Is blocking punches an underrated defensive maneuver in recent times?

[b Murphington]

Your hands should always be up in position to block incoming punches from the start.

Blocking is definitely effective and I think underrated. The reason it's underrated is because it doesn't look at good.

At the same time, you can't just solely rely on just covering up. Eventually, the opponent is going to punch threw that guard. You'll have to reset eventually.

Utilizing many defensive moves is the most effective. Blocking or catching, parrying, evasive footwork, slipping punches, bobbing and weaving.

Blocking is the most efficient as far as stamina management is concerned. The biggest problem with blocking is doesn't set up counters as well as other defensive moves.

[GrandmasterWang]

It depends, there's a big difference from a bog standard high guard which someone like Artur Abraham utilises and someone like Winky Wright or Gassiev does. Gassiev doesn't just stand there with his hand up, he also blocks with elbows and shoulder, parries shots off his gloves, deflects blows to create opportunities to counter and also uses some head and upper body movement. Joshua does the same it's basically catching and countering.

High guard works very well against guys who throw straight punches as the defensive fighters gloves are in the way, which is why Dorticos struggled to land vs Gassiev. But Gassiev threw uppercuts and hooks to get around Dorticous' high guard, that fight was a great example of what shots work against a high guard and also the difference between a basic high guard and the catch and counter high guard.

So yes it can be underrated if you don't know the difference. But having said that the best defensive fighters use more head and upper body movement to slip shots and the use their guard to block, deflect and parry shots. Watch the Hopkins/Wright fight to see how the high guard fails against the slip and slide style of Hopkins.

Hopkins did a great job of breaking through and around Winky's high guard. Great example to pick. Meanwhile Trinidad struggled to land a single clean punch on Winky. I remember Hopkins had a very sneaky moment where he threw a right and left hook around the guard which drew Winky's guard slightly wider, then Hopkins used that opening to land a sneaky, clean uppercut up the centre.

[sweeterscience]

Winky Wrighs high guard is a great example of what you're saying and a lot more effective due to being able to counter after blocking

I agree with that completely. I think Winky's losses to Vargas, Vasquez and Simon could easily have gone his way if not for judges apparently viewing many of the punches that bounced off his guard as scoring punches.

[Morrie ATG]

Dorticos height and lenght help him to have power.

His power come from that leverage, he has the same reach as AJ.

When you have a high guard, the bigger portion of the padded glove on the knuckle area is what protects the forehead and overall face. Compare Lara vs Williams, the pot shotting goes upward, lower from the the padded gloves to sneak shots on the face.

Cut off Doritos arm and Joshua’s, weigh them, you’ll know why one would hurt more on impact. What is the height of Joshua and Wilder? Cruiser vs Heavy. Dorticos has been effective because he’s doing a Cuban style at Cruiser.

[ShoulderRoll]

Not always true! Evasion can lead to a boxer sometimes being off balance and out of position. leaving them vulnerable to getting countered. Even boxers that have good evasive movements can easily be forced out of position from a feint or probes.

For me, it's best to evade punches when I've perfectly timed my opponent's punches and figured out their rhythm. Until then, I prefer blocking and using distance control.

I'll go with Jack Dempsey's boxing knowledge each and every time.

[Tom Cruise]

Boxing fans underrate efficient boxing styles in general not just defence.

Look at how people were rating Errol Spence's footwork the other day on here. He has excellent footwork, always in position to land shots, not wasting movement and energy flying around the ring like a novice.

[Tom Cruise]

I'll go with Jack Dempsey's boxing knowledge each and every time.

You cant translate Dempsey's style exactly to today because the gloves are so different.

You can defend half your face just by sticking your glove to your chin now where in his day that would have been largely pointless.

[ShoulderRoll]

You cant translate Dempsey's style exactly to today because the gloves are so different.

You can defend half your face just by sticking your glove to your chin now where in his day that would have been largely pointless.

The gloves are bigger but his main point still holds.

It's better to defend in such a way that both of your hands remain free to punch back.

[Tom Cruise]

The gloves are bigger but his main point still holds.

It's better to defend in such a way that both of your hands remain free to punch back.

Well, I disagree there tbh.

Mayweather, for example, often switches to a high guard stance, and his rear hand very rarely drops below his chin. This is one of, if not the, greatest defensive fighters of all time, and he seems to understand the benefits of both.

One isnt better than the other, its just different. Different pros, different cons.

[Evil_Meat]

I had Murat Gassiev more in my mind than Golovkin due to his recent performance against Yunier Dorticos where he showed tremendous defense through blocking and deflecting punches.

Lol I was just being a **** with that post. I do agree though, Gassiev does seem to have a pretty solid defense.