Quote Originally Posted by ProdigalSon2007
Wow, so many little details to in-fighting. Is it normal for a beginner to be more of a brawler-puncher type rather than a typical in/out-fighter?
Most beginners throw their punches like they're slamming a door. The thing about in-fighting is that it takes a lot of skill to get into the inside position and it takes even more skill to stay there.

I guess the big difference here is that the master boxer who can fight on the inside and the outside, understands the moves thoroughly and the different conditions that have to take place to make them work. Therefore they can then focus more on their opponent, what are their limitations, and what are yours in each situation. Then you can think about the consequences and what will happen after either you or him move.

A skilled fighter can stack the deck so to speak by using their defense to set up opportunies for their offense, this allows them to reduce their opponents probable actions and/or responces and therefore put themselves in situations that leads up to the situations that they know inside and out. There are certain moves and techniques that potentially and/or naturally will flow into other moves. The expert has sharp observation skills that go in hand with the foreshadowing of these techniques all of which comes from their vast experience of sparring/fighting along with their own thoughts and observations. I know this kind of stuff will go over most boxer's heads but there's things that you neet to work on if you want to improve.

Start building on different situations that you'll typically find yourself in. Learn what the different punches and moves are and what the typical responses are to them. In sparring try to observe different ways that your opponent tips off his punches, you'll want to pick out little things first instead of trying to get it all in so that you won't become overwhelmed. The faster you know what your opponent is going to do the faster you can respond. Look at yourself, your movement's your stance etc. and for a change of perspective see yourself as an opponent looking at you. How does your stance affect the way that you fight, what are the advantages and disadvantage of it. You'll need more understanding so try to put yourself in the shoes of another fighter and seek out the reasons that they did it. The techniques are all out their in books, in fights, in people you have to look for them and then you have to break each technique down as if you were rebuilding an engine. When you working on a new move think about how you would set it up, where your body is going to have to be, what conditions have to take place in order for you to pull it off.

Just a word to the wise, don't work on any general aspect as a whole, break it down into little pieces that are easier for you to tackle. I don't think for one moment that it's natural talent that makes the fighter. Most of the great fighters had to learn a great deal of it on their own, perhaps it's their willingless to learn and asking the right questions along with the courage to keep going at it despite bloody noses, headaches and getting knocked on their asses.

Mastering boxing as with any technical endeavor is about learning in pieces. It takes courage and determination to succeed at boxing when it's like huge disassembled jigsaw puzzle infront of you, and it's up to you to put together the pieces.