There are four widely recognised boxing styles used to categorize boxers. The swarmers, out-boxers, sluggers, and boxer-punchers are among them. These categories are not hard and fast rules, as not every fighter follows them, but they are a good starting point for discussion.
The four styles are based on how a fighter uses his hands in a bout.
Swarmers are fighters who use their fists and feet equally well and will try to land as many punches as possible while moving around their opponent. They are difficult to stop because they don't rely on one particular technique or strategy but rather make each fight unique. Some famous swarmers include Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali.
Out-boxers focus solely on punching above the belt line, using their arms to block enemy attacks while taking advantage of openings in their opponents' defenses. Out-boxers usually have strong legs and good footwork because they need all their energy for throwing punches. Some great out-boxers include Benny Leonard, George Foreman, and Mike Tyson.
Sluggers go after the body as well as the head. They use hooks, uppercuts, overhands, and other powerful blows to the abdomen, chest, and shoulders.
In boxing, there are four primary punches:
In contemporary boxing, the four fundamental punches are the jab, cross, hook, and uppercut. The jab is a small punching motion made with the hand, usually without touching the face of the opponent. The hand is raised slightly above shoulder height with the elbow bent. The forearm makes an approximately semi-circular movement while being guided by the head. This movement covers about half of the circle from side to side. At the end of this movement the hand is positioned near the chin or slightly above it.
The cross is the most powerful single punch in boxing because it comes from any position. It can be done with either hand and it can be used for counterpunches. To execute the cross you raise your arm until it is perpendicular to the floor and then swing it forward and down toward the opposite side of the body. Be careful not to hit yourself in the face with the back of your hand!
The hook is a strong straight punch that comes from a slightly angled position. It's used to attack the body and lead with it. To throw a hook, bring your hand up quickly and sharply with your palm facing inward so that your thumb points upward. Then push your wrist downward as you extend your arm fully. This will cause the hook to curl around toward your chest.
Boxing is a combat sport in which two individuals throw punches at each other in a boxing ring for a specified length of time while wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards. The referee stops the fight when either boxer fails to make weight or decides it's time to stop the contest.
Both boxers wear a headguard that protects their skulls from injury. Heavyweight fighters tend to wear more protective headgear than lightweight fighters because heavy blows are often thrown with greater force and speed and thus require heavier protection.
Lightweight fighters usually choose not to wear a headguard because they believe they do not need it. However, many head injuries occur during knockouts when the opponent's head strikes the canvas first before being kicked off by their body. Thus, even though a lightweight boxer may not seem like they need a headguard, it can still save them from serious injury if they are hit hard enough to cause their head to snap back.
Heavyweight fighters usually wear a helmet designed for football or hockey. These helmets are made of plastic or steel and have several large openings for the wearer's eyes and a small opening for his/her nose. They also often include a face mask to protect the fighter from getting beaten up around the eyes.
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