Southpaw Woes -- The Right Cross

[patrionus]

Tell me, do you throw your cross in such that manner that your arm sticks straight out and your elbow is locked? If it's the case, that's where the problem lies in. You want to throw your cross in such a manner that your arm doesn't become fully extented and your elbow remains a little bent, actually the more the better.

[xSOUTHPAWx]

Tell me, do you throw your cross in such that manner that your arm sticks straight out and your elbow is locked? If it's the case, that's where the problem lies in. You want to throw your cross in such a manner that your arm doesn't become fully extented and your elbow remains a little bent, actually the more the better.

doesnt make since to me...

bend the knee twist the hips.. smash the ****roach with ur foot.. follow through.. my left is considerably stronger than my right.. however my right(jab) can have the power of some peoples crosses.. i just have a big tell when i throw a hard jab..i dip my shoulders to the the right.then twist left and hit the jab... only use that when im slippin..

p.s. **** a shovel hook.. work on the 1-2...

if you throw a shovel hook in as ur main punch.. you're dumb.. shovel hooks are good for duckers.. and flurrys .. chill 1-2.. circle right 1 1 .. bob weave switch to orthodox get em with a left hook.. works every time.

[fraidycat]

p.s. **** a shovel hook.. work on the 1-2...

if you throw a shovel hook in as ur main punch.. you're dumb.. shovel hooks are good for duckers.. and flurrys .. chill 1-2.. circle right 1 1 .. bob weave switch to orthodox get em with a left hook.. works every time.

I'm only 5'9" and a middleweight (until recently I was a light heavy), so I fight real close. I jab or weave my way in, then stay on him with short hooks. People say that sparring me is like a fistfight in a phone booth -- I try to stay inside where straight punches aren't nearly as deadly.

From range, I agree, the shovelhook is unwise. But when you're inside, it comes in at a weird angle that, when coupled with a sidestep or a weave (or both), slips through a tight guard, which is what a lot of guys do when in close. I have actually hit someone on his right eye with my right hand, while his hands are up, just by stepping around and throwing the shovel hook through the hole. If he turns his head to follow instead of pivoting, and especially if he barn-doors his right hand to track me, he's

[aspect]

learn how to do some cuting, side step and slip.
stay away from his right remember the rule of the thumb when you are facing an orthodox as a southpaw.
your right foot should be outside of his left foot this way you are standing square to him.
your left fist is closer to his face and his right fist is farther.you should be able to see alot of blows coming from his right this way than standing from his inside.

as of now Im doing mma alot.when I choose to stand inside I am looking to slip from his right cross and counter.
and my shoot are easier this way coz he is standing square to me which is a favor for me.asking me to take him down.

and I can reach his right thigh easily for my thigh kicks.and I can use full force of my left head kick this way as the right arm is cleared most of the time at this angle.

[potatoes]

I need to learn how to make my left cross as dangerous as the other guy's right cross. Mine's good, but it's more of a stinger and not the freight train that the right cross is. I really need to put some serious time in on the bag just learning to make that cross like the hand of God himself. The guy on the other end of my gloves should be as wary of my cross as I am of his.

The guy I sparred today had a cross like a ****ing lightning bolt. Wicked fast and heavy as hell. It was like getting hit by a car. He caught me right on the nose and I didn't even see it coming.

To my credit, I didn't let it phase me; I just returned fire and finished the round with my nose dripping down my chin. But that didn't make it suck any less.

Right now my shovelhook is my big punch, thrown from just inside jab/cross range. I need to make my left cross become the punch that everyone is afraid of so that I've got a heavy weapon at range. This is my next immediate goal. I'm open to suggestions.

"...and I didn't even see it coming." That is the most problematic clause in your post. Please explain why you didn't see it coming.

[fraidycat]

"...and I didn't even see it coming." That is the most problematic clause in your post. Please explain why you didn't see it coming.

Because I'm ****in' ******?

Frankly, I don't remember. I think I wasn't watching his left foot, though; that's usually the tell that a big right cross is coming. When I see that foot move to the outside of my right foot, that's my cue to duck and cover. I'm usually in another ZIP code by the time that cross comes. It's possible that he threw it with his foot inside, it was so FAST. He didn't load it up, either. I'll be sparring him again later this week and I'll try to pay closer attention to the way he throws that right.

[potatoes]

Because I'm ****in' ******?

Frankly, I don't remember. I think I wasn't watching his left foot, though; that's usually the tell that a big right cross is coming. When I see that foot move to the outside of my right foot, that's my cue to duck and cover. I'm usually in another ZIP code by the time that cross comes. It's possible that he threw it with his foot inside, it was so FAST. He didn't load it up, either. I'll be sparring him again later this week and I'll try to pay closer attention to the way he throws that right.

Sometimes problems can be interrelated. A lack of focus can often mean that you are getting hit by punches that you should have avoided. It can also mean that you are not achieving the maximum speed or power which you are capable of. You have to identify the underlying problem before you can find the solution. Is it poor technique or poor concentration? Is your style clearly defined or confused?

These questions are not easily answered because it is difficult to analyze yourself. Sometimes it is easier to pick apart somebody else's problems, then eventually you might be able to relate it to yourself. If you want to see a confused style just take a good look at Alexander Povetkin. He tries to be both a slugger and a boxer. He tries to fight small and fight tall, but isn't doing anything very well. It was bloody awful what Eddie Chambers was letting him get away with. Obviously Povetkin isn't getting the right training. How about you?

[fraidycat]

Obviously Povetkin isn't getting the right training. How about you?

I'm quite happy with my trainers and my training. My main concern is that my left isn't as strong of a punch as I'm finding other people's rights to be. It's my own fault, as for the last two years I've trained my left to be a quick, stinging, snappy punch, not a freight train. I rely on close, torquing hooks to the body to do the damage and IMO I'm missing a weapon that other guys have. I have a disadvantage at range because of this, most definitely. OTOH, I have a cross that's much faster than most guys' rights.

I don't think it's a sign of poor training to be caught with a lucky punch now and again; hell, I've caught many superior boxers with a good punch when their attention was elsewhere -- my favorite punch is still a feint. For that matter, the heavier weight classes seem to revolve on lucky punches.

[BrooklynBomber]

Fraidy, one advice or even a pointer(I am an orthodox, but I dealth with great many southpaws). The key to a good left cross is not letting your opponent see it(duh, I know, it goes for every punch but especially for your left cross) and the key to it is a bit different body mechanics.


You need to hold your glove in such a way(usualy under an angle with most of the palm facing your opponent) that it covers your shoulder.

Moreover, you know how you always start your cross from the ground(with your feet). Try to start it with your fist and actually use your feet to propel it after the fist went flying a couple of inches.

It is much harder to explain it then to actually show it(and if I did I would have to do it from an orthodox stance) but the whole idea is that when a fighter is looking for his opponent's punches he is looking at the shoulders and then feet, and you have to fool him.

Hope it helps.

[potatoes]

I'm quite happy with my trainers and my training. My main concern is that my left isn't as strong of a punch as I'm finding other people's rights to be. It's my own fault, as for the last two years I've trained my left to be a quick, stinging, snappy punch, not a freight train. I rely on close, torquing hooks to the body to do the damage and IMO I'm missing a weapon that other guys have. I have a disadvantage at range because of this, most definitely. OTOH, I have a cross that's much faster than most guys' rights.

I don't think it's a sign of poor training to be caught with a lucky punch now and again; hell, I've caught many superior boxers with a good punch when their attention was elsewhere -- my favorite punch is still a feint. For that matter, the heavier weight classes seem to revolve on lucky punches.

A lucky punch is any punch which landed which could not have been avoided. This is boxing and so you can expect to hit get occasionally, but you should not be getting hit frequently. In his prime Muhammad Ali was hard to hit, so was Mike Tyson. Just because some heavyweights are easy targets doesn't make it right.

There is a lot to be said for a fast straight right because it sets up the lefthook to the body. (In your case righthook.) If a man's style is to fight on the inside, which is a small man's style, then he should NOT expect to hit his opponents with a lot of full extension punches. In fact most of the full extension punches tend to be more of a distraction used primarily to set up the short hooks used on the inside. In that case the speed of the right cross (or left) is more important than power.

Quite frankly I don't see what the problem is. Maybe you are just imagining problems because you are too easy to hit?