fighting a tall southpaw

[AaronJW]

I'm going to do some sparring on Sunday and I'm up against a guy who's about 6'2" (I'm 6') , and he's a southpaw.

One of my trainers said it's not going to be easy establishing lead foot dominance on him because of his height and reach advantage. Because I'll need to keep some distance, he only has to move a little to keep facing me and keep me on the inside. So he's advocating trying to get in close and fighting aggressively.

The other trainer, who has a lot more experience at a world class level, said the following things:
1. Keep my right hand up in front of my nose
2. Keep my distance, and jab his lead glove.
3. Also hit his glove with 1-2's, focusing on speed, and then immediately after step in and go for a powerful straight right to his face.

Any advice?
I think I'm mostly worried about the height/reach advantage he has, rather than the fact he's a southpaw.
Also, even though I want to be able to box defensively and slickly like Mayweather or Lara, if I notice he doesn't have much power I might just try and walk him down

[djif]

Stay behind the block if he is agressive and go inside after he unloads.
If he is not aggressive:
- straight rights to the head every time he is on the distance
- go behind his front leg with jab or left hook
- jab to the body (liver)
- get inside as much as possible and unload on him

[djif]

1. Keep my right hand up in front of my nose
2. Keep my distance, and jab his lead glove.

1 opens you for his left hooks. See Pac's Hatton KO to find out what can happen.
2 opens you for his right crosses - and it doesn't sound realistic. You gonna eat a couple of counter jabs trying to do it..

[Ray Corso]

You sound like your preparing for a fight! Are you sparring or fighting this guy?
If you have trainers why haven't they prepared you to deal with southpaws?

If you let the concept of dealing with a southpaw consume you you'll be a mental mess.

First thing to do is be yourself. A jab works against everyone if your's is a good one. The right lead or lead hook lead both work against southpaws depending on the southpaw, they're NOT all the same. If the guy is all about distance and boxing than you need to pressure him from what ever side he's vulnerable on.
There are a lot of techniques used against south paws but the truest most valued method for success is no different from boxing a conventional fighter. Back him up!

You better find out if the "spar session" is just that or a fight?
My guess is your looking at it as a fight, just ask if your going full out or not!
You better whats expected when you spar or your going to be taken advantage of.


Ray

[KingHippo]

I'm no expert and I never sparred, but from what I've seen, many good southpaws don't worry about lead foot position until they strike.

[Eddy Current]

How experienced is he?

From my experience, people who aren't very experienced and are taller than you are easy to hit cleanly to the body.


But yeah it sounds like you are preparing for a fight rather than sparring!

[tcbender]

Try to stay circling to the left and definitely want to keep your lead foot on the outside of his. I'd also try to keep your lead hand more on your chin, and try to lead with right hands more often than you would vs an orthodox fighter.

[OctoberRed]

How experienced is he?

From my experience, people who aren't very experienced and are taller than you are easy to hit cleanly to the body.


But yeah it sounds like you are preparing for a fight rather than sparring!

Exactly. I find most tall guys dont know how to use their height properly and are wide open.

[AaronJW]

Thanks for the advice everyone.
In the end my trainer's main advice was to throw straight rights at his chest only. Never his head or stomach, just the chest. He said that if I go for the head, I might look up and expose my chin.

Ray Corso and Julia Slobberts, you're right, it was for a "sparring tournament" where we wear headgear and fight like it's a real match. 2 rounds, 2 minutes each

[Ray Corso]

"In the end my trainer's main advice was to throw straight rights at his chest only. Never his head or stomach, just the chest.
I might look up and expose my chin"

Ridiculous! If you can hit the chest without "exposing" your chin you can reach the head without exposing your chin. Hell you don't even have to look for the chin if you can reach the chest! The head is just above and it's attached! Even great head movement can't move the chest!

Might need a new trainer with experience.

Ray