I throw uppercuts all the time when I spar, and I'm still a novice. I have made a conscious effort to learn and incorporate uppercutsk, but that has something to do with being 5'10" LHW and knowing from the start that I would need to learn how to fight on the inside. I land more uppercuts against more experienced opponents than I do straights. Lots of people don't defend them well or at least don't defend them as well as they do straights and hooks.