After you’ve been training boxing for some time, you’ll start wondering which is the best boxing style for you.
Should you mimic your favorite boxer, or should you create your own style?
Keep reading this article so we can help you choose the right style!
Common Boxing Styles
The most common boxing styles are:
- The Out-Boxer
- The Brawler
- The Counter Puncher
- The Pressure Fighter
- The Boxer Puncher
No single boxing style is best; each has strengths that it capitalizes on and weaknesses that can be exploited.
As we’ve seen many times in boxing history, a boxer is always capable of defeating his opponent, no matter what style he uses.
The Out-Boxer
One of the most common boxing styles is the out-boxer.
As the name suggests, this kind of boxer prefers to stay outside of his opponent’s range and wait for him to make a mistake.
When the out-boxer sees an opportunity, he closes the distance quickly to land a combination and then gets out of harm’s way.
One of the most famous out-boxers in history is Muhammad Ali, who loved to pepper his opponents with jabs while dancing around them.
Strengths
- Accurate and effective jabbing
- Good footwork
The out-fighter will do well against slower opponents or any opponent with poor footwork.
Weaknesses
Since an out-boxer relies so much on footwork, he can tire out with a longer fight if he doesn’t use his energy efficiently.
The out-fighter can do poorly against a pressure fighter who uses good footwork to cut off the ring and trap him.
The Brawler
The next common boxing style is the brawler.
This aggressive style (also known as the slugger boxing style) is feared for its knockout punches and body shots.
A couple of good examples of a brawler in boxing history are Jake LaMotta and Rocky Marciano, who were feared for their intense, warring style.
Strengths
Some of the strengths of the brawler include:
- Fight-stopping strength
- High endurance and conditioning
When a brawler combines his offensive strengths with solid defense and strategy, he can defeat any kind of boxer.
Weaknesses
One of the major weaknesses of the brawling style is that you’ll take a lot of damage in return.
Boxers with this style might be exciting to watch, but they tend not to have long careers.
This kind of fighter might do poorly against an out-boxer who doesn’t want to stand toe-to-toe and who makes him chase around the ring.
The Counter Puncher
Next on our list is the counter puncher.
This kind of boxer is patient, calculating, and is a master at controlling range.
One of the most famous counter punchers in boxing history is Floyd Mayweather, who used his skill to confuse every opponent he’s faced.
Strengths
Some strengths of the counter puncher include:
- High accuracy
- Precise timing
Generally, the counter puncher can frustrate and win against any kind of boxer.
Weaknesses
One major weakness of the counter puncher is being too passive and not initiating attacks enough in a fight.
Because of this, the counterpuncher can do poorly against the brawler and the pressure fighter, especially on the score cards.
The Pressure Fighter
Next on our list of the most common boxing styles is the pressure fighter.
Pressure fighters love to control the center of the ring and push their opponents against the ropes by using a combination of high-intensity punches and footwork.
The most famous example of a pressure fighter is Mike Tyson, who would swarm his opponents with a constant barrage of punches and aggressive angles.
Strengths
Some strengths of the pressure fighter include:
- High endurance and conditioning
- Ability to push opponents against the ropes
The pressure fighter tends to do well against an out-boxer, but only if he uses his footwork to cut off the ring.
Weaknesses
On the other hand, some weaknesses of the pressure fighter include:
- Can tire and burn out with longer fights
- Tend to chase opponents
An out-boxer with particularly good footwork or a counterpuncher with good nerves and timing can beat a pressure fighter.
The Boxer Puncher
Last on our list of the most common boxing styles is the boxer puncher.
This style of boxing balances defense and offense equally, making the boxer puncher the most versatile out of all the others.
The boxer puncher possesses all of the skills: conditioning, footwork, power, speed, you name it.
One of the most famous examples of a boxer puncher is Roberto Duran, who switched his style depending on who he was facing at the time.
If he needed to brawl, he stood toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring. However, he could also be slick like an out-boxer and make his opponents chase him.
Strengths
Some strengths of the boxer puncher include:
- Balanced offense and defense
- Ability to adapt to opponent’s style
This kind of boxer can do well against any kind of opponent, given that he chooses the correct strategy.
Weaknesses
Because a boxer puncher is so well-rounded, their weaknesses only show when they make poor decisions or choose the wrong strategy in the ring.
That said, they can lose to any other boxing style.
How To Choose Your Boxing Style
Consider these factors when you choose your boxing style:
- Body Type
- Personality
- Natural Skills
- Orthodox or Southpaw
- Boxers You Admire
Working with your nature is the best way for you to develop your boxing skills.
Body Type
First, consider your body type in choosing your boxing style.
Are you taller and have longer arms? Maybe you can use these traits to your advantage and keep your opponent away with flurries of jabs as an out-boxer.
If you’re shorter and don’t have a long reach, you might be a better pressure fighter than a counter puncher, since you can get in and out of the pocket easier with your footwork.
Personality
Next, consider your personality when you choose your boxing style.
If you’re more passive in how you approach life, it might seem like boxing and fighting isn’t the right activity for you.
However, if you combine that trait with good timing and a sharp eye, then you could do well as a counter puncher.
On the other hand, if you’re bold and tend to rush into situations head-on, then you’d do well as a brawler instead.
Natural Skills
Next, consider your natural skills before choosing your boxing style.
If you have good footwork, then you’d do well as an out-boxer since you can get in and out of the pocket quickly to land your combination.
Do you have sharp eyes and even sharper reflexes? You could be a good counter puncher.
On the other hand, if you have good cardio, you should try out the pressure-fighting style to overwhelm your opponent with volume punching.
Orthodox or Southpaw
Next, consider if you’re an orthodox or southpaw fighter when choosing your boxing style.
If you’re a southpaw fighter, you have a natural advantage over orthodox opponents.
Since orthodox fighters lead with their left foot, a southpaw can shoot his lead right foot outside and create an angle easily.
This is why boxers like Vasiliy Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux can be great pressure fighters against their orthodox opponents.
Boxers You Admire
Lastly, think about some boxers you admire when you choose your boxing style.
You could model your style after the top dog that everyone respects at your local gym.
(A note on this: your gym plays a huge influence on your style. If everyone at your gym is a brawler, this will rub off on you even if you don’t realize it.)
Or it could be the professional fighter that you’ve been a fan of for years.
Spend some time thinking what it is exactly that makes you enjoy watching his fights; this may hold a big clue to your own boxing style and strategy.
Conclusion
While there are many factors to consider when you choose your boxing style, in the end it’s simple.
The best boxing styles for you are the ones that you win with and that you feel the most comfortable with.
For example, if you see yourself as a brawler but haven’t been scoring any points in the ring with this style, perhaps it’s best to change lanes and try the out-boxer style.
Feel free to experiment with different styles and see what works best for you.
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