Wondering how to beat a pressure fighter?
A pressure fighter is intimidating at first. They step forward, throw high volume punches, and apply constant mental and physical pressure.
However, like any style of fighting, you can exploit the pressure fighter’s weaknesses!
Keep reading to learn how to beat a pressure fighter!
How To Beat A Pressure Fighter
To beat a pressure fighter:
- Relax and Control The Tempo of the Fight
- Keep Distance With Your Jab
- Fight and Pivot Off The Back Foot
- Counter and Clinch on the Inside
- Stay Off The Ropes
Relax and Control The Tempo of the Fight
First, to beat a pressure fighter, relax and control the tempo of the fight.
Pressure fighters beat you mentally before they beat you physically.
Stand your ground and don’t let your opponent push you around.
Use your footwork and jab to dictate where you want to be in the ring.
Your goal is to save your energy and fight efficiently, keeping in mind that pressure fighters spend a lot of energy to maintain the same pace throughout the fight.
This overactivity is what can bring them down. When pressure fighters get tired, they get sloppy and prioritize offense over defense.
The key to your strategy is to outlast your opponent. Cycle through the following tips, and wear down your opponent little by little.
Keep Distance With Your Jab
Next, keep distance with your jab to beat a pressure fighter.
Pressure fighters thrive in the mid-range, so keep the fight at long-range.
Be first and mix up the angles and tempos of your jabs with feints. Alternate between standing your ground and circling out with your jab. This will break your opponent’s tempo and frustrate him.
While your opponent focuses on volume, you’ll focus on timing. Since you know your opponent is coming forward with combinations, stop him with a well-timed stiff jab.
Watch the video below to study how Pernell Whitaker masterfully uses the jab to keep aggressive opponents off him.
Fight and Pivot Off The Back Foot
Next, fight and pivot off the back foot to beat a pressure fighter.
Pressure fighters can sense when you’re stepping back to run away; that’s their signal to attack.
To win, overcome the instinct to step backwards and get pinned on the ropes. Take an angle and redirect the fight back to the middle of the ring.
A small lateral step helps you to fight efficiently: you can throw a check hook with your lead hand and step out or you can slip to the rear side and set up your cross.
See the video of Canelo Álvarez against Gennady Golovkin. Often when GGG put pressure forward, Canelo touched the ropes with his back foot and circled out with a check hook.
Counter and Clinch On The Inside
Next, counter and clinch on the inside.
Fight fire with fire and return your opponent’s pressure; most bullies don’t expect their victims to fight back.
Like most fighters, pressure fighters don’t like to stay on the inside fighting if their opponent is standing their ground and trading punches.
Catch their body shots with your elbows and throw back, while looking for an opportunity to take an angle and get back to the middle of the ring. Aim for body shots that will slow them down in the long run.
Smother their punches and keep a tight guard without curling up; you’re safer here than at the mid-range.
If you’re up against a pressure fighter who loves to fight on the inside, take away their momentum with a clinch. Put your weight on them to make them even more tired.
In close range, your opponent can throw a kidney punch, so be ready for that.
Once the referee breaks it up and resets the range, establish that jab and it’s business as usual. At this point you can tell if your opponent is beginning to tire.
Stay Off The Ropes
Lastly, to beat a pressure fighter, stay off the ropes.
A pressure fighter will use aggressive footwork to control the ring and slowly push you towards the ropes.
Once a pressure fighter gets you against the ropes, he can do anything he wants with you.
So instead, always be aware of where you are in the ring.
Every inch matters even if you’re taking tiny steps.
Instead of moving backwards, take steps laterally and circle around your opponent so you can circle back to the center of the ring.
Though it’s tough and intimidating at first, you should also stand your ground once in a while against a pressure fighter and rely on your head movement and glove/elbow defense instead of your footwork.
Conclusion
After reading these tips, you’ll know how to better handle facing a pressure fighter.
Relax and control the tempo, keep distance with your jab, fight off the back foot, and counter and clinch on the inside.
If you’re a pressure fighter, be aware of these tips to strengthen your game plan:
- Take away your opponent’s jab.
- Bait your opponent into headhunting.
- Apply the right amount of pressure while saving your energy.
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