Quote Originally Posted by Gocougars3 View Post
Quote Originally Posted by greynotsoold View Post
I don't think that I am following...In my mind, you are either in or out of punching range, and it is best not to hang around in range. If my understanding is correct, then he is adept at staying out of range, then moving in quickly, punching well, and getting out.That is exactly what you are supposed to do. Hanging around in between is just asking to get pot-shotted.
Now, is he good at closing to the correct distance to punch effectively? Or does he get too close and smother himself? Does he punch from too far away?
You are following and your phrasing helped me think about it a little differently. I think he is not putting his punches together when he is mid range so he is often just getting off a shot or 2 at that distance and and then he gets out pretty quickly. I think he ultimately wants to work from close range, which is where is most comfortable. Some times he is so anxious to get close he does smother himself. He punches his way in, kind of over runs his combinations. He expends a lot of energy in clinches and I think he tends to be a little to easy to grab. He constantly complains when guys hold him in sparring (which everyone of course does).
It sounds like it may just be a matter of experience, as far as knowing range/distance. Also, the things he does to get inside...I think you have to know what they're worth. You slide in behind the jab, or slip a punch to get inside, it might only lead to one or two punches, then it is time to get out. Not to stand in hoping for more, getting tied up and wasting energy in clinches. Just to make the initial move, be sure of the initial counter, throw the punch behind it, change the angle and start again.
At his stage- 4 fights?- I would be looking to make sure that he is sharp at those initial slip and counters (maybe a couple punches) then getting out. Then build on it, throwing more punches when it is natural to him to land that first one, then change the angle, then look for more. Tell those guys to keep holding him in sparring. He'll learn that there are ways of dealing with that- first and foremost being to land something on the way in and then move and make him turn.
Last, watch him train, hitting the heavy bag and the mitts. If he is falling in a lot and smothering himself sparring, he's doing it there too. That is something that is easy to correct in the ring with the mitts, you just have to break those moves down and really watch his feet.