left hand low- more effective and more versatile

[greynotsoold]

Here's the thing, for me any way, and I think that a review of old fights and fighters will bear this out.
To do effective body work you don't have to work the body constantly for 5 rounds, exposing yourself to counters etc...Gene Tunney, in his time, was considered a very very effective body puncher because of his straight right to the heart and/or solar plexus and his hook to the body. These days a "good bodypuncher" throws that hook to the side over and over again. But consider the value of a stiff jab to the solar plexus, or the straight right to the heart. The left hook to the heart or solar plexus, the right uppercut to the bottom rib on the right side...These are very effective and relatively safe.
But my point is this. Properly set up and executed one body blow can do the work of round after round of flailing. For perspective. In a streetfight, hands break on heads, that big bone vs. little bone mismatch and very few really experienced fighters- like in the pen, etc..- start off at the head. A quick blow to the chest robs your opponent of breath for the duration of the fight. Once, in my experience, there was a fight in very close quarters and, while one guy won through the use of a "foreign object" the other guy was layed up for nearly three days from two very hard body punches. Pick your shots in others words. Then learn how to punch hard at the opening you have created and one or two body shots can make a tremendous difference in a 3 round fight.

[Zelley]

the important hand to keep close to the chin is the right hand
for defense and leverage, but for the left hand for orthodox
boxers there is no right or wrong position as long as
you are aware of the risks.

The classic counter for the low left hand is to follow the opponents left jab
back with the right hand - it then becomes the game of timing and speed.

If a boxer trains with his left low, it is only a matter of time
when you get caught cold with a right hand and if you are bringing it back
- tough to be in position to avoid the right.

Versatility is important, and at times dropping the left is good
if you know what you are doing and have the speed.
Sometimes dropping the left hand can draw the opponents right hand,
but you need to have a flexible plan to deal with the right.

In summary, there are no cast in concrete styles, but for the novice
-do not try to be cute before learning the skills or there will be
a heavy price to pay with some slick fast and smart puncher
bouncing sizzling shots off of your badly exposed "thick" skull.