Strategies for fighting a taller/bigger boxer

[JJC]

I'm one of the smaller guys in my gym at the moment and I'm not that small - sitting around middleweight.

However, I was sparring a taller guy who was about 10kg heavier than me the other day and I got hit a lot. I've only just started sparring for my first corporate (white collar) boxing match.

My corner told me to time his right hand, step to the right and counter with my right hand and I made this work half a dozen or so times. However, later in the rounds I would tire out and my footwork got sloppy.

Most of the guys I'm going to be sparring during training are bigger and taller so I was just wondering if you guys had any strategies for fighting bigger, taller opponents. Especially ways that are going to conserve energy, because my lungs were screaming after three rounds.

I know this question has probably been asked numerous times before, but I would really appreciate any advice. If you want to link to previous threads, that would be great.

Thanks.

[1moreround]

Originally Posted by JJC

I'm one of the smaller guys in my gym at the moment and I'm not that small - sitting around middleweight.

However, I was sparring a taller guy who was about 10kg heavier than me the other day and I got hit a lot. I've only just started sparring for my first corporate (white collar) boxing match.

My corner told me to time his right hand, step to the right and counter with my right hand and I made this work half a dozen or so times. However, later in the rounds I would tire out and my footwork got sloppy.

Most of the guys I'm going to be sparring during training are bigger and taller so I was just wondering if you guys had any strategies for fighting bigger, taller opponents. Especially ways that are going to conserve energy, because my lungs were screaming after three rounds.

I know this question has probably been asked numerous times before, but I would really appreciate any advice. If you want to link to previous threads, that would be great.

Thanks.

My last 3 sparring partners have been taller than me. At first, I would get totally outclassed, mainly because i was trying to outbox these guys. I would assume that if you're fighting taller fighters, they have a longer reach than you, which automatically makes it harder for you to box on the outside. It can be really difficult, not to mention frustrating, to try and fight these guys at a distance. So I would suggest getting inside. What has helped me is double jabbing and/or feinting before I go in. Hopefully if you're smaller than your oppenent, you might be a little faster than them. Feint to get your oppenent off balance and quickly get inside...you're more likely to do more damage inside by taking away the reach advantage. Tall fighters have a habit of leaning back to avoid punches, so when you're inside, try throwing the overhand right as their circling to their left. They should walk right into it. I love to jab to the body and follow it up with a big overhand right. I hope this helps!

[~AK49~]

Yeah, fighting a taller/bigger guys usually drains your stamina quicker. What i usually do when fighting a taller guy is either 1.) Sit back, changing angles and letting him come in and close the distance, countering him or 2.) Get inside and smother him. Still changing angles and such, but dont let him extend.

[_original_]

As previously stated, you're going to have to get on the inside and do some work there. Being a good body puncher helps as well.

[TheHolyCross]

body body body

[deejd]

It really depends on your style. Typically, the shorter fighter wants to get inside, but if your reach is about the same (if not to your advantage), you can box them on the outside.

Watch fights between fighters with a major height difference:

Hagler-Hearns
Mayweather-Corrales
Lara-Williams
Guzman-Funeka II

Try to gauge which sort of style fits yours and try different approaches; whichever one makes you most comfortable.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by Defututus

body body body

There is wisdom in this. Many a fight between short/tall fighters has been won on straights to the body. Too many people revere the hook as the only viable body punch.

I had this same problem for a while. I boxed bigger, stronger, taller guys because of my weight class (it almost made me quit). But, what I discovered is that my feet were boxing tall and my arms were boxing short. That is, I found myself trying to have a narrow, agile stance against a guy who would out-reach me all day. No good.

Try working on:

- Upper body mobility. Shoulder movement, slipping, and catching punches from a wider base.

- Aggressive defense. If you're going to get in on a taller guy, you have to make him pay for the price of holding range.

- Straights to the body. One of the worst feelings in the world is having a guy land a straight to your guts after he slipped a jab. Straights to the body allow you to close range with a larger volume of punches available to you after you get there.

Above all, though - be patient. Boxing taller people sucks, because you feel like you have to try to knock him out of his shoes every time. Not so. Pick your shots, but pick them wisely. It's natural to feel as though you have an advantage when you're the taller guy. But, when a smaller guy begins to land shots and your ribs start to burn, the wheels can come off very quickly. That's what you, as the smaller fighter, are going for.

Hope it helps.

[Journeyman]

i would focus on making yourself stronger than them...maybe use the shorter, lower center of gravity to your advantage too..

[BarryRobinson]

Originally Posted by JJC

I'm one of the smaller guys in my gym at the moment and I'm not that small - sitting around middleweight.

However, I was sparring a taller guy who was about 10kg heavier than me the other day and I got hit a lot. I've only just started sparring for my first corporate (white collar) boxing match.

My corner told me to time his right hand, step to the right and counter with my right hand and I made this work half a dozen or so times. However, later in the rounds I would tire out and my footwork got sloppy.

Most of the guys I'm going to be sparring during training are bigger and taller so I was just wondering if you guys had any strategies for fighting bigger, taller opponents. Especially ways that are going to conserve energy, because my lungs were screaming after three rounds.

I know this question has probably been asked numerous times before, but I would really appreciate any advice. If you want to link to previous threads, that would be great.

Thanks.

Here is a blog dedicated to this specific topic

Pressure Fighting the Black Belt Way with George Benton by A Million Styles Boxing

[Ray Corso]

The first thing to consider is the fact that you tired! You need to address that because learning new techniques its going to improve your stamina.

The first thing I always addressed when boxing a tyaller man is to take his advantages away while I'm still using my best techniques so he has to deal with me too! Don't go on the defense to try and solve what you think is a disadvantage. Be first with your jab and get your feet moving, reach is an advantage when the opponent stays stationary, when movement is applied its naturally harder to hit someone!
Take his jab away, get under it and throw combinations, side step it and work him at his profile (on the side of him) anticipate it and throw with him!
Its hard to give you advice because I can't SEE you work, if your fairly coordinated then my advises can help if your fairly talented you'll probably get hit with the guys right hand trying to do do these moves!! hahahaha sorry but internet advice at times is trying to teach a guy to drive a race car whose never driven, its dangerous!!
If you have confidence and undersand the pointers I gave you I know their effective, I don't know if YOU are! best to you! be first when in doubt! Ray.