Fighting a taller fighter

[sheff-fighter]

Usually fight shorter guys. As an outside fighter, prefer not to end up on the inside... facing a taller guy though, how should I change my technique to allow me to still fight on the outside as much as possible - when his longer reach could potentially nullify my typical style?

[RDJ]

You can't, unless he's clueless. On the outside he can hit you, but you can't hit him. Perhaps you can try countering and getting out again but if he has a significant reach advantage you'll hit nothing but air. Learn to get inside and fight inside.

[SweetScience]

I do not know if this is effective as I have not tried either. But you may either try a Winky style guard and jab your way in or do quick bursts to the head or body ala mayweather or carlos quintana against paul williams.

[SweetScience]

Or go for a quick 1-2 to the head. Once you do that, your within range and his elbows are tangled up and you can get to work. That's what I have tried though you will get hit on the process.

[rendog67]

see jack dempsey

[avk47]

You can't box a guy on the outside who is taller than you - it's just not possible. Even if he sucks, you'd still be out of range to hit him.

You can either
1) Pressure-fight him
2) Move in and out in short bursts, but you still have to move in to hit him.
3) Get in close but rely on slickness and counter him. Few boxers have been able to pull this off against taller guys, but it can be done.
4) Time his punches, and step forward when you counter - but you still have to move inside when you do.

This is just off the top of my head, and really any combination of the above.
Try and see what works for you.

[OuterDrake]

Tyson almost always was the smaller fighter so you should try watching his vids if you havent already.

[RDJ]

Tyson almost always was the smaller fighter so you should try watching his vids if you havent already.

Tyson was an inside fighter.

[OuterDrake]

Tyson was an inside fighter.

He doesnt have to be,looking at tyson`s defense is a start.

every fighter should know how to fight both in and out in my opinion.

[daz52]

I dont know why people say its impossible to box a taller guy... Watch Mayweather Vs Corrales

[avk47]

I dont know why people say its impossible to box a taller guy... Watch Mayweather Vs Corrales

But Corrales was a tall guy who didn't really use his height and fought on the inside.

Plus, even if you are boxing a tall guy, your still boxing him from the inside. You're not boxing him from the outside, cause you wont reach him...

[BeGGeRs]

You dont need to change your style It should be part of your tool box already. I know what you mean though not being able to get inside of a taller opponent is frustrating. Personally i think boxing someone taller is easier that boxing someone shorter, you have so much more of a variety of combinations to throw.

The first thing to remember is to punch your way in. By this, I mean doubling or tripling up on your jab while moving in. When you do this, you're forcing him to defend himself, instead of teeing off while you're trying to get into range.

The next thing I reccomend is trying to come in at an angle. To often guys try to go straight in, and get their head knocked off. It's much easier to see someone coming in if they're coming straight ahead rather than coming in from the side. Another thing to think about is if your opponent moves straight back. If he moves to the side, he's probably going to be harder to get inside on. But if he moves straight back, he's eventually going to have nowhere else to go, because his back will be to the ropes. Work on slipping punches, because if you can slip a punch, you've got a much greater chance of being able to get inside on a taller opponent. Being shorter isn't always a disadvantage. If your opponent doesn't know how to use his reach advantage, (if he's squaring his shoulders up, etc.) it might even be better to be shorter.

Try to remember these things, slipping, coming in at angles, and punching your way in, you'll be better at getting inside.

[Polymath]

Tyson was an inside fighter.

:nono

He did his work INSIDE his oppoenents reach - that an 'inside fighter' does not make. DOnt confuse having to get inside with being an infighter. James Toney (especuially when he got older & heavier) is a great example of an infighter. Tyson was actually a surprisngly poor infighter givn his stature.

[Polymath]

You can't box a guy on the outside who is taller than you - it's just not possible. Even if he sucks, you'd still be out of range to hit him.

Sure you can. If you can control distance better than he can, or time your jab better than he can, or be faster that he is - you can do it. I recently watched Chagaev convincingly outbox Valuev who was over a foot taller. Ruiz did it in part as well. There are many aspects of fighting from range - height is just one (ableit an important one).

This is not even taking into account height does not always equate to reach - look at Sonny Liston at 6- 1 with an 84" reach - he could just plant his feet and outjab much taller guys. Recently Hasim Rahman has been able to something similar because of his long arms.

Roy jones at 5- 10 outboxed all those tall light heavies with pure speed and co-ordination.

There are plenty of ways to skin this cat :good

[joekirkbycobra]

in and out loadsa movement
when you slip a shot make sure your straight in 2 get your shots off
but its easier on the inside regarding you move the head when coming in

[RDJ]

:nono

He did his work INSIDE his oppoenents reach - that an 'inside fighter' does not make. DOnt confuse having to get inside with being an infighter. James Toney (especuially when he got older & heavier) is a great example of an infighter. Tyson was actually a surprisngly poor infighter givn his stature.

You are semi correct. Tyson worked at half distance, the OP asked about outside fighting though. I should have answered "Tyson was not an outside fighter".

[avk47]

Sure you can. If you can control distance better than he can, or time your jab better than he can, or be faster that he is - you can do it. I recently watched Chagaev convincingly outbox Valuev who was over a foot taller. Ruiz did it in part as well. There are many aspects of fighting from range - height is just one (ableit an important one).

This is not even taking into account height does not always equate to reach - look at Sonny Liston at 6- 1 with an 84" reach - he could just plant his feet and outjab much taller guys. Recently Hasim Rahman has been able to something similar because of his long arms.

Roy jones at 5- 10 outboxed all those tall light heavies with pure speed and co-ordination.

There are plenty of ways to skin this cat :good

I completly agree with you. I'm not saying that you must be an infighter if you're shorter. All I'm saying is that if you don't have gorilla reach, at some stage or another you will have to take a step forward and move into range against the taller man. Whether you do it as an infighter, slugger, counterpuncher etc. is up to you, but you can't stand on the taller guys range if your hands are shorter than his. You must learn to get closer and box at your own range.

[RDJ]

You need to get "more inside", not necessarily all the way inside. Bottom line is, you can't do it from the outside.

[SweetScience]

What if you get inside and the guy loves to clinch? What should you do?

[Melbourneborn]

I'm in a similar sort of situation. I'm a taller fighter for my weight and am often in with shorter guys - so, had to put the thinking cap on the first time i was in with a guy taller.

First thing is, people are lazy. 9 out of 10 guys will let you get in range without punching.. they will not use thier whereby they make you walk into/past a jab everytime you want to come in.

Other then that, I find it ALOT easier to slip guys taller. Its a bit easier to make them miss - then you just have to make them pay.

Also, when your the shorter fighter.. it is easier to fight on the inside. You dont have to bend as far for the rips. You will find it easier on the inside then your taller opponent.

Overall though, don't change what you do alot - just use more head movement (itll be easier with a taller guy). But if you do come across a busy jabber, make sure you do not stand on his range. Be either right in where you can be punch, or right out where your both out of range.

[ralphc]

It is always easy to say: "Look at what Roy Jones did to John Ruiz, that's how you fight a taller man." If you have the talent that Roy Jones has, it is an option but not necessarily the best option. What do you do if you don't have Roy Jones's talent? Come at your opponent behind the cover of a jab. Move you head so that he doesn't have a stationary target. Once you get inside stay there and work him because he can most easily hit you while transiting the kill zone. Maintain a tight defense and keep your hands in front of you because he is going to try to clinch. In general terms learn to shorten your punches. It is very difficult to hit taller men with full extension punches.

[cjgloves]

good body movement, throwing your punches whilest moving in.