Fighting outside, inside and mid range and holding

[Gocougars3]

A fighter I work with a smaller light heavyweight (6 foot tall but good reach, southpaw); hits hard. He is a natural "in fighter". He moves very well on the outside and is very good a catching and countering inside. The worst part of his game is moving from outside to mid-range (in the pocket but at the end of his punches). He kind of explodes on you, gets inside and then (hopefully) bumps back so he can let his power shots go. Creeping in is just not something he seems to be able to master. We worked on it last fight and he moved great but lost his identity as a fighter. So he can go from outside to close in and from close in to mid range or back outside but is lacking at going from out of range to mid range.

Here are my questions. Does anyone come to mind that fought an outside, inside style but didn't transition well from outside to mid range? Does this have to be overcome to become world class ?(he has a chance to get there). Once he gets inside he needs to avoid getting held, too much work to get there to just get held and have the ref break you up.

[Andre]

So he is over committing and gets read easily? Once he is over committed he gets timed backing out trying to find his range?

[Gocougars3]

So he is over committing and gets read easily? Once he is over committed he gets timed backing out trying to find his range?

No, he doesn't get read well when he explodes and he never gets hit backing out. We are concerned that perimeter sticking and moving in combination with tough inside fighting might not be enough for the top guys. We talked about it today again. I think the main problem is that he isn't comfortable getting off first at mid range. Maybe a good compromise is that he tries to draw fire and counter at mid range (he is very solid at countering).

[Andre]

So he is over committing and gets read easily? Once he is over committed he gets timed backing out trying to find his range?

No, he doesn't get read well when he explodes and he never gets hit backing out. We are concerned that perimeter sticking and moving in combination with tough inside fighting might not be enough for the top guys. We talked about it today again. I think the main problem is that he isn't comfortable getting off first at mid range. Maybe a good compromise is that he tries to draw fire and counter at mid range (he is very solid at countering).

Yeah sounds good for him.

Could get him to really get to know distances and their limits by teaching him interruption of the opponents movements. EG: If his glove touched their elbow or either side and inch or two would that be at his optimum range? Cause if he deals with their arms just outside of the distance he prefers to throw from, then he can interrupt their arm movement, adjust and fire.

[Andre]

Looking forwards to Grey and Scraps answers on this one. Probably adjusting body lean/angle .

[Gocougars3]

Looking forwards to Grey and Scraps answers on this one. Probably adjusting body lean/angle .

Yeah, the more input the better. I have been impressed by the quality of the advice in this forum.

I think your comments are on target. I have watched fight progressions (consecutively) of Frazier, Ali, Johnny Tapia, Floyd Patterson, Michael Carbajal (I know it's a weird mix) but one thing I always notice is how much better fighters learn to control their spacing over the course of their careers (particularly over their first 12-15 fights). My guy is 4(3)-0 as a pro. He has limited amateurs but I think amateur and pro spacing is quite different.

[Gocougars3]

One other thing, he is a "weight back" fighter but you can't talk me out of that style.

[Scrap]

So is this guy got the expieriance on you . how long you been Boxing.

[Scrap]

Are you Orthadox or Southpaw.

[Gocougars3]

Are you Orthadox or Southpaw.

I don't train him, I manage him. He has had some good training during the past 2 years (including a guy that trained a prominent southpaw); before that he trained hard but his trainers came and went. He was not a big amateur so he is playing catch up.

[Scrap]

Now this is something that works, get a fitball. Pump it halffull then sit on it. Taking the feet of the floor shadow Box, all little movements. At 1st He will fall off, keep doing it, it will get him use to Balanced movement, plus it does wonders for the core and speed of movement, thats a given