Ever spar someone much heavier than you? Advice needed from actual boxers/trainers.

[Rampage*]

Well today my coach had me spar someone aprox. 6'2" 230ish, I'm about 5'9" 150ish. The round starts, and I throw two jabs, one in his face(miss) and one hits him in the stomach, then he lunges forward but misses, so I counter with a 1-2, and he bullrushes me. He hits me with a jab and puts me in the ropes and throws a combo, I cover up and throw a 1-2 and I jabbed off the ropes and he is still rushing me throwing punches, so I keep peppering him with the jab and running around the ring while he continues to rush me. Basically the 4 rounds continued like that, me getting rushed around and hit while I was continually just trying to get in range on him and counter where I could, but he wasn't letting up so I was basically just moving around the whole time and missing with my jab because of poor range a lot of the time BTW, he kept telling me I wasn't being aggressive enough, and telling me that I should just say F it and trade with him, but in my mind that was not the smart thing to do, what do you guys think? Anyways I'm probably going to be sparring this guy again tomorrow, so tips and advice on how to give this guy a go while sparring would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: BTW, I posted this before but the site gave me a error and I had to type it up all over again.. Owners of the site should rly get that fixed it's not the first time it's happened.

[SpeedKillz]

well u did the right thing by trying to box the bigger guy, but next time stay in range and throw some fast combos to the head and the body, and then move and keep movin in different angles and directions and make him chase u around the ring and when u see he is squared up throw some shots and back on the bike again. dont stand and trade wit a dude 80 pounds heavier, thats insane. jus box him keep pop shotting and moving make him chase u so he gets tired and when he looks off balance step in real quick and throw 5 or 6 fast ones and ur out again back to boxing using the whole ring and usin ur legs...

[floydfan]

Good previous post,Im 6 feet tall myself and one thing that smaller guys do to me and is usually quite effective if there fast is feint there way inside under my punches and unload to the ribcage the more body work the less he will have to rush you with.

[floydfan]

Also for a defensive/counterpunch tatic always be moving away from his power hand and use your height to slip his jab to the outside of his lead foot and throw the biggest right hand you can muster then come back over top with it.(as he will lower his guard expecting more body punching) Even at 6ft tall I use this against guys slighty taller then me and as long as your agile and evasive its easy pickings to the body.

[Verstyle]

Im sparring a 6'6 250lb guy tomorrow and Im 5'5 159lbs. **** Im going to take it to him.haha Only if he wants too though.

[Kayo]

The right thing is to try and box him. Im not the type to try and get on my bike but at this new gym im at theirs a shortage of 150-160lb fighters so im sparring bigger guys so im learning how to adapt my style a bit. With a person who is able to bully you around like that the best thing is to try and box them. When i box i do well and when i try and trade granted im able to get my punches off quicker when i get hit, i feel it

[Boxing Coach OG]

First off, why are you sparring a 6'2/230 lb. guy? Altho that happened to me as both and amateur boxer/pro sparring partner (once had to spar a guy who was 6'1"/250, Im 5'11/150 at the time)..... I've never seen the wisdom in sparring a guy TOO much heavier than you. At the most 175-185 lbs should be the limit that you spar with at your weight of 150.

So my first piece of advice is DONT SPAR with him. You got nothing to prove at that weight!

Failing that, here's my 2nd piece of advice. When the bell rings. Walk rite up and hit him as hard as you can. Then, move. When he gets close. TIE HIM UP. Even if he throws you around, keep tying him up. Soon as you get loose, again hit him hard. Clinch. Move. He's gonna tryna tee off on you, of course, but your best move is too HIT HARD. MOVE. CLINCH.

[msagrain]

yes its hard but the more you spar agenst them , the better you will become. you have learn how to get around there defence ect...

i regualr spared a 6'5 guy and when i started i could barly catch him with a punch. but now iv leaned i need quick haadand the don't like it when you go underneth with the hooks. that my tatic keep goin to the body the there hands will drop then let them have it.

[mightymouse2k]

I've had similar experiences in both muay thai and boxing, but i was the bigger and more experienced guy. The coach/instructor simply told the smaller guy (my opponent) that it was for building confidence and a good way to develop timing, footwork (essentially learning how to control the fight under a lot of pressure).

In sparring a much larger opponent (mind you a difference of 80lbs and almost half a foot in height does sound a bit much), i think you did the right thing, move and jab. DO NOT STAND AND TRADE, YOU'LL GET HURT. Just keep on moving upset his rthym and balance to prevent his counters and big shots. Think hit and run tactics and, i'd like to add, at some points during the "battle" an opportunity will arise for you to land big shots yourself.

Just to end this post, some of the smaller guys have really given me a hard time, by constantly moving and using the tactics stated above.

[fraidycat]

I agree: KEEP MOVING. When you throw a punch, make sure you are not in the same place by the time it lands. Same thing when HE throws a punch. As soon as you see that glove move, YOU move. Stand still and you're done.

Watch Versy doing his Tyson schtick; he has the technique down. The vid is on these boards somewhere.