Should taller fighters throw Overhand Rights? Why or why not?

I've been wondering about whether or not taller fighters should use the Overhand Right when boxing. I know for a fact that the Overhand Right is a VERY powerful tool that combines the motions of a hook and a cross together in one, fluid motion. The typical target of the Overhand Right is the temple on the head, a key K.O. region when hit properly. I know a lot of shorter fighters use it on taller boxers, because the taller boxers usually never see it coming. It would be diffucult for a shorter boxer to throw a straight Cross upwards, which decreases the power.

However, I wonder if the Overhand Right is a good punch for taller fighters. Taller fighter typically do well with the Cross, but I wonder if the Overhand right is well suited to the taller fighter. That's my question, which is more effective for a taller fighter, the straight Cross or the Overhand right, and why you believe so. Thanks!

You cant generelise but it was Lenox Lewis best punch after his jab in my opnion but it depends on the fighter you have to be comfoatable with a shot for it to work and if you are comforatable tsll or short it will work bacause you will adapt and make it work
I am only 5'11 and i weigh 240lbs and my jab is one of my best punches that defeys logic cause i am so short for a heavyweight but i make i work cause i am comforatabe with the shot.
So i believe there is no yes or no to this question it depends on the fighter

No
Its a waste of energy,waste of defense shot for a signifigantly taller fighter to throw.
A tight cross is fine.But a looping overhand cross is a waste of your time and energy. Admit ably it only has to land once,but you take too much damage in the course of setting it up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

No
Its a waste of energy,waste of defense shot for a signifigantly taller fighter to throw.
A tight cross is fine.But a looping overhand cross is a waste of your time and energy. Admit ably it only has to land once,but you take too much damage in the course of setting it up.

---

I have to disagree it depends on how comforatable the fighter is with the shot as i said go onto you tube are look at lennox lewis highlights it was a devastating shot in the later rounds or against a fighter that was worn down he just used it when he felt it was safe and there would be no come back

I think it works great against a shorter fighter, especially when you start timing their jab. The movement knocks their jab off course and allows your overhand right to connect perfectly as they walk in, does some great damage.

This is a punch I use often, and especially against a slightly shorter fighter. And exactly as Salty describes.

I basically try to pin a guy in the corner applying pressure, then wait and watch his feet or legs for a balance shift, signally he`s making a move out punch...then just release. He is usually throwing a left...but sometimes a right. Either way..I basically just unload an overhand right, or straight right as soon as I notice the shift in weight beginning.

exactly as i said mate it depends on the fighter but i would not discount it unless i had to

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I think it works great against a shorter fighter, especially when you start timing their jab. The movement knocks their jab off course and allows your overhand right to connect perfectly as they walk in, does some great damage.

---

The question was based in a way that asked,"Whats the hard fast rule" and thats the hard fast rule,the shorter guy needs a bit more oomph on his punch.
But its a major energy wasting punch, and leaves you screamingly open when you throw it.For the taller fighter,your better off with a nice tight cross instead of the looping cross. Just because Lennox Lewis got away with it,doesnt mean you will
Theres a reason he's Lennox Lewis, and your not
I dont use Ali fights for training purposes, for the same reason, Ali could do things that most fighters couldnt even conceive of getting away with. I love watching his fights, but their worthless for training purposes

Would you tell a fighter not to throw a jab because he could not throw it as fast as ali of course not, i was hardly comparing anyone in the forum to lenox lewis i was giving you a example of this punch being used by a taller fighter he is not the only one both the Klichkos use it as well, what all the guys here are saying is simple that it is an effective shot but should be used sparingly and should not be discounted as there is no rule so to speak about any punch they all have a time and a place the right cross is more effective because the chances of a counter are smaller but overhand has its place when you have a man in trouble

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrodub

Would you tell a fighter not to throw a jab because he could not throw it as fast as ali of course not, i was hardly comparing anyone in the forum to lenox lewis i was giving you a example of this punch being used by a taller fighter he is not the only one both the Klichkos use it as well, what all the guys here are saying is simple that it is an effective shot but should be used sparingly and should not be discounted as there is no rule so to speak about any punch they all have a time and a place the right cross is more effective because the chances of a counter are smaller but overhand has its place when you have a man in trouble

