More on head movement

Hi to my boxing buddies across the globe.Â

I'm 5'4, weighing about 9stone 10(about 135lb for my US friends) on average, I can just get down to 9stone 8 which would class me as a Lightweight, but I have been boxing for a year now and sure to start bulking up more as I start to work harder and harder, which means I will fall into Light Welter-Weight, which is about 3 weight classes above what i should be for my height, but this does not really bother me as I cant help my height and my weight, but I just wondered how other people cope with often fighting taller, long arm opponents, and if they train on anything imparticular. Like i say I am not bothered because I've seen Tyson take out people 5 or so inches taller than him, and Ricky Hatton is not the tallest for his category.

My training on a Mon, Wed, Fri consists of Bag work; Skipping; Circuit; sometimes sparring; and now I have been working on my movement around the ring, trying to speed up my footwork, with the aim of avoiding those long lanky arms. On Tues and Thurs I do a bit of bag work and 3 mile run witha total of 10 sprints.Â

So how does that training sound??? anyone got any thing else they think i should add, and like i said any advice for my lack of height.

At the moment, I just want to emulate Tyson's style, I watch his DVD almost every day; he was legend

P.S
reason I am heavy for my weight is that i have played a lot of soccer over the years which has left me with big thighs and calfs

You're just gonna have to work on your bobbing and weaving, catching shots on your hands and parrying... everything it takes to get inside. You might want to work on some counter punching as well.

If you don't get really good at the above you're gonna be in trouble as people like you are my favourite (if they can't move) as I am 5'9.5 and 140lbs.

If you see tyson when he was in his prime, he moved side to side really fast while moving forward.

ya man work your foot work like mad learn to dodge and slip punches. good luck with it all.

A couple ideas that may help out. This is so important that it must go first: Ever since Tyson was tearing it up, "head movement" is the mantra of short fighters in particular, every one in general. All over you see fighters throwing short bursts of punches, then quickly moving their head left (@4") then back right (@8") then doing it again while the trainer beams. That is not head movement. You need to move at least the width of a glove for god's sake! The most important thnfg you'll need to know is how to slip/ counter/move inside. Do not ever practice slipping without also practicing countering as well; there is no point if you don't punch when you slip. Also learn to push off pf you r rear foot -like in fencing- and to coordinate your left foot/hand. Don't duck by leaning forward but by bending your knees ad transfering your weight. Stay low and counter ver the top when he jabs down at you, and he will. If you are interested I have some pretty good drills/combos that I could post but I'm noticing that I'm being told i HAVE TO GO INSIDE, PLAY TIME IS OVER :-[

i got the opposite problem to u i 5 ft 9 but only just over 8 stone which puts me in for super flyweight but i cnt put weight on no matter wot

bro... im 5'8'' and 200 LBS!!! im a very short cruiser wght :-X

Man im like exactly the same, played soccer, built strong legs from that. Same height and weight nearly, but one thing that sets me apart from you is that see my height as an advantage, no matter how tall, 6'2 is my biggest sparring partner, youre there to win, use your style of boxing. Ripping to the body works best for me.

I'm 5FT 8" and weigh 147lbs (Welter weight) and I'm one of the shortest in the gym I train in. In sparring I always end up chewing a few punchs when I get in close but I'm getting better, work on your footwork, slipping and timing. I usually wait for my opponent to over commit his jab and then try to duck under and get inside, once I'm inside I let a barrage of punchs go and then let a final jab loose as I duck and pull out again.

Being shorter is both a blessing and a curse but working alot on your defence and parrying will mean the difference from eating a few shots on the way in and getting in clean.

When you are in a position to always have to go into your rival you are in an unenviable spot; knowing you are going to take punches no matter what. (by the way. 5'8" is about perfect for a welterweight) The key to the whole thing is to always be a counterpuncher. Going forward straightaway will find you facing an opponent waiting for you, both hands ready. But you study him early on and wok off his jab, if he commits (ie steps with it) to it. Or ride the jab up and out off the crown of your head-lean in to make him think he got a bit of you- to make him throw the right. Then slip or whatever but work poff of that. Its in being smart- always be thinking 'what is he trying to do to me'- and in never being in range. Just barely out of reach, pressing him, to make him punch, but so that you can evade it and counter.

Thanks for the advice greynotsoold, I'll have to put that into practice when I next spar at the gym. I've always preferred either waiting for my opponent to commit first and work off his mistakes or coming in at an angle, normally I try to side step right and get in low near his leftside of his body so I can use my right hook while keeping my left hand up protecting my head.

You made an interesting point that I've overlooked many times in the gym, I dont watch my opponents feet that much, what you have said about watching your rival setpping in with the jab I will have to put to use! I thought that I was quite short to be a welter weight but thanks for the encouragement, I originally dropped down from 189lbs (13 stone) to 147lbs (10 stone 7) as I was carrying a bit of belly fat. Dropping down into the welter weight division has given me greater speed moving my body and legs but keeping the power I had at 13 stone. The body is willing but the mind still needs teaching.