Archive for the ‘Boxing Articles’ Category

Amateur Boxing – A Basic Lesson

Each father at some time or other during the “growing” years of his sons sees fit to instruct his protégés in the art of self-defense or amateur boxing.

One of the most important things a dad can teach his son is “how to make a proper fist,” in order to avoid future hand injuries. We all know how a painful thumb or finger injury results when a baseball or football strikes the wrong part of the hand.

The same is true if the thumb of your boy’s fist is not properly folded, or if on landing a blow the force is centered on protruding knuckles. When the blow is properly landed the knuckles of the fist should be straight across (no protruding knuckles), thereby allowing the whole fist to absorb the force of the blow. The result gives the boy more power to his blow and minimizes chances of injury to his hands.

I suggest that as the next step you (the father) hold your left hand, palm open and inward, and hit your palm with a closed right fist. In going through this procedure, check to see if the right thumb is properly curled over, and if the fist on contact is landing on all four knuckles, rather than on one or two protruding knuckles. This will ensure that you have a more solid understanding of amateur boxing yourself.

After you have properly trained yourself (preferably the night before giving son a lesson), teach him the same procedure, hitting the open hand with the closed right fist, and stressing the proper points of a “right” and “wrong” fist. Then reverse the procedure, holding the right hand open and hitting the palm with the left fist.

It is true that the average youngster in making a fist without being properly taught, will fold his thumb inside his closed fingers. For some unknown reason he has the feeling his thumb becomes better protected in this manner. This is the surest way to sprain, dislocate, or even break the second thumb joint. Boys also make the mistake of allowing the thumb to stick up instead of properly curling the thumb over the closed fist. Impress this upon your son.

It is surprising how many boys grow to college age without even having been taught how to hit properly. Hence if the father gets no point across to his son other than the proper care of his hands, he has done a good job. A boy who is taught the proper fundamentals at an early age has a distinct advantage over others.

If he chooses to box in high school, college, or in amateur boxing, he has a head start on the beginner. The coach will not have to break any unorthodox or bad boxing habits he has acquired by himself.

Your son, whether he be seven or seventeen (assuming after seventeen you would rather have another “coach” take him over) can be taught just exactly as we have illustrated in previous chapters. However, just to simplify the father-son relationship, get on your knees and put across the points suggested.

When your son has learned how to hit properly and to assume the correct on-guard, put the gloves on with him, get on your knees, and practice the punches with him. Show him how to block as well as to hit, and be sure you know the blocks yourself.

Your son should practice his trusty right with father’s chin as target. Father drops his left to allow the right to come across, and blocks with his own right. See that your son snaps the right straight across with a lot of zip, and that he has his fist closed, chin down, shoulder up. Be sure he does not throw a “roundhouse” right.

Punching a light bag is fun. It is great exercise, and increases speed and coordination. Little boys pick up the knack very quickly after a minimum amount of practice. Fathers also find a punching bag excellent exercise, and unlike most exercises, they enjoy it.

Have fun teaching your son to box, and contribute to his increasing self-confidence.

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Choosing the Best Boxing Shoes For You

Boxing shoes MUST be a perfect fit to the boxer who is wearing them. Otherwise, he will only end up with aching feet, shoes that slip and slide on his feet, even causing him or her to totally fall down in the boxing ring. It is a good bet that match will be lost. Before even entering the ring, a boxer has to be fully confident that his or her equipment is in perfect condition. This includes the shoes. With all the punishment that boxers endure in the ring, feet blisters because of a poor choice in shoes do not have to be a part of it.

Choosing your boxing equipment along with the needed accessories is just as important as your training. Boxing shoes are included in this equipment and need to fit just as well as your boxing outfits do. Just as you would not want to risk your boxing shorts falling down or ripping at the seams in the middle of a boxing match, you would not want your shoes to make you slide around or cause sweaty feet.

Be very picky when selecting your boxing shoes because if they do not feel like they are an extension of your feet, there will be problems. Most of these shoes are constructed with suede or soft leather, with rubber soles to provide traction. Ventilation is supplied by mesh ‘windows’ situated on all sides to keep your feet from getting too hot and sweaty.

