Boxing Basics: Everything You Need to Know

Throughout the years, many inspiring stories from fictional movies have sparked an interest in the boxing sport. If you are serious about boxing but don’t where to start, then you have come to the right place. This guide contains all the information that you need to know to knock out your opponent.

All contact sports are great when it comes to teaching discipline, and boxing is no different either. But how exactly this sport is beneficial for you, we are going to find it out in detail.

Many of us opt for boxing because it has a positive impact on the overall health of an individual. In contrast, others want to learn it for self-defense.

Whatever is your purpose of learning boxing, here’s everything you need to know about boxing.

Reasons to do/not to do boxing

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Why learn boxing?

Right down to its core, boxing has numerous benefits, including spiritual, mental, and physical. And without a shadow of a doubt, it is an intense and challenging workout.

Here is a list of all the benefits that the sport has to offer.

  • Boxing is useful for cardiovascular health.
  • Improves overall body conditions and strength.
  • Boxing enhances reflexes and hand-eye coordination.
  • Great for releasing stress.
  • Useful for burning calories and losing fats.
  • It increases speed, agility, and stamina.
  • Boxing strengthens ligaments and bones.
  • The sport improves overall core strength and stability.
  • Improves self-confidence.
  • Boxing also stimulates endorphins.
  • Helps you in managing your aggression, depression and anger.
  • The sport teaches you self-defense.
  • Builds you mental fortitude.

When not to do boxing?

There are some reasons when you shouldn’t get into boxing, no matter what. As per the World Boxing Federation, there are some medical guidelines that one must follow before getting into the sport. You should not engage in this sport if you have:

  • Poor eyesight or any visual impairment.
  • Gone through major surgery or operation recently.
  • History of insulin treatments for diabetes.
  • History of epileptic episodes, multiple sclerosis, or ALS.
  • Any facial deformation that can impair your breathing or you can retain your mouthpiece.
  • Any heart diseases.
  • Tuberculosis, pulmonary emphysema, or bronchitis.

How much will it cost to be a boxer?

No doubt, participation in any sport incurs costs. You have to pay for the right kinds of gear, equipment, and some may even feature uniforms, and similar is the case with boxing.

Would you like to know how much you will pay for the gym subscriptions, training gears, private classes, and clothes?

Here is a list of all the expenses that you need to know to get going in professional boxing.

Boxing gear costs

Boxing class costs

Some factors affect the overall cost of boxing classes:

  • Size of the class
  • How often the lessons will be taken in a week.
  • Timing and length of each session.
  • Experience and skills of the instructor.
  • Your experience and skills as a student.
  • Location of the classes.

Group class costs

  • As per a casual visit ($15 to $35).
  • Weekly subscription ($25 to $45).
  • Monthly subscription or at least 10 visits per month ($120 to $250).
  • Personal coaching for customized training ($85 to $130 per hour).

How much do boxers make?

Pro boxers don’t receive any paychecks. Instead, professional boxers are get paid per fight. On average, on the low end, an average boxer can earn up to $200 per fight. On the other hand, a pro boxer for a title match can earn anywhere from $60,000 to $375,000.

Elite boxers can reach up to millions of dollars per fight, and these include the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather has made a serious amount of money in-ring, but not many boxers are that lucky.

Boxing techniques

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To become a successful boxer, you need to learn some techniques to avoid and land punches. Learning these techniques will allow you to improve your expertise in the sport.

Stance

There are different types of boxing stances, and none of them are perfect. Many of these stances are used around the world in various ways. You need to pick a stance that works with your style, abilities, and skills. You need to pick a stance that allows you to defend or attack at will and effectively.

A quality boxing stance must have:

  • Defense.
  • Power.
  • Balance.
  • Range.
  • Security.
  • Mobility.
  • Stability.
  • Flexibility.

There are two different types of stances, southpaw and orthodox, and they are suitable for both left and right-handed boxers. In the orthodox style, you put your weak side closer to your opponent. For a right-handed boxer, the left side is his/her weaker side. In southpaw, your strong side is closer to the opponent.

