When you think of the sport of boxing, most will envision the devastating knockouts and punches. But once you truly get to know and love the sport you will start to have a true appreciation of the defensive art and techniques boxers show on display in the ring come fight night.
Boxing is very split down the middle between offense and defense, which therefore makes a good defense just as important as the punches you throw.
There are many boxing defensive techniques you can learn, but sometimes it actually depends on your own boxing style – are you boxer/puncher, brawler/infighter, an out fighter, or a counter puncher? Check out my 7 types of boxing style blog to find out more.
Depending on what your style and guard is will determine how you use a specific defensive boxing technique to use in sparring or competition.
In this post, I’ll go over for you some of the defensive techniques every boxer should learn to use, methods you should use for specific boxing styles, and share some useful video links to see these techniques firsthand throughout.
6 Defensive techniques every boxer should learn
Here is a list of 6 boxing defense techniques you should learn if you plan on taking sparring or competition
- High Guard
- Footwork
- Slipping
- Parrying
- Bobbing and weaving (Rolling)
- Clinching
1. Blocking with the High Guard
Now, this is a defensive technique every beginner should start with as it is a fundamental defensive move to protect your face, head, and body to an extent.
So why should you use this? Well, it will primarily protect you in most instances, and having your hands in a higher position also helps set you up for offensive punches. This is probably the most likely thing to do when facing someone in the boxing ring.
If you are to only really use this defensive maneuver you will need to prepare to be able to take shots in the ring, as punches will be hitting against your gloves more often. Like with everything there are cons to using the high guard to block shots depending on where you hold them and can also encourage your opponent to go on the offensive.
Many boxers also use the high guard when they have been hurt by powerful shots to cover up so they can protect themselves from more punches.
Really good examples of using the high guard are former middleweight and super middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham and former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson who used this as a form of their stance and style. See examples below:
The image of Abraham against Ward shows how the high guard is used to protect the majority of his face but leaves a gap in the middle of his guard so he can still see punches thrown at him. Abraham is very much a brawler/puncher who reacts to your punches by timing strong powerful counter punches as he applies constant pressure on you. Styles make Fight’s video demonstrates exactly how Abraham uses this fundamental and useful technique.
Mike Tyson on the other hand similarly uses this but as a peek-a-boo boxing style which was developed by legendary trainer Cus D’Amato. Tyson would lower his gloves slightly to have better vision and to also protect his face and chin. He would also incorporate lots of side-to-side slipping (head movement) along with bobbing and weaving which I will go into more detail further below.
Check out this great video by the former coach of Mike Tyson, Teddy Atlas. He explains the history and how to use this high guard peek-a-boo style.
2. Footwork – “Feet first”
Now old school timers reading this may argue why I didn’t put this first, but I do agree that your footwork is arguably one of the most important and hardest defensive techniques to learn as it is very much a matter of inches in being hit and not getting hit depending on where you place them.
Footwork is also how you can make your opponent make positional adjustments and then make them pay as they try to adjust.
To back this up there is an amazing quote from former super middleweight and light heavyweight world champion Andre Ward regarding this:
“Gotta have legs in boxing…it’s a game of inches…a lot of times today, they teach hands first. They don’t teach feet…older trainers, they teach feet first. It’s feet, then they teach hands…your feet are your first line of defense” – Andre Ward to FightHype.
For me, it also applies to all styles but it is of most importance for a counter puncher or out fighter-style who heavily relies on creating the distance to make your opponent miss but also still being in range to counter and punish them. Here is a great short clip showing Usyk vs Gassiev with Andre Ward discussing the importance of feet.
Feet first. #boxing pic.twitter.com/4DuGJqTzLM
— Lee Wylie (@leewylieboxing) July 27, 2018
I highly recommend checking out my article on Andre Ward who demonstrates this clearly for anyone looking to learn further. Muhammad Ali and Pernell Whitaker are also wonderful examples to watch and learn from.
If you have a pressure fighting style, however, you must have great footwork to be able to cut off the ring and be able to trap your opponent on the ropes. Especially if you are facing a quick out-fighter who likes to move around a lot. It’s a valuable skill for any boxer to have regardless of your style.
A fantastic boxer and example of this would be former world champion Román “Chocolatito” González. A worthwhile video for you to watch is the ‘Art of Moving’ by Lee Wylie below. This truly demonstrates the spectacular balance and footwork of “Chocolatitio” which every boxer can learn from.
3. Slipping
This is one of the most common defensive techniques you will see a lot of boxers use when sparring in the ring. It is primarily used with head movement by moving to the right or left of an incoming jab from your opponent.
You will see a lot of boxers using the technique to bait their opponent to throw a jab and slip their head to the right and counter with a strong right hand. See an example of slipping a jab below from the right.