All of this works to provide the best shoes possible for you to wear while boxing or working out. A perfect fit is required or your feet will get sore and irritated as well as develop painful blisters. If you get the wrong type of shoe, you WILL know it. Try on the shoes before you buy them and walk around the store a bit to make sure they are the best fit. Keep in mind that if you want the most comfortable shoe, you won’t even know they are on your feet.

Dave Toub is a strong believer in high quality boxing shoes. Please check out one of my favorite Everlast boxing shoes and see the Punching Bags Pro homepage if you are interested in other gear as well.

Boxing Shoes Weigh Up Fashion

Boxing shoes is a one more commercial product in boxing equipments. The boxers use boxing shoes to fight all through the time of boxing. Boxing shoes are considered as a common instrument worn by the boxer to secure him against any harm. The superior boxing shoes come in Michelin hydro is a latest highly developed technology. Consequently, they help in protecting the calf & ankle areas and also smooth the progress of quick movement in the ring. Now a days you can find these boxing shoes in all types of colors and they match all group or team ensemble you ever dreamt. You should select the best stuff that go well with your need. See to that it should be the lightest weight and made out by either flexible or suede leather.

You might be paying attention in knowing that whether these light weight shoes are like air which makes your feet sense similar like you are not yet wearing shoes. Everyone will be able to notice the benefit of this when trying to accomplish this footwork during boxing with a challenger or functioning out in the ring. Even if the material might be a light weight that make you feel like you are hanging in air, you still requires something on the sole which maintains you on platform. Consequently, you have to make sure that whatever stuff you prefer that should have either non-slip model or rubber soles; it can be both also on the basement of the shoes. This will make sure that you do not fall or slip down during any movement.

Boxing shoes is considered one of the best items you purchase. Some people will find the shoes that will cooperate and play enormous part no matter what kind of outfit’s shoes they pay for but it should be work out during boxing. They are not looking for fashion. On the other hand someone else is stuck on the requirement of style and pretty look. The top part of the boxing shoes is very much like a usual calf and curve, thus provides a ideal fit and a wonderful appearance also making very light moving around and simple on the boxing stage.

The technology which have been used, maintain the feet stable and smoothen the progress of swift movement all along with offering safety and strength. Where the sole is concerned, boxer can be self-confident that they will be able to have a solid balance on soft surfaces since the shoes come with a greatest flexible technology. Therefore, the similar technology prevents sliding of the feet due to continuous perspiration. The twofold mesh sheets improve the breathability and make sure that there is accurate transmission of air. Hence, the feet are kept back fresh & cool all the way through the duration of the exercises /work, how much time continuously it may run into.

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Boxing – The Best Boxers of All Time, Pound For Pound

With boxing being a world renowned sport, it has had some of the best boxers ever enter the ring and this article has been written to mention 3 of the all time best ever boxers, pound for pound.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad (The Greatest) Ali, born 17th January 1942, is hands down the best American heavyweight boxer of all time. Muhammad Ali is a three-time World Heavyweight Champion and is one of the top sports personalities around the world. Ali started his professional career in the 1960s which was when he impressed fans with his record of 19 wins, 15 of these being knockouts. In the year 1964 Ali attempted to get in to the U.S Armed Forces but failed due to his poor writing and spelling skills. It was in the year 1965 that Ali won his first title and in this same year he converted to Islam and changed his name from Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr to Muhammad Ali. Ali had defeated every heavyweight boxer in his time and was named the fighter of the year and is one of three boxers to be named sportsman of the year. In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome and also retired in this year. Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time which gives him the nickname “The Greatest” and he has an impressive record of 61 fights, winning 56, 37 by knockout and only loosing 5.

Joe Calzaghe

Joe (The Italian Dragon) Calzaghe, born 23rd March 1972, is without doubt one of the best light heavyweight boxers to enter the ring, due to the fact he has had an undefeated career winning all his 46 fights, 32 of them by knockout. Joe Calzaghe began boxing at the age of nine and won many fights as a schoolboy. It was in the year 1993 that Calzaghe started boxing professionally by signing a contract and made his debut in that same year. In 1995 Calzaghe was voted Young Boxer of the Year. Calzaghe also became BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2007 making him the first Welsh winner since 1960. Joe Calzaghe started his boxing career in the middleweight class but eventually made his way up to the light heavyweight category in 2008 after winning fights and training hard. It wasn’t until 2009 that Calzaghe announced that he was retiring from professional boxing finishing undefeated with a total of 46 winning fights.