---

The big overhand right is an energy waster,I hate a double up style and I hate a pawing jab,it doesnt mean some guys cant get away with it, but I wouldnt bet your the one who can. It was a hard fast rule question. And the hard fast rule, is dont do it if your the taller fighter,I explained, its a waste of both defense and energy for a taller fighter. Its simple force ratio, you have to exude more force to get the shot going. You get tired late in a round throwing those things. And your wide open the entire time. So for a taller fighter, it makes more logical sense to throw a tight cross rather then a big overhand one. Most of the big guys who throw big overs,spend alot of time picking their shots rather then barraging

Well all along i have said it is a shot to be used sparingly,when the man is worn down,or a finisher, so if a fighter uses the shot the way i said he will not waste energy if he goes wading in with any punch he will get tired.
You have said i leaves you open well if a fighter complety discounts the shot when he has a man hurt he runs the risk of letting the other guy off the hook and posibly losing a fight he could have finished with a nice placed overhand right.That seems silly to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrodub

Well all along i have said it is a shot to be used sparingly,when the man is worn down,or a finisher, so if a fighter uses the shot the way i said he will not waste energy if he goes wading in with any punch he will get tired.
You have said i leaves you open well if a fighter complety discounts the shot when he has a man hurt he runs the risk of letting the other guy off the hook and posibly losing a fight he could have finished with a nice placed overhand right.That seems silly to me.

---

You slip it,jab, then hook to the body,, and step out, you can do it all night against a taller fighter who's throwing a looping cross.
Its just very bad tactics

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrodub

Well all along i have said it is a shot to be used sparingly,when the man is worn down,or a finisher, so if a fighter uses the shot the way i said he will not waste energy if he goes wading in with any punch he will get tired.
You have said i leaves you open well if a fighter complety discounts the shot when he has a man hurt he runs the risk of letting the other guy off the hook and posibly losing a fight he could have finished with a nice placed overhand right.That seems silly to me.

---

Your not thinking about a very nice overhand right,what was described in the first post is an over extended overhand right.
A nice tight cross,sure,go for it, the cross described in the lead post is over extended. Theres no point to a taller fighter throwing that shot.

I am not talking about throwing it all night i am talking about using it against a worn down opponant or to finish off a man i have said this over and over.
In the oriniganl post he asked about an overhand right so i am not sure what you mean in your last post Trainer Monkey will you post again please because i dont understand thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrodub

I am not talking about throwing it all night i am talking about using it against a worn down opponant or to finish off a man i have said this over and over.
In the oriniganl post he asked about an overhand right so i am not sure what you mean in your last post Trainer Monkey will you post again please because i dont understand thanks

---

Yup...it's the shot you want to take em down with...or atleast put a nice dent in the armour.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrodub

I am not talking about throwing it all night i am talking about using it against a worn down opponant or to finish off a man i have said this over and over.
In the oriniganl post he asked about an overhand right so i am not sure what you mean in your last post Trainer Monkey will you post again please because i dont understand thanks

---

It feels so good in the ring, guys tend to over use it.
But since it lands so rarely, your blowing your steam
I mean if its wide screaming open, you take the shot thats available, but really thats a shot if your the taller fighter you get like every 3rd fight at best, so its not a good shot to concentrate on. But guys will fall in love with it, and get their selves in to trouble for it, because it feels like Christmas Morning when you land it. Ive seen way too many fighters gas out, or get popped when they didnt need to because of that looping overhand cross, Id rather see the tight cross, if you put your hips behind a tight cross, you dont need that big looping mess of a punch. Theres just no point to that punch,except requesting to get countered, and requesting to be tired by the second round. I mean maybe as a finisher for a guy the ref should have stopped a minute earlier,but thats all it is.
It looks good on camera,but it isnt good buisness

I hear what your saying so maybe the issue is not the shot but the disipline about when to use it.As for it being useless the last three heavyweight champs would disagree;D

Done properly with good Technique, its one of the Best Shots there is in certain situations.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrodub

I hear what your saying so maybe the issue is not the shot but the disipline about when to use it.As for it being useless the last three heavyweight champs would disagree;D

---

Bingo,that was what I was going for,it gets overused so often its sad. You should only be throwing that punch maybe once or twice in a fight

I get told to throw it after every body rip or uppercut, seems to land pretty often when I throw it. Although I really do not throw it with a large loop, rather just bring my elbow out a lot earlier than a normal straight right.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I get told to throw it after every body rip or uppercut, seems to land pretty often when I throw it. Although I really do not throw it with a large loop, rather just bring my elbow out a lot earlier than a normal straight right.

