows should be tucked in and ready to deflect body shots. The same rules for the feet apply to the hands. A right-handed person will lead with the left hand, and a southpaw will lead with the right. Try to stay at a 45-degree angle to your opponent at all times.

The Punches

• Jabs

  The jab is the most important punch. There are two types of jab: a power jab and a quick or pawing jab. A power jab can knock someone out if thrown correctly, while a quick jab is used for range finding or defensive purposes. Keep a constant quick jab in an opponent's face to keep him at the right distance for a follow-up knockout blow. Load up a power jab when an opponent is rushing in unprotected to stop his advance. The lead hand of a fighter is the jab hand. The difference between the two is that the quick jab emphasizes speed more than connection, while you put more weight behind a power jab.

  Crosses

  A one-two combination is the most popular in all of boxing. This means a right and left in succession. If you are right-handed, you throw a right cross after a left jab to complete the combo. It is simply a straight punch, with your fist going from your chin to your opponent's.

  Hooks and Uppercuts

  Hooks and uppercuts can be thrown with either hand. They are both most commonly used during inside fighting, but some fighters are adept at landing hooks and uppercuts from long distances. Both are thrown with the elbow bent, but hooks are horizontal and uppercuts are vertical.

  Getting Fancy

  Donovan "Razor" Ruddock adapted a left uppercut to finish as a power jab in a specialty punch he called "The Smash." Muhammad Ali adopted a trick his wife taught him from her martial-arts training, and would often throw a chopping blow to an opponent's shoulders in order to slow their return punches. Other modern fighters, like Paulie Malignaggi, throw what's called an "up-jab" since their style keeps the jab hand intentionally low. Now-retired Joe Calzaghe was a master of the "shoeshine" technique of overwhelming an opponent with a tornado of quick punches from all directions. Whatever unconventional methods you might adapt, always wait until after you have full control of all the basics.

Feinting and Changing Levels

• Upper body movement, and bending the knees to move from body-punching height to head-hunting height are crucial in minimizing hits taken in a boxing match. Even if a punch connects, if you are moving fast enough it could be the difference between a glancing blow and a direct hit. Also, faking a movement in one direction or a punch with one hand can open an opponent up for another movement or punch that will be more effective because it is not expected.

  While throwing shots to the body, you should be at eye level with the target. This requires lots of dips, bending the knees, and ducking under punches aimed at your head. When you want to go back to punching the head, you should "change levels" and get back to an eye-to-eye stance. The best way to train for this type of movement is to string a rope about chest length across a room. Start at one end and dip side-to-side, punching to the body and head on each side as you dip and come back up.

  But the best move in boxing is simply to never stop moving. Moving targets are always harder to hit than stationary ones. Never stay in the same area of the ring for too long if you can help it, and keep your head and upper body in constant movement as you pick the right spots to throw and block. As you move, always keep at least one hand up by your face, and keep out of range of your opponent's punches.