Left hook vertical or horizontal fist?>

[Lord Harris]

Straight from Dempseys book. If you need a link to this btw feel free although I believe its on here.

Thatys very interesing LH but, i really have issues with the theory.
The theory is based upon a foundation of the stance being "heels together."
Obviously the stance would be altered for fighting and in doing so would the "powerline," not be altered??

Good point hitmandonny, Dempseys wording seems a little archaic now probably better described as a three knuckle landing, as opposed to a power line. Try it, arms length from wall in the fighting stance, with the vertical then horizontal. I mean guys, its whatever conveys most power efficently to yourselves, i have short hooking/uppercutting arms so need all the power I can get in my jabs. I did experiment with turning my jab over the way you should turn a straight right (from vertical on leaving your shoulder to diagonally down on impact) I found this good also.

I'm not discrediting the idea by any means, i'm interested and i will try it at Training.
As for "turning," the jab i have noticed fighters such as Bernard Hopkins doing this when on the defensive, they wish to put some spite behind the jab to discourage advancing opponents.
As regards this topic, iv actually looked back on some old boxing pictorials and books i have. In most of boxings origin and manuals from the early days i can see that the fist is thrown vertically.

I even have a manual which illustrates 4 kinds of jabs.
1) the vertical fisted jab you use.
2)The traditional jab
3)A "flick jab" thrown from the elbow.
4)A jab with the palm up! almost like an uppercut!!!

I think im going to try and utilise the horizontal jab more on the bag and in sparring to see how it compares, the more punches in your armoury the better. Yeh I read about those types of jabs also! Its interesting the way some fighters used the jab as punishing weapon (Tyson when he could be bothered to use it, Larry Holmes, Lewis) while others use it merely to find range and discourage almost annoy.