---

If you check my posts, theres a difference between a tight overhand cross,and a big looping overhand cross. In all honesty, the mechanics of both shots are so different, they should be considered different punches. One is a quick snap and drive, the other is more like throwing a baseball

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I get told to throw it after every body rip or uppercut, seems to land pretty often when I throw it. Although I really do not throw it with a large loop, rather just bring my elbow out a lot earlier than a normal straight right.

---

If you check my posts, theres a difference between a tight overhand cross,and a big looping overhand cross. In all honesty, the mechanics of both shots are so different, they should be considered different punches. One is a quick snap and drive, the other is more like throwing a baseball

---

Like the windmill punch? No one should ever throw a windmill, ever.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I get told to throw it after every body rip or uppercut, seems to land pretty often when I throw it. Although I really do not throw it with a large loop, rather just bring my elbow out a lot earlier than a normal straight right.

---

If you check my posts, theres a difference between a tight overhand cross,and a big looping overhand cross. In all honesty, the mechanics of both shots are so different, they should be considered different punches. One is a quick snap and drive, the other is more like throwing a baseball

---

Like the windmill punch? No one should ever throw a windmill, ever.

---

While I dont teach it,and heavily discourage it, some guys can time it well enough to get away with it,and be effective with it.
I dont feel as vehemently about that punch as I do about a pawing jab, but I sure as heck dont like the risk/reward ratio on it for a taller guy.
A pawing jab on the other hand, everybody in my gym knows that if I so much as see one,Ill kill you myself

hahaha, so what exactly do you mean by a pawing jab?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

hahaha, so what exactly do you mean by a pawing jab?

---

That little tentative paw out to try and find range. I bark that order constantly, if your going to throw it,throw it. Its not even a real jab its just thrown from a jab position,Tarver throws the thing constantly, Part of why Hopkins whupped his ass is because he thwarted it by punching Tarvers hand every time he did it. Everybody who's ever trained here, knows I loathe that b-s. If you throw your arm past your body, you might as well have some mustard on it. I have never seen the point of it, its easy to thwart.
Thus the rule of the gym,I see one,I kill you myself

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I think it works great against a shorter fighter, especially when you start timing their jab. The movement knocks their jab off course and allows your overhand right to connect perfectly as they walk in, does some great damage.

---

What your saying isnt a looping shot though is it?

For a big bloke to use it against a short bloke, an angled fist with elbow down as in a straight shot over the top of their jab from over the top of their elbow point can do that nicley with less of an opening left.

The overhand bomb leaves alot of space as its a looping shot over their bicep or shoulder , I think its better suited to if you have ducked and gone under the arm; or switched feet and threw over the top of what was comming at you as you switched, or pin the jab or even knock the jab with your lead and come over it with your rear arm (like Kt would do ,measure with the ariel and then come over it or through it once it had covered his intention.) All suited more to the same size opponents or shorter or for fighters with flexable legs who can roll, move and shoot in one action.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andre

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I think it works great against a shorter fighter, especially when you start timing their jab. The movement knocks their jab off course and allows your overhand right to connect perfectly as they walk in, does some great damage.

---

What your saying isnt a looping shot though is it?

For a big bloke to use it against a short bloke, an angled fist with elbow down as in a straight shot over the top of their jab from over the top of their elbow point can do that nicley with less of an opening left.

The overhand bomb leaves alot of space as its a looping shot over their bicep or shoulder , I think its better suited to if you have ducked and gone under the arm; or switched feet and threw over the top of what was comming at you as you switched, or pin the jab or even knock the jab with your lead and come over it with your rear arm (like Kt would do ,measure with the ariel and then come over it or through it once it had covered his intention.) All suited more to the same size opponents or shorter or for fighters with flexable legs who can roll, move and shoot in one action.