Chris Eubank

Chris (Simply the Best) Eubank, born 8th August 1966, is one of the best English middleweight boxers to have entered the sport. Chris Eubank was world champion for over five years and undefeated as a middleweight boxer. Eubank started his life in England but moved to New York when he was 16 to live with his mum. It was here that he realized his talent for boxing when he trained in his spare time at his local boxing club. Chris Eubank wanted to improve his skills at boxing so trained seven days a week which resulted in him becoming an amateur boxer. Eubank’s made his professional debut in America just after his 19th birthday and in 1988 he returned to England to live with his brothers. While in England Eubank continued with his career in boxing and was rapidly winning fights against many top boxers. Chris Eubank eventually quit boxing with a credible 45 wins and 5 losses. Outside of boxing Eubank’s has won many awards to do with his clothes as he has received Britain’s Best Dressed Man award and Best Dressed Sportsman award. Eubank is also religious as he converted to Islam as an Adult.

This article is my personal view of who I think are the top 3 best boxers of all time, pound for pound. Boxing is a combat sport and martial art in which two people fight using their fists. Boxing is typically supervised by a referee, during a series of one to three minute intervals called rounds and the boxers are generally of similar weight.

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Boxing Betting Basics

Since the 18th century, boxing has been synonymous with betting, as the British defined the sport by making wagers available on either fighter and awarded prizes to the victors. Professional boxing as we know it today has grown tremendously and gone through good, bad and ugly stages, from its peak in the 1960s and 70s with the popularity of fighters like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard to the more recent downfall and corruption associated with the careers of Mike Tyson and Don King, respectively.

Despite its ups and downs, pro boxing still thrives in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, where boxing odds are available in almost every sportsbook. This article will focus on the different wagering options you have with betting boxing and give you tips on understanding boxing odds, including what factors to consider before placing a wager.

Basics of Betting Boxing Sports bettors mostly enjoy boxing for its brutal nature and promotional build-up, with only the Super Bowl rivaling a major championship fight in terms of betting interest and media attention.

It’s also very easy to place a bet on a boxing match, as you generally wager simply on who you think will win the fight or sometimes on the rare possibility of a draw, all based on money lines. If you are unclear about how money lines work, make sure to check out Reading and Understanding Money Lines.

Here’s an example:

Favorite: -170 (bet $170 to win $100)

Underdog: +150 (bet $100 to win $150)

Draw: +800 (bet $100 to win $800)

In addition, some sportsbooks offer boxing proposition bets, including how many rounds you think the fight will go (i.e. Over/Under 8.5 rounds), increasing the amount of potential action even further. Other popular prop bets for betting boxing include:

  • Picking the specific round the fight will end
  • A parlay-type wager combining two bets picking the winner of the fight and how the fight will be decided, either by decision or knockout

Betting Tips for Success Boxing is the most controversial professional sport due to its close link to gambling and because it is driven solely by money. The best advice we can give you is to learn as much as you can about the fighters, especially heavy favorites since they will obviously require a much bigger investment. Like other sports, champion boxers can overlook opponents and may not always be as motivated as they should be going into a title fight.

There is also big money involved in fight rematches, so it shouldn’t be too surprising when an up-and-coming contender like Jermain Taylor knocks off a champion who hasn’t lost in more than 10 years like Bernard Hopkins ( Taylor beat Hopkins by split decision on June 16, 2005 for the undisputed world middleweight crown). Some boxing contracts even have “rematch clauses” in them to guarantee another money-making fight, with Taylor-Hopkins being one of them.

“I’m not going to say decisions are good for boxing,” Hopkins said following his loss to Taylor . “But rivalries are.”

Hopkins is right: Rivalries can bring in tons of money for the sport and make it much easier to market. The drama and intrigue created around a rivalry is what makes team sports so great, and some of the most memorable fights have been tied to rivalries.

Another key point we can make using the Hopkins-Taylor fight as an example is that the popular fighter (in this case the favorite and defending champion) is generally over-rated and over-priced due to his status of being more well-known with the public. Because of this popularity factor, challengers like Taylor have great value and are worth betting on.

