Hook or Jab?

[newbieboxer]

Feels kind of impossible to defend myself from hook, specially when the punch comes straight forward and turns into hook at the last point.. What's the best way to defend it?

Imagine if the opponent throws a real quick long hook with little power, it seems impossible to avoid the hit. I sometimes slip it as it looks like a jab or cross to me then end up getting hit.

[boyla]

There are a few options, you could either step back by taking one or two steps back, becoming out of range for the attack and look to counter as he comes in.

The other, as you see the opponent going to hit you, throw a jab to the head, fast and straight. Follow with a straight right then close with jab or left hook, then step back.
You can also jab by aiming at the shoulder of the attacking arm

Jabbing against a sloppy, slow or weak right hand lead works great as shoulder comes up to protect your face and jab has less distance to travel than opponents back hand.

Covering, by just raising you right hand up to absorb the impact is the simplest tool you can use to absorb the impact, the punch lands but hits your glove first instead of your head.

You can also stop/block the left hand with you right hand by turning you right glove so the palm of you hand hits the blow, thereby stopping the punch.

[cambay411]

Unless your opponent is setting it up good, lead left hooks shouldnt be too hard to avoid.

The number one way to defend against a left hook is to keep your right hand up. If your right hand isnt up our gonna get tagged especially if the dude can set things up at all.

Dont worry about slipping, worry about blocking, especially because your getting hit with it.

Other than that it sounds like dude has a tricky little left hook. You have to keep your right hand up when your up against people like that.

[greynotsoold]

If he is turning a jab into a hook, he'll be tipping it off with his feet. Are you reaching out to catch his jab? You should keep your right hand home; catch the jab right in front of your chin, without extending your right hand, and then all you have to do to block the hook is pick it up a bit and roll your body to your left a bit.
That roll gets you inside his hook so you aren't blocking it flush and puts you in position to immediately throw your hook back at him.