Like everyone has mentioned, attacking should be your main focus, which really entices your opponent to open up SO you can counterpunch.

There's so many advantages if you're a good counterpunching, but perhaps more than anything is the fact that you can effectively control your opponent. It makes him more reluctant to throw punches.

Mayweather is not the hardest hitter, but every single one of his opponents usual work rate drops because they know they could get tagged.

If you're interested, you can learn more about how to counterpunch here.