The key thing is the range, keeping it at the distance you want to fight at. And when you aren't ready to be fighting stay out of range- it will really reduce the number of punches you take. The other point is that there are three pretty damn safe places in a boxing ring: far enough away that he can't hit you, outside his lead arm, and in tight head and shoulder (left) on his chest and the right held high.
That's also well worth noting; turning him away from his lead foot and baiting him until he opens up on a turn allowing you to (1) turn back on a punch with your full wt meeting his full wt and (2) capture the inside punching position.