When I’m training hard and staying sharp I’m a pretty decent combination puncher. I was helping out a new boxer with some suggestions on how not to get countered during combos, I’d thought I’d post it here:
1. Keep Them Snappy – Snap back your punches FAST, and bring them back on the path you threw them (don’t drop it on the return path).
2. Maintain Defensive Guard – Return each punch back to your defensive guard. It’s easy to get sloppy during a combo and drop your hand, stick out your chin, or throw a punch before the last one was retracted. When you practice in the mirror you should be able to take a snapshot and see your shoulder shielding your tucked chin and your non-punching hand high with the elbow in.
3. Pick Punches Carefully – Start with a proper lead punch, generally a jab, but sometimes a left hook. Make sure you chain together appropriate punches. Study the battle tested punch combos, throwing them in the wrong order can open up defensive holes.
4. Final Punch Choice Is Also Key – People usually get countered after the combo is done, so finish a combo with a punch that’s difficult to counter: a high lead hand. Meaning either a jab or left hook.
5. Move Your Noggin’ Upon Completion – Do a bob or v-slip right after the last punch in the combo.
6. When Done, Don’t Just Stand There – Exit to the side with a pivot or bump/waltz/cut the corner/whatever your trainer calls the right side exit. If you must exit straight back, cover your tracks with jabs.
7. Rapid Fire or Get Back Fire – Besides being countered at the end of combos, you’ll also get countering in the middle. Fire them rapidly. You need to be able to chain punches on a 1/2 beat, no 1 or 2 beat combos.
If I see a guy throwing 1 or 2 beat combo in the gym, I guarantee he’s a Heavy Bag Warrior that’s never sparred. If you can’t fire a jab, right hook to body, left hook to head in a ratta-tat-tat fashion on the bag, there’s not much point on trying it in the ring.
8. Keep Your Head Moving – Each punch lends to a side-to-side head movement. Throw in some bobs and v-slips too.
9. Not Too Many Punches – It is definitely possible to chain together too many punches. Is it because you start getting sloppy, or your opponent wises up? I don’t know… But 2-5 punches is a good number. I’ve repeatedly landed 6 punch combos against amateurs in the Open Class, but I probably shouldn’t have tried.
10. Avoid Loopy Inept Punches – Try to avoid hooks that just land on your opponent’s guard. If you’re throwing a wide punch that ain’t landing, expect a knuckle sammich delivered right down the pipe.