It’s also important to note that boxing matches have more inflated money line prices than most sports, creating a huge dog/fave money line differential between the favorite and underdog. For this reason, you should be aware that boxing odds at different sportsbooks vary, so shopping around online sportsbooks will get you the most bang for your betting buck.

For example, “Online Sportsbook A” might have had Hopkins at -200 and Taylor at +180 while “Online Sportsbook B” had Hopkins at -220 and Taylor at +160. A $1000 wager on Taylor at “Online Sportbook A” would have earned you $1800 compared to $1600 at “Online Sportsbook B” where you would also need to lay down more money if you bet on Hopkins . As you can see, “Online Sportsbook B” is the worse place to bet for favorite and underdog bettors alike because the dog/fave money line differential is greater.

Finding the right online sportsbook for betting boxing should also be determined by who has the most wagering offerings, including propositions. There are several advantages to betting boxing at elite online sportsbooks, but first and foremost, you will get better boxing lines and more ways to bet a fight.

Conversely, the stereotypical barroom bookie will have slim pickings and rather unattractive boxing odds (if he has them at all), very similar to the “Online Sportsbook B” example from above, because he knows he is your only option. Therefore, it definitely pays to explore online sportsbooks, who want you to play with confidence and try to give you a simple and safe environment in which to do so.

If you are a knowledgeable boxing fan who has a good feel about how a match will likely turn out, then you should most definitely trust your insights and use them to find strong bets. Like an up-and-coming prize fighter, experience and comfort level is crucial to your training as a boxing bettor, so study up on boxers as much as you can. Of course it’s up to you to decide which fighter you want to bet on, but the more you learn about boxing, the more prepared you will be when placing your bet. Hopefully after reading our “Basics of Betting Boxing” and “Betting Tips for Success” you’ll be ready to step into the ring (or betting window) in the near future!

RJ Bell is the founder of Pregame.com – Where sports bettors get ready. RJ has been an expert contributor to Maxim Magazine, CNN.com, About.com, and ABC News – and has won 3 world handicapping championships! Located in Las Vegas, the Pregame.com team works at adding to your betting confidence with powerful game insights and sportsbook reviews. FreePicksByEmail.com, the biggest daily sports betting newsletter, delivers help from famous handicappers.

Better Boxing Footwork

Normally, boxers have great footwork. Most boxers are more fluid than practitioners in other martial arts. Still, there is a major problem with the way lots of boxers move and dance around the ring. Learn how to move properly….

Bruce Lee’s Advice on Moving

Bruce Lee always advised moving with a purpose. That means not moving when one (a boxer) doesn’t have a reason to.

Boxers are fast and fluid. They dance around the ring. But sometimes that’s the problem — they dance and bounce without a real purpose.

These boxers are expending a lot of energy. Certainly, a boxer is in good enough shape to last many rounds, but how much more efficient it would be, if the boxer didn’t have to waste so much energy.

So, why do boxers move like this?

Know Why You’re Moving While You Box

All of this dancing and bouncing back and forth confuses the opponent, right?

Well, yes and no.

On the one hand, it’s fast movement, weaving in and out, just out of the range of your punches. But on the other, it’s a chance to learn your opponent’s rhythm.

And even a broken rhythm, with enough repetition, can show some patterns that a boxer may not want to share with his (or her) opponent.

Another reason boxers bounce around the ring is to try to force the opponent to commit to a punch that has no chance of landing. This puts the dancing boxer in a good position.

This is actually a good tactic, even though it expends a lot of energy. Still, it has limited uses and doesn’t need to be employed throughout the entire fight.

Again, know why you are moving in a certain way.

Boxers, Limit Your Movement Now

It’s great practice for a boxer to limit movement while training.

Fighting in a hallway, a small child’s room, or while standing in a box all limit the movement to just a step or two in any direction.

Practice boxing with this restriction of movement. Practice until it feels comfortable.

Then the next time you are allowed freedom to dance and bounce, you’ll feel as though you have an advantage.

And even with that advantage, think Bruce Lee — move with a purpose.

For an article on how to develop speed punches that are faster than they need to be, click here: Speed Punch Training.

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Keith Pascal is a martial-arts writer and has taught martial arts for 25 years.