How to Be a Faster Boxer

A good boxer has to have a number of skills going for him, such as the ability to land a knockout punch, being able to take punches and moving well around the ring. Speed has much to do with how well a boxer does in the ring. The number of punches he can land in a round and the ability to sidestep big punches are speed-related skills. Working on exercises in and out of the ring that improve your hand speed and footwork will help you become a faster boxer.

Instructions

    • 1

      Work closely with an experienced trainer, especially one who has a proven track record of success with other boxers. Ask advice of other boxers who may be able to point you in the right direction for finding a trainer to fit your needs. Follow the trainer's advice, both inside the ring and out, in regard to training and boxing.

    • 2

      Develop your stamina through cardiovascular exercise. Jump rope, which will also increase your leg strength. Add bicycling, running (including uphill running) and swimming to your training regimen to increase your stamina in the ring. While swimming, practice throwing punches under water, as the resistance from the water will help you tone your arm muscles and help you throw faster punches in the ring.

    • 3

      Improve your hand speed. Complete punching drills using the speed bag, the heavy bag and shadow boxing. Time your drills for one minute and have a friend or trainer count how many punches you make in that time span. Work on increasing the number of punches per minute, then gradually increase the drill time to three minutes (the length of time of a boxing round). Determine how much of a drop-off, if any, there is from the average number of punches per minute and work on increasing your stamina.

    • 4

      Add additional weight, one ounce at a time, to the inside of your gloves or around your wrists as you develop your speed. Remove the weight to notice how much faster your punches are.

    • 5

      Work on your footwork. Practice sidestep drills in the ring. Add small bursts, such as 200 yards, of backward running and sprints for part of your running routine. Place a pair of ladders on the ground side by side, one set slightly higher than the other, and practice running quickly through the ladders without getting tripped up.

    • 6

      Spar as often as possible. Work on agility drills that don't involve contact as well as contact drills. Examples of these include punch drills, where you alternate with a sparring partner throwing sets of punches into the other boxer's gloves, or where one boxer sits on the ring floor and punches upward into the other boxer's gloves. Practice footwork drills as well while working with another boxer.