Counter punching is important. it is here you have defended your opponents punch, their defense is open, they may be off balance and you hit them back with something they cannot defend.


Head punching: the most glamarous and seemingly effective is head punching.
as you will have read on the main page it consists of jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercuts.

jabs to the head are scoring punches
jabs are used to keep your opponent at distance, score points and set up other punches.
its the fastest punch and will not do much to your denfese so can be thrown often.
when you jab, your opponent defends and you can see the space available to hit them.
a jab to the body is a very good tool and should not be overlooked. the body is the largest area in which a punch can score, and the body is often left open.
when you throw punches to the body bend you knees.

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the cross: this can be both a KO and a scoring punch.
is is still a fast punch, but not as fast as the jab, the power comes from the tuning of your hips.
i have persnally KO's an opponent is 45 seconds of the first round with a cross, showing that it does have the power to do some serious damage. most of lennox lewis's opponents will tell you (if they are able to) that a cross can be a very devestating punch.
the cross to the body is a fantastic punch. i often use this after a jab to blast the air out of somones lungs.

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hooks: hooks are the KO maker, no doubt about that.
the left hook to the head should really be thrown as a counter punch. however if part of a combination
(jab-->cross-->left hook) it can be a very powerful tool.
kostya tsyzu, along with ricky hattons other opponents will tell you that a left hook to the body is a very good punch.
punches to the body knock the wind out of your opponent, slow them down and remove their strength. there is no better punch for this than the left hook to the body.
this can be used as an offense, starting on the body than hitting to the head.
right hooks KO people. they are thrown as counter punches or as part of a combination, and to the body have a rib cracking tendency, however, right hooks leave you completely open to attack in both your body and your head, so should be used wisely.

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Uppercuts are short and powerful punches, and because of the angle they hit the head can provide the easiest knockout.
they should only be thrown when close to the opponent, as they are invisible, or as part of a combination, as they leave you very open. the angles of hooks and uppercuts suit them perfectly to be throw together. a lfet hook brings the hands of the opponent to the side of his head, so the uppercut can hit him on the unprotected chin, and an uppercut bing the hands to the bottom of the head so the hook can hit him in the head.
Uppercuts to the body are one of the best punches going, especially in close range.

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thats a quick sum up of offence, but there are a few key points to remember

-thinkof defence all the time, where your guard is, and what your opponent could throw at you even when your going in for the kill

- keep the hands moving fast, and bring them back to the guard position just as quickly as you threw them out