The fundamentals
Master every weapon and every escape
50 detailed breakdowns across 6 categories.
Jab
The lead-hand straight punch and the single most important weapon in boxing. The jab establishes range, sets up every other punch, scores points on judges' cards, and — when sharpened — finishes fight…
Cross
The rear-hand straight — the most powerful punch most fighters throw. Travelling along the centre line from the rear shoulder to the target, the cross drives almost entirely from the rear leg: the hee…
Lead Hook
The lead-hand hook — a short, horizontal punch that arrives at a 45-degree angle to the temple, ear, or jawline. The lead hook is the highest-percentage knockout punch in boxing because it arrives in…
Rear Hook
The rear-hand hook — a much rarer punch than the lead hook because it travels a long arc and is easy to counter, but devastating when set up properly. Used most often after a jab has pulled the oppone…
Lead Uppercut
A vertical punch from the lead hand, travelling from waist height up through the centre of the body to the chin. The lead uppercut is one of the great surprise punches in boxing — most fighters don't…
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 signat…
Overhand Right
A looping rear-hand punch thrown with the arm at a slightly downward angle, designed to land over the top of an opponent's lead-hand guard. Lennox Lewis, Tyson Fury, and Deontay Wilder have made entir…
Check Hook
Less a punch than a tactic — the check hook is a lead hook thrown while simultaneously pivoting off the lead foot, taking the body off-line from a charging opponent. Made famous by Floyd Mayweather Jr…
Body Jab
A jab thrown to the opponent's stomach or lower ribs rather than the head. Used to break rhythm, drop the opponent's guard for a head shot, and rack up scoring punches in close. The body jab requires…
Liver Shot
Any punch — typically a left hook from an orthodox fighter, or a rear cross from a southpaw — that targets the right side of the abdomen just under the rib cage where the liver sits. A clean liver sho…
Double Jab
Two jabs thrown in immediate succession. Used to break an opponent's rhythm, close the gap, or move into hook/cross range. The first jab is a feint or a probe; the second is the scoring punch. Wladimi…
Jab to Body
A jab specifically targeted at the solar plexus or upper abdomen. Distinct from the body jab in that the jab-to-body is usually thrown after a head-jab feint, dropping the opponent's guard. The techni…
Lead Body Hook
A lead hook thrown at the ribs or liver. The lead body hook is among the most underrated investment punches in boxing — its effect compounds over a fight, breaking down the opponent's structure and dr…
Rear Body Hook
The rear-hand hook to the body — typically targeted at the spleen (left-side ribs of an orthodox opponent) or the solar plexus. Less common than the lead body hook because the longer arc telegraphs he…