You need to:

  • Stand with your feet apart equal to your shoulder-width.
  • Take a step back, and it should be your right foot if you are a right-hander.
  • Your leading leg and hand will be your left arm, and it will be closer to your opponent.
  • Bend your knees a bit for better speed and agility.
  • Raise the heel of your back foot slightly for improved mobility.
  • Raise your hands close to your face for protection.
  • Keep your chin slightly rested on your chest but without tensing it.

Footwork

Footwork is crucial in boxing, but some people overlook it. It’s not just about avoiding the punches and moving quickly across the ring. It’s about throwing high powered punches with precision. Here are some popular footwork movements that you can adopt.

  • Side-to-side movement (lateral movement).
  • Moving with the change in the hips axis (pivoting).
  • Backward movement at 45-degree (45-degree stepping).

For improving your footwork, you need to do some regular exercises. These include ladder drills, box jumping, shadow boxing, and jumping ropes.

Punching

As an aspiring boxer, you need to learn four punches. These include hooks, jabs, uppercuts and crosses. There are some other punches as well that are not very common, but they do have their strengths are check hooks, overhand rights, and bolo punches.

  • Jabs are the first punches taught in any boxing class. These are the weakest of them all, but it is most important because it can create a distraction, a push, or an opening for your other punches. These are fast and have good reach, and they counter well.
  • Crosses are straight punches with your rear hand, and it targets your opponent’s face. You can use it to counter crosses or jabs, and it allows you to set up your hooks.
  • Hooks are very destructive, and they are semi-circular punches that you deliver with your weaker hand. They were frequently used by Roy Jones Jr. and Iron Mike Tyson to deliver KOs during their days.
  • Uppercuts are vertical punches coming from down below and are delivered in an upward motion. These travel right in the center of the opponent’s body and are delivered to the chin.
  • Bolo punches are a combination of uppercuts and hooks. These punches are thrown upwards but with a motion of a hook.
  • Overhand rights are thrown with your rear hand, and it works better if the opponents are shorter in height because it comes from over and above the guard of your opponent.
  • Check hooks are designed to tackle an aggressive fighter that is moving forward. Check hooks are thrown with your dominant hand, but your arm rotates in the same direction as a hook.

Head movement

Proper head movement is critical if you want to avoid those powerful punches from your opponent. Keep your head moving because the idea here is to give your opponent a moving target to land a punch! You can stimulate your head movement while moving different parts of your body.

  • You can use your entire body back and forth to create an illusion that you are moving your head.
  • Bring your left glove up and then bring it down while bringing your right glove up. Also, start bobbing on your feet while moving your gloves.
  • Shifting your foot placement and shuffling your weight will also make your opponent think that you are moving your head.

Defense

As we have talked about some attacking moves above, it is time to point out some defensive moves as well.

  • Bobbing and weaving involve moving your head slightly to the right or left with bent legs for avoiding an incoming punch. After avoiding that punch, you can weave back up to your normal boxing stance right outside the extended arm of your opponent.
  • Blocking and parry are very useful when taking punches that are coming your way and deflecting them. Use your arms and hands for blocking the incoming punch and deflect it away with your hands, which is parrying.

Workouts

There are different workouts that you need to do for staying fit and agile for boxing. The workouts that don’t’ require and gear include:

  • Burpees.
  • Shadow boxing.
  • Sit-ups.
  • Push-ups.
  • Running.
  • Sparring.
  • Squats.
  • Walking lunges.

Here are the workouts that require some gear:

  • Rope jumping.
  • Shoulder presses.
  • Chin-ups.
  • Weight training.
  • Focused mitt drills.
  • Heavy bag training.

Final word

Before you head to your gym on the first day, just take a light meal focusing on fruits and carbs. Drink at least half liter water at least a couple of hours before your session. Plus, bring your wraps for protection of your wrists and knuckles because there will be plenty of bag pounding on Day 1. Bringing your gloves would be better if you are serious about the sport.

Also, wear breathable and highly absorbent clothes, and if you have long hair, then use a hair tie to keep them in place. Wear shoes that are extremely comfortable and are designed for sports.

And don’t forget to bring a bottle of water with you for proper hydration. You can also take your towel and some other clothes that you might have to change after the end of the session.

If you are in a big group, try to stay close to the coach because it will allow you to follow the instructions carefully. And in the end, after your session, eat much protein to allow your muscles to recover from the intense session you had.

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