Improve my jab against tall fast counter puncher?

[mozilla2004]

I use to train a lot in gyms and have a couple amateur fights. These days, I like sparring friends for fun, and just appreciate the art of boxing.

I have a friend who just learns for fun, and I like using him as a training partner outdoors. We've been sparring about once a week for the past 3-4 years. Lately, I wanted to improve my jab. Although I use it a lot against fighters my height+reach, I tend to not use it as much against taller fighters. The friend I mentioned is tall, fast, counter puncher, likes to run AND he knows me well and how I move. In the past, I just have to close the distance, cut off the ring (aka parking lot), and go to work. But lately, I wanted to be more "technical" and more of a "boxer". I wanted to use my jabs more and work my way in, instead of brute force rushing him.

However, it isn't working. My friend sees me coming in, I'm telegraphing too much, and he's not afraid of my other shots because he knows I'm not going to use them much. So he just tees off on me the moment I try to make a move. He sees my feints, pumps, and knows when I'm actually going to commit.

I watch Mayweather Jr. and I'm impressed by how easy he can land that jab on people. It's like he can win a fight with just the jab. How does he do it? Is it timing? Intellgience? Knowing where to be?

Is there some fighter I can study, some videos I can watch, to help me better understand how to improve my jab?

Here's a video of me and him when I CAN use all my punches. I'm in white gloves, my friend in red, and you'll notice that he will be more gun shy, but towards the end, he lets his hands fly.


I'll try to upload something from my training yesterday, where I was using predominantly jabs. Video to come soon.

[mozilla2004]

and here's me when i told my friend i'm mostly jabbing



I could never close the distance, and when i was close I would be at the end of his punches.

[Master]

Great jab's you should see Mike McCallum different speed, timing, setting up, blocking with it.

Are you southpaw?

[mozilla2004]

Great jab's you should see Mike McCallum different speed, timing, setting up, blocking with it.

Are you southpaw?

Ok thanks, I'll study McCallum's fights.

For me, I'm naturally orthodox, but have trained a lot south paw. My coach trained us to be switch hitter. For me, my footwork is much better as a south paw. I'm more mobile as a southpaw and faster. I'm better as an orthodox while fighting on the inside.

[Master]

You seem better fighting southpaw, more natural and slick.

Crawford would be a good style for you to watch and learn.

Best southpaw jabs would be Sweet Pea and Zab Judah.

[StrictlySP]

Hi Mozilla,
The recommendations previously given are good ones and you should study them. Adding my two cents into the mix, I'd also recommend watching Mike Tyson, pre-Buster Douglas defeat, and study his footwork, head movements, feints, set-ups, and jab timings.

From watching your videos, here are some specific recommendations I have based on my observations:
1. Incorporate jabs and straight left hands to the body into the mix. Randomly vary this with jab feints to the head and to the body and take note of his reactions so as to get his timing and rhythm down so you can time him and take advantage of his tendencies.
2. When you implement the above, be mindful about not being too linear movement-minded when doing so (which you have a tendency to do). Randomly but strategically vary your linear movements with lateral and circular footwork to be more unpredictable.
3. Step in more with your jabs (with an exception when you are countering with a jab off the back foot). You often appear to just flick them out there mindlessly. Put more purpose and commitment into them.
4. Break the tendency to follow your opponent around. Cut him off more, intercepting and disrupting his movements instead.

Anyway, hope this helps you out a bit...

Take Care,
Lito