Wondering how to fight a runner, or a boxer who loves to use slick footwork around the ring?
You beat a runner by cutting off the ring, saving your energy, using your feints to trap your opponent, and attacking your opponent’s body!
Boxers who run are frustrating to fight. They like to move around the ring and are hard to trap against the ropes or in the corner.
However, like any style of fighting, you can exploit their weaknesses!
Keep reading to learn how to fight a runner!
How To Fight A Runner
To fight a boxer who loves to run around the ring:
- Cut Off The Ring
- Save Your Energy
- Use Your Feints To Trap Your Opponent
- Attack Your Opponent’s Body
- Let Your Opponent Come To You
Cut Off The Ring
First, cut off the ring to beat boxer who runs around.
Use lateral movements and advance slowly towards your opponent.
If you rush forward and chase your opponent, you’ll waste your energy as he slips away or you’ll step into your opponent’s trap.
Instead, guess where your opponent will be and don’t worry about where your opponent is at the moment.
Watch the video below to see how Erislandy Lara slipped away whenever Canelo Álvarez tried to confront him straight on.
Save Your Energy
Next, save your energy when facing an opponent who loves to run around the ring.
You’ll fail on your first few attempts to cut the ring off and trap your opponent and that’s ok.
Take your time and pay attention to your opponent’s patterns each time you cut off the ring.
Have patience and stick to your plan. You make mistakes when you get frustrated. You start putting all of your power into one shot and leaving yourself exposed.
In time, your opponent will slow down and you’ll have your opportunity to land your combinations.
Use Your Feints To Trap Your Opponent
Next, use your feints to trap your opponent.
Feint to trap your opponent once you get within range.
Use your foot feints to make your opponent second-guess where he should escape to and use your hand feints to make him flinch.
Continue to cut off the ring, advancing little by little, and collecting information to place your opponent where you want him to be.
Keep in mind that trapping your opponent doesn’t always mean that he’s against the ropes or in the corner. If you make him walk into your hook in the middle of the ring, so much the better.
Attack Your Opponent’s Body
Next, attack your opponent’s body once you trap him.
These body shots will slow him down in the long run. On the other hand, headhunting will give your opponent an opportunity to escape if you miss.
At least with a hook to the body, you’re hitting something, even if it’s just an elbow, forearm, or glove.
This is important because runners don’t like to be touched at all. The first time you tag them is when you begin to break them down.
If you’re against the ropes, keep them there for as long as possible so you can land some shots. Keep your combinations tight and save your energy. What’s most important is that you touch your opponent with every shot.
Eventually they’ll escape or clinch and you’ll have to start over. Repeat the process, and you’ll notice that your opponent is a little bit slower this time.
Now that you have a better idea of your opponent’s habits, trapping him will be easier the next time around.
Watch the video below to see how Miguel Cotto lands a knockout body shot just as Yuri Foreman disengages in Round 9.
Let Your Opponent Come To You
Lastly, let your opponent come to you.
This is something to try if all the above-mentioned tips fail.
Sometimes you’ll face an opponent who has better footwork than you and is faster than you.
No matter what you do, you can’t corner him.
In this case, you should put yourself in the ropes or in the corner, just to mix things up and confuse your opponent.
If he takes the bait and tries to attack you, you’ll be able to get him in your range.
There’s a chance you can even turn him against the ropes and take the advantage.
Of course, this is a controversial take; you should be able to handle the risks of putting yourself against the ropes.
Conclusion
Now that you know these tips, you’ll know how to beat a runner the next time you face one in the ring.
Cut off the ring, save your energy, use your feints to trap your opponent, and attack your opponent’s body.
If you’re a boxer who likes to move around the ring, be aware of these tips and use them to strengthen your game plan:
- Focus on staying off the ropes.
- Frustrating and tiring out your opponent.
- Bait your opponent into headhunting.
- Save your energy.
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