Thread: Fighting aggressive pressure fighters!

Right many of you know my story, still quite new to the game and one thing I really struggle with in bouts or sparring is those aggressive fighters who just come out swinging. I tend to get flustered and not know what to do and end up caught in corner or on the ropes. It doesn't matter if they're a good boxer but keep coming forward and throwing a lot of shots or a complete novice and just come out swinging, I really struggle to get out of the way. Has anyone got any tips how to deal with this or any good exercises I could do to practice getting out of the way? I think it must be down to my feet, and if I was quicker with them I could get out of the way but I also believe it may be mentally that I'm struggling too, hence why I get flustered. Cheers in advance

Maybe you get flustered because, being new, you aren't confident in your defensive abilities. And it is hard to be composed and fight back, or to retreat and counter when the air is full of gloves and you're uncertain about how to handle them. Of course, the easiest way is to side-step, move and stay out of range, and your footwork is hurting you there. Have you made any progress with that since the last time?
If it is at all possible, try to spar a round where you don't throw punches. Get your sparring partner to press you and throw a lot at you (not with the intent of maiming you, just to give you work), and avoid him. Use your legs (fix your feet!), block, slip, parry etc..Spar another round where you avoid punches and counter with your front hand, then another with your rear hand.
And you can always work on your infighting skills but, honestly, to punch in close effectively you'll need to really, really improve your balance and footwork.

Thanks again grey for tips, I'll try that in sparring next time. I think my footwork has improved, not massively but its coming along. I had another bout saturday, stopped him in second round, he was poor but he was tall and I had to move in and out which is something I always struggle with ( I struggle fighting taller people in general ) If you would like to see the video Ill upload it and you can have a watch.

I'd like to see it.

PM'd you with link grey

From what understand you can't stand your ground and you don't know how to retreat. Against pressure figter this is the worst combination. Normally you'll get straight when you are backing up and end up in this posture on the ropes. From there you don't have any shots, defensive moves and your chin is up...
My sugestion for you is to go back to basics! Get your weight on your back leg. This will enable you to move and this will give you a powerfull jab! When you have your weight back there you can ram it and with all the weight of your body muliplied with some speed this results in a weapon! Initiate your punches from 20 30 sm out of your reach. You can do it easy now with your weight back there. If he tries to rush you just ram him. Now you will have double the power! If he is good in evading ram him in the chest and clinch him You can move the head but the chests are pretty stationary target.
Some basic advices for defense against wild amatiors that are working good for me.
First they are 2 types.
The first one are loading on the left hand. This means they are on the front left leg. Hey how will this one hit you? He can't move this means that he has no distance! You can ram him with the jab all day long and when you manuvers him on your right leg give him some from the right medicine Here you must watch out thet he slips to the inside and hits you with a left hook. So you must keep your right hand to place! Here i asume that you are orthodox. For the southpows is the same! Watch Óscar de la Hoya vs Bernard Hopkins. I will name it: Mexican punching back goes to school!
The socond type are the ones that are loading on the right hand. Go with the head to your own right off the center like Joe Louis for example. Now you have increased the distance and because of the angle you don't give your oponend a solid target. Combined with the weight back there and you are pretty safe. Just watch not to square with him with your hands down because than you can get tagged with right crosses. If you are southpol i have question for you. How can he hit you from such a distance? If he can than something with your basics has gone pretty wrong.
Than the backing up! You must not go backwards and going streight up. You must take your head with your bag leg and load even more on your back leg. Now if he wants to rush you with wild punches, you can give him such a power punch that he will never forget or you can ram him with the jab!
Last idea or more like advice. Be careful when you go to the sides. Now you are going into his power punches. Watch the good oldtimers. Why do they not run around? Because they don't have "foot work " or because they know what are they doing? Jumping around is made for small girls and when you are pressured this is one of the worst things that you can do! Be a man and duck'em
I strongly recommed the videos of Kenny Weldon! There are so many good stuff aboud basics in this videos and are explaind really simple! Watch the videos and than watch Holyfield!

Do you have a trainer? If so, seek the opinion of another trainer. I agree with others in guessing that your footwork and tactical ability need some work. A good trainer will teach you to turn this to your advantage. A good tactical fighter will move in such fashion to allow the aggressive fighter to expend his energy and strength and gain very little. You, on the other hand, should be taught to closely watch a fighter like that and pick the right moment to throw your punches and where to place them. I recall sitting ringside during the Lewis-Tyson fight and watching Iron Mike come charging out like a bull during the first couple of rounds. Lewis seemed to hold back and you could immediately see he was a tactical fighter the way he moved around and let Tyson expend his energy.