---

I remember seeing a clip of Pac doing something like this. He rolled under a left hook while throwing his overhand left and stepping out to the right. Was an awesome maneuver, but I doubt many people if anyone could pull it off regularly.

I should have read the posts better, but thats what I was taught was an overhand right, so just assumed that what he was talking about.

Im not sure whats ment either, to be honest mate; but overhand right has me thinking about a looping shot over an arm.
Pac does some great things on the move,I think I've seen that one you mention.
Roy when he ko'd (Glen ?) that time with his hands behind his back,duck and move and then swipe to the temple ,was a simular type of move but very extended and in longer stages.
Great finish anyway,as are most shots that unexpectantly rise up over a shot that already been throw and missed it target cause they are still comming at the stage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andre

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty

I think it works great against a shorter fighter, especially when you start timing their jab. The movement knocks their jab off course and allows your overhand right to connect perfectly as they walk in, does some great damage.

---

What your saying isnt a looping shot though is it?

For a big bloke to use it against a short bloke, an angled fist with elbow down as in a straight shot over the top of their jab from over the top of their elbow point can do that nicley with less of an opening left.

The overhand bomb leaves alot of space as its a looping shot over their bicep or shoulder , I think its better suited to if you have ducked and gone under the arm; or switched feet and threw over the top of what was comming at you as you switched, or pin the jab or even knock the jab with your lead and come over it with your rear arm (like Kt would do ,measure with the ariel and then come over it or through it once it had covered his intention.) All suited more to the same size opponents or shorter or for fighters with flexable legs who can roll, move and shoot in one action.

---

Me and Andre are on the same page here, but Im going to add again, the tendency to overuse the looper. On the rare occasions it lands(Ive thrown it,everyone has at some point) it feels swwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeettttttttt.
And once something gets good to a boxer its hard to get them to go with their own self preservation over their animal instincts. The animal says, "It felt good to drill someone that hard in combat" your brain should be saying "You know,I got really lucky throwing that stupid punch"
Once it lands for you for the first time, it feels so good, your going to want to do it again.
One of the things in any form of combat,is to tell yourself, "Its a great story, but remember to never do that again"
An illustration using the medieval combat I used to do.
Its crown tourney
I pull a fight with one of the best fighters the SCA has ever seen.
I take a point of honor against him (Id technically wounded him so he went to his knees because of a legal blow to the legs) so I wounded myself to end up on my knees with him.i.e taking a point of honor
I hear him say in no uncertain words ,"You arrogant son of a bitch"
I got him on one of his own shots,I cocked my shield and did a thrust shot from behind it,even he was suprised.
If you knew the SCA, that would be a great story. But I dont think Id ever try that again, because if you replayed the scenario 10 more times,I get smoked 10 for 10 trying that.
Yeah it worked that day, but I had the common sense to not even try that routine again, it was just a stupid lucky shot
Ive had the looping overhand cross land for me in the ring,and while it makes for a great story,I wouldnt make my bread and butter off it. Because 10 of 10 the rest of the time you get your ass handed to you for even trying it.

And because posts like this makes Ices head hurt,bro, look up the Society For Creative Anachronisms and it will make a little more sense. I did that for a very long time, and even bring techniques in from it to get my fighters moving their hips better,and it almost allways works, guys will go from hitting like girls to taking peoples heads off almost over night

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andre

Im not sure whats ment either, to be honest mate; but overhand right has me thinking about a looping shot over an arm.
Pac does some great things on the move,I think I've seen that one you mention.
Roy when he ko'd (Glen ?) that time with his hands behind his back,duck and move and then swipe to the temple ,was a simular type of move but very extended and in longer stages.
Great finish anyway,as are most shots that unexpectantly rise up over a shot that already been throw and missed it target cause they are still comming at the stage.

---

Theres a crisp cross, and then theres the windmill overhand,it read to me that the original poster meant the windmill overhand,I mean maybe I got it wrong, but it was how it read to me

If anyone is not sure what the puch is watch any Lennox lewis KO highlight reel it was his finisher

Dont use overhand if you are tall. its spend to much energy and its easy to counterpunch