The maneuver is also possible by slipping from the inside and countering with the left to the body or head. See the example below of Joseph Parker against Anthony Joshua throwing a right hand from an inside slip. As you can see it is a useful technique to use if you are a slightly smaller fighter or up against an out fighter that throws lots of jabs.
It’s a fairly simple technique to learn, but it’s all about persistence and timing to get used to this maneuver. Here is a great video by Expert Boxing below which demonstrates how to slip punches effectively.
4. Parrying
This is a slightly more advanced defensive move, but parrying a punch is something you will see a lot of the older school boxers use. It is mainly used with your right hand (orthodox vs orthodox or southpaw vs southpaw) to block or deflect an incoming jab to your face. For orthodox vs southpaws, you would both most likely use your lead hands to parry with each other’s incoming jab instead due to your stance.
Parrying can be used to deflect a strong straight punch with your lead hand by lifting your arm and glove as well
The parry is a great technique to learn as it can create brilliant counter-punching opportunities against your opponent which can be unexpected for them.
Here is an example below of Andre Ward using a parry against Sullivan Barrera’s jab in their light heavyweight match-up below. You can see it in full action here. 
Another great example of a boxer using a parry is Floyd Mayweather Jr who often used his right hand to parry and counter punch over the top with the same hand. Check out this short clip of Floyd’s uncle Jeff Mayweather explaining and demonstrating how to parry correctly.
5. Bobbing and Weaving (Rolling)
This is another advanced technique that can take some getting used to as it involves a lot of hip and leg movements to utilize it correctly.
Why should bob and weave (roll) then?
Well using this skill is something that can open up attacking opportunities, along with being able to put you in a better position. When bobbing and weaving (rolling), you can evade multiple shots in just a few movements.
As your head will be moving along with your body it can be very difficult for an opponent to hit you with shots. It also allows you to counter with strong powerful punches which can be devastating if your opponent is not switched on or ready for them.
A great example of someone who does this is Middleweight World Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (above) who has built this tremendously well into his boxing style. I highly recommend you check out my Canelo boxing-style article for a better look at this specific technique.
I have left a great video by “myboxingcoach” which demonstrates how to use rolls when in competition or sparring.
6. Clinching
Now, this is a skill that doesn’t get taught enough in boxing gyms in my opinion and is an essential skill for anyone who is going to take boxing seriously or go far.
For observers and fans of the sport clinching is probably one of the most unattractive elements as it can break up the fight, can be considered time-wasting, or provide an unexciting fight. However, if you are a boxer in the ring it is can very different story as to why and when to use this technique
On that note why should you learn how to clinch then? Well, first and foremost it is generally considered a strategic defensive maneuver to limit the offense of your opponent. Clinching gets you in a position up close, where your opponent’s punches are far more limited to hitting you cleanly. That’s why quite often you will see fighters do this when hurt, so they can stop further damage.
For fighters who like to get up close to their opponent, this is an essential skill to learn as it opens the doors to many infighting opportunities. This can lead to devastating consequences for your opponent if they have not trained properly on how to clinch or fight on the inside.
If you are a beginner I highly recommend you check out the video below by “Fight your way fit” to learn the basics of clinching:
Now for those that have boxed before you will know that opponents constantly trying to clinch and get on the inside can be incredibly frustrating. However, there are ways around this to stop your opponent from getting up close. In the video below “GGG” Golovkin demonstrates to fellow professional Barrera after a sparring session, how to intelligently use your head to discourage opponents from getting on the inside or clinching.
Now, as much as this is a fascinating watch, using your head is always a dangerous method to use as it can result in cuts or even concussions! So please be careful when practicing.
Clinching is a very hard defensive skill to learn and takes years of practice to master it properly. Although it is not the most exciting defensive technique it can help or save you in some very difficult situations.
How to train boxing defense
Now all the above can take years to master just like with your offense, but there are ways you can focus more on learning which I plan to go into more detail about in a future post. But here are all the best ways you can learn all the above:
- Shadow boxing
- Sparring
- Defense partner/coach drills
- Mitt work drills
- Double end Bag
- Cobra reflex bag
I recommend you check out my 10 exercises to improve your reflexes blog for more detail.
Conclusion
Now I hope after reading all the above you will have a far greater appreciation of the defensive side of boxing. All of them have their pros and cons, however, it’s about when and how you use them in the ring. It’s all a matter of inches and using them all effectively at the right moment.
I hope you enjoyed this boxing training post and hopefully, this will help you work on different parts of your boxing defense.
Let me know in the comments below which option you are going to start working on or need improvement.
For more boxing training advice visit the link here
Thanks for reading!
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