Rear Uppercut

The classical inside finisher. The rear-hand uppercut travels from the rear hip up through the centreline to the chin, generating power from a rear-foot pivot, knee drive, and hip rotation. The signature punch of Mike Tyson's mid-1980s peek-a-boo style — paired with a slip to the inside of a jab, it ends fights when an opponent leans forward. It is most effective inside mid-range; against an opponent on the outside, the windup is too long to land cleanly.

Key points

• ▸Rear-foot pivot drives the hip and the shoulder upward — not the arm.
• ▸Punch arrives with the palm facing the body.
• ▸Lead hand stays high on the same side to protect from a counter hook.
• ▸Drive through with the legs; the punch is a leg-and-hip punch first, arm second.
• ▸Use as a finisher after the opponent is bent over (after a body shot, for example).

Common mistakes

• ✗Throwing it from outside range — never lands clean from there.
• ✗Loading the rear shoulder visibly before the throw.
• ✗Standing too upright; uppercuts require a slight level change.
• ✗Pulling the head straight back on retraction — opens to a lead hook counter.

Drills

1. Mitts: catcher calls "4" (rear uppercut) only after a body-shot setup.
2. Heavy-bag: 5 rounds, alternating lead body hook + rear uppercut.
3. Shadow-box: 3 rounds focused on level changes — every uppercut must be preceded by a slight knee bend.

Related techniques