“Timing beats speed, precision beats power” is an old quote that has been debated by all kinds of fighters.
Each has his or her own opinion, but what matters is what you think.
Which is best for you to focus on?
You’ll find that your favorite fighters will use a mix of each skill to suit their style, and so should you.
After applying each part of the quote to yourself, you can better understand your strengths and weaknesses.
Keep reading for our complete breakdown on the skills of boxing.
Boxing Skills
The four main boxing skills are:
- Timing
- Speed
- Precision/Accuracy
- Power
Together, these make up your offensive and defensive strategy, as well as your strengths and weaknesses.
As you read, take a moment to think about where you fit in with these skills.
Timing
The first element of boxing is timing.
This element can be defensive or offensive.
A well-timed slip can make your opponent overreach and open up targets for you. On the other hand, a well-timed jab can make your opponent flinch and set up your combinations.
A good example of a boxer using perfect timing is Marquez knocking out Pacquiao. After Pacquiao aggressing in the previous exchange, Marquez backs into the ropes and waits for his opponent to run into his overhand right.
Speed
The next element of boxing is speed.
This element can be defensive or offensive.
In boxing, you can only move your head, hands or feet.
A fast head and fast feet will make it difficult for your opponent to hit you. Fast hands can be used to parry and block punches.
Fast hands can also keep your opponent occupied and always guessing your next punch.
Precision/Accuracy
The next element of boxing is precision or accuracy.
This element can also be defensive or offensive.
A well-placed jab or check-hook can stop your opponent’s attack and discourage your opponent from stepping forward in the future.
On the other hand, a well-placed body shot can weaken your opponent in later rounds.
Power
The last element of boxing is power.
This element is mainly on the offensive side. It can be defensive if your power discourages your opponent from coming in range.
We placed this last because without any of the previous skills mentioned above, power is useless in boxing.
Despite the boxing world’s obsession with muscles and knockouts, we think that power is the least important skill in boxing.
Rock, Paper, Scissors
So which element is best?
One way to answer is to think about the game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” where each move has its strengths and weaknesses.
In a single game, there is no apparent advantage. You see these dynamics in often in a boxing match:
- Power vs Power: This makes for exciting (but dangerous) boxing, where both boxers stand in the pocket and trade punches.
- Timing vs Timing: You’ll see two boxers feinting each other, watching for opportunities to counter. A strange dynamic, as both boxers spend a lot of time waiting.
However, when you play seven quick rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors in a row, you can see and take advantage of your opponent’s habits.
Just as you wouldn’t always choose Rock, you should recognize that there’s a time for each element to shine.
How To Beat Timing and Precision
If timing beats speed and precision beats power, then what beats timing and precision?
Here is where boxing gets fun: you can mix the elements to fit your style and grow your instinct.
In a boxing match, a single use of power or speed doesn’t matter. It’s how and when these moves are combined that determines who wins.
Examples of these dynamics going against the wisdom of the quote:
- Power/Speed vs Timing: A boxer can overwhelm his opponent’s well-timed jab with a flurry of punches, always moving forward. It’s okay to get hit as long as it opens up opportunities for yourself to attack.
- Speed/Timing vs Precision: By using speed and timing to stay out of range, a boxer can avoid giving his accurate opponent a target.
When you see your favorite boxers performing at the highest levels, they are using combinations of these elements against each other.
Conclusion
Now that you understand each element, you should recognize that each of them is best used with another.
Instead of thinking them as elements, it’s better to think of them as pillars. If one pillar is much bigger or stronger than the others, the whole structure will fall apart.
You can use these ideas to choose your boxing style and role models.
For example, if you want to be like Mike Tyson, you’ll study how he flows between Power and Speed, not relying entirely on one or the other.
You can also use this knowledge to adapt your boxing style and keep yourself safe.
If you’re new to a boxing gym and notice that it’s packed, you can guess that most of the boxers won’t move around in the ring so much. Expect them to sit in the pocket and trade shots.
If you’re having trouble deciding what boxing equipment to get, check out these articles: