Boxing Style And Technique: 5 Different Types of Boxers You Will Recognize Right Away

Boxing Style And Technique: 5 Different Types of Boxers You Will Recognize Right Away

The majority of us believe that boxing consists solely of striking your opponent and taking every precaution to ensure that they are knocked out, but I can assure you that boxing is much more than that. Boxing is renowned for being the “Sweet Science” for a reason; it is a form of art that necessitates strategy, skills, and an in-depth knowledge of the art.

Compared to other aspects of the ring, gloved boxing’s styles, techniques, and strategies have changed in various ways and quickly throughout history. Styles and strategies have fluctuated mainly due to the ring conditions, promoter demands, teaching techniques and the influence successful boxing predecessors have had on the boxing scene. Each boxing fighter has their distinct style, which they either pick up early on or pick up as they progress through the sport.

Once properly applied, these techniques give the fighter a distinct advantage over the opposition. Each style has its advantages and disadvantages, and when practising or engaging in combat, a different strategy is always used. 

In boxing, footwork, head movements, and positions are all crucial and productive, and they are all covered by a broad range of styles and techniques. Once a fighter has a firm grasp of their technique, they hone in to always be at the top of their game, making it difficult for an adversary to defeat them. Let’s get started by learning more about a few of the many styles and techniques used in boxing.

Out-boxer

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With faster, farther-reaching punches, the out-boxer tries to keep a distance from their adversary. Out-boxers have a reputation for being lightning-fast on their feet, which frequently compensates for a lack of power. Although some out-boxers can be aggressive and proficient punchers, because they mostly use the weaker jabs and straights (rather than hooks and uppercuts), they frequently win by points decisions rather than by knockout.

Out-boxers love to engage in close-quarters combat where they may entice their opponents and wear them down with accurate long-range punches and counterattack. Because of their speed and agility, outboxes opponents are unable to strike powerful punches, especially since they rarely take chances by engaging in dangerous inside combat. The outcome may see the out-boxer out-landing and win via decision or receiving a knockout after wearing out and eliminating their opponents with precise punches.

Some famous out boxers include Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard and Lennox Lewis.

Read More: 15 Greatest Welterweight Boxers oF All Time

Boxer-puncher

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The boxer-puncher shares many traits with the out-boxer, such as hand speed, the ability to throw a great jab combination and/or counterpunch, superior defence and accuracy compared to a brawler, and brawler-like strength. The boxer-puncher might also be more inclined than an out-boxer to engage in aggressive swarming tactics.

The movement and defensive prowess of the pure boxer are generally lacking in the boxer-puncher. Of all the boxing styles, they are the most unpredictable. The outcome of a fight between this technique and other styles is frequently uncertain because they don’t adhere to the rock-paper-scissor’s idea. The versatility of a boxer-puncher makes them a master of none, but it may also be a detriment to any of the other three boxing styles due to their propensity for mixing things up and ambushing their opponents.

Some famous names who are boxer-punchers include; Evander Holyfield, Roberto Duran, Manny Pacquiao and Gennady Golovkin.

Swarmer

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Swarmers engage in extremely aggressive close-quarters combat and are often referred to as pressure fighters, in-fighters, or crowders. To prevent an effective counterattack and wear down the opponent’s defences, the basic premise of this method is to barrage the opponent with assaults. Boxers who use this method continually follow their adversary around, staying very close to them; nonetheless, this needs a significant energy reserve and strong endurance.

Swarmers prioritize protection during their attacks as well, though it’s not always clear. After launching each of their assaults, they start to move. The swarmer engages in close combat, unleashing a flurry of punches, before immediately retreating in defence. These boxers value clinches as well. Swarmers frequently have very good head mobility so they can enter. There is a huge requirement for stamina and conditioning since strong power, a strong chin, and a high punch output are necessary.

To develop the footwork skills required for this technique, boxers must put in a lot of training. Strong footwork is a prerequisite for all movement combinations, including hopping, evading, and attacking. To maintain control over their opponent, swarmers need to be able to manoeuvre around the ring. They use a steady mix of offence and defence, which calls for this footwork as well.

This fighting method prioritizes closing in on an opponent, overpowering them with force and a barrage of hooks and uppercuts at a medium range, or converting the fight into an interior brawl in which they pummel their opponents at close range. They often move quickly, which can be challenging for slower fighters to avoid, or they have excellent techniques for cutting off the ring.

They also frequently possess a strong “chin,” as this style frequently necessitates taking several blows before moving inside where they are more potent. Particularly in the heavier divisions, many swarmers are frequently either shorter fighters or fighters with shorter ranges who must narrow the distance to be effective.

Famous Swarmers include; Vasiliy Lomachenko, Ken Norton, Wilfredo Gomez, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson and Joe Frazier.

Also Read: 15 Best Pound-For-Pound Boxers

Brawler

Nicolás Celaya, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The sport’s brutality is personified by the brawler. Since they frequently place their feet firmly on the ground while fighting, they have the highest balance and knockout power offensively. Even from awkward angles, the best brawlers can deliver powerful blows.

Some are skilled at positioning themselves such that they may corner their adversaries and force them to submit to their lethal punches. They employ grappling methods to suffocate their adversaries and render them open to heavy punches when defending themselves. The art of defensive mobility in the vicinity of a punching threat is something they frequently excel at.

To minimize harm in punching zones, they employ modest defensive techniques like slipping and barely ducking. There are exceptions to this rule because most brawlers are immobile in the ring and may find it challenging to catch fighters who move quickly. Brawlers frequently use power shots rather than combos as opposed to swarmers and out boxers. It is possible for counterpunching to be used against brawlers since they frequently use predictable hitting patterns (single blows with evident leads).

Famous brawlers include; Mike Tyson, Jack Dempsey, George Foreman, Vitali Klitschko and Max Baer.

Counterpuncher

Nicolás Celaya, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Techniques used by counterpunchers entail waiting for the opponent to make a mistake before seizing the opportunity to strike back. To lure an opponent into adopting an aggressive stance that will fatigue him and leave him vulnerable to counterpunches, an experienced counterpuncher may employ strategies like winning rounds with the jab or psychological tricks. Due to these factors, this style of boxing strikes a balance between defence and offence, but it may also be dangerous if the fighter using it has poor instincts or is not sufficiently quick.

Famous boxers who are counterpunchers were; Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Canelo Alvarez and Archie Moore.

There are many boxing styles and techniques involved in boxing and the above-mentioned are just but a few of them. Boxers are not limited to a single technique and they might devise a way to apply more than one style for the sake of winning a match. As the boxing game continues to evolve to the new school, more and more styles and techniques keep developing which makes the sport more fun and interesting for both the boxers and the fans alike.

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