Amatuer Boxing: Are body shots useful or not?

[Bozbay]

In sparring and ammeter fights, I can work the body shots if I want to. I like to use the jab to the body to control range and set other shots up ect. But the hooks and uppercuts on the inside to the body - are they worth throwing in an amateur fight? There aren't enough rounds for opponents to feel the full effect of the punches. I've watched a lot of top amateurs for a long time and most don't throw too many body shots either. Of course abandoning body shots completely is crazy but are they that useful? What are your thoughts?

[F l i c k e r]

Sparring doesn't matter.

In amateur, body shots are in short, useless. They don't get scored as you have to land punches on the white of the glove (big circle.) So outside of the body jab, you probably won't get any points, and even that one is a long shot.

That's why in the amateurs (olympics included) you see head hunters over everything else. Time is too short and they simply don't grade a hook to the body on the level of a jab clean to the face.

Unless you're putting people down with body hooks. Just don't even use them. Not in competition at least. Still drill them in training though, because you'll need it if you want to go pro.

[2ofEverything]

They're still an important skill for amateur fighting despite what Flicker said. Sure they might not get counted as often as clean head shots but they're essential to get those head shots.

Body shots open up the opponents guard and catching him in the ribs with a hook or two during a fight will keep get his elbows down and expose his head more.

[Ray Corso]

Ofcourse their usefull they hurt your opponent and while doing that they set up your combinations if your learning how to work top to bottom, bottom to top!
If your a head hunter only you become easier to defend against!
Haven't you been hit hard in the solar plexes yet? How about a nice chop down on the lower ribs? Have you studied the "floating rib" yet? Never been punched under your heart?
You have some homework to do if no is your answer!
Ray

[OneTwostepTwo]

For points? Perhaps not. For pain? Absolutely. I had to learn the hard way to tuck my elbows in and took a shot right under the left armpit. Thought i broke something and had a reduced capacity for breathing for about a week. Sometimes trauma to the lung puts air between your pleural membrane and your lung. A partially collapsed lung at the most minor level. Once you tag that spot your opponent will want to protect it leaving their head exposed on that side. Definitely don't ignore body shots.

[Elroy1]

One of the blokes from my gym was so powerful he could stop opponents in amateur with body shots so for him they were equally useful.

But for most purposes they are far less useful than in pro boxing because there's not enough rounds for their strategic purpose of wearing down an opponent.

[SalimShady1212]

Unless you hit very hard I wouldn't bother with them, you leave an opportunity to get hit on the head and you probably wont score with it. Unless you're confident you can drop them they're just annoying to take more than anything else.

[NChristo]

Disagree with most here, body shots are absolutely useful in amateur boxing especially now that we're going back to scoring rounds the professional way instead of by punches landed, a decent body shot could end the fight at any time. It's ridiculous to say they're not useful.

[SalimShady1212]

Disagree with most here, body shots are absolutely useful in amateur boxing especially now that we're going back to scoring rounds the professional way instead of by punches landed, a decent body shot could end the fight at any time. It's ridiculous to say they're not useful.

For the new system of course it's scored like a normal bout, but the points system it's pretty ineffective especially if you don't hit hard.

[stephenmc]

Sparring doesn't matter.

In amateur, body shots are in short, useless. They don't get scored as you have to land punches on the white of the glove (big circle.) So outside of the body jab, you probably won't get any points, and even that one is a long shot.

That's why in the amateurs (olympics included) you see head hunters over everything else. Time is too short and they simply don't grade a hook to the body on the level of a jab clean to the face.

Unless you're putting people down with body hooks. Just don't even use them. Not in competition at least. Still drill them in training though, because you'll need it if you want to go pro.

What year are you living in??? You obviously haven't watched any amateur fights in a long time or up to date with the rules... Rounds are not scored per clean punch's anymore. So body shots are very much in play.

To answer the OPs poster, yes straight punches to the body work well. Lets be honest your not really going to be able to "wear" an opponent down. But yes a good shot to the body can certainly stop someone in their tracks, a hard enough one could stop someone, but would be a bit foolish to try that just if it happens well done,if not, best to stay with your normal stuff