Do you know that there are different styles and stances of boxing? You must know if you’re a boxer or going to learn boxing and want to excel in it. We are here to make you aware of the best boxing styles you need to know so that you can decide which one suits you better.
Indeed, boxing seems like a straightforward sport to an amateur eye but it’s really not. In addition to that, boxing is a more complex and unique kind of sport than just punching randomly. Furthermore, it takes years and years to excel in one specific boxing style. Besides that, a lot of boxers did end up discovering their style after experiencing all kinds of boxing styles.
If you’re at that stage of boxing where you are learning and exploring different offensive and defensive boxing techniques and styles then one day you’ll certainly uncover your unique style. But before that, you have to look at the top 7 famous and best boxing styles.
Importance of Learning a Specific Fighting Style
Do I need to adopt one boxing style? Or can I go for learning multiple boxing stances? Such questions must arise in your mind. Well, we have got your back.
All you learn and practice is basic boxing techniques at the very start of your training. When you jump into the advanced level, you then start exploring more styles and techniques. To be a professional boxer, you have to adopt a specific fighting stance. After practicing that style for years, you’ll come up with your particular fighting style. People will definitely remember you with that particular style after your retirement.
But here is another thing you must know as a boxer. You have to be more adaptive and quick to learn not only one but different types of boxing styles. This way you’ll be able to fight against the boxer with more advanced boxing techniques. This will make you one of the most successful boxers.
7 Best Boxing Styles to Excel
This section of our article has all the important and famous boxing techniques. We are also going to mention some advantages and pitfalls of each boxing technique. Let’s check them out.
1: Swarmer
Swarmer is one of the most popular and hardest types of boxing styles. This style allows the boxer to confuse the opponent by throwing maximum numbers of punches and jabs. Additionally, swarming also allows you to gain some solid points as the boxer focuses on throwing punches from the start of the fight. The technique follows a combination of blows and punches.
The swarmer boxing technique indeed demands a lot of practice, endurance, and cardiovascular exercises. Mike Tyson and Henry Armstrong are two fighters with swarmer style.
Strong Points:
- Great for a physically strong boxer
- Confuse your opponent and put him back
- Also exhausting for the weak opponent
- Not easy to defend different types of punches
Weak Points:
- Requires years and years to master
- Not easy to do it perfectly
- Strong chances to get cuts and bruises
- Boxer should have enough power and endurance
2: Counter Puncher
Counter punching is a boxing technique that requires accuracy and flawlessness in skill. You have to be a perfectionist when it comes to attacking with counter-punching technique. At first, this technique makes the opponent miss the defensive opportunity and then confuse him with continuous, brutal, and accurate attacks.
Undoubtedly, the counter puncher should be precise with technique and have amazing and unbeatable skills and understanding. Also, the counter puncher usually has to wait for the opponent to attack, and then they defend themselves with accurate tricks. It’s very rare to see a counter-puncher attack at the very start of the match. Salvador Sanchez had a counter punching boxing style.
Strong Points:
- Can make your opponent frustrated
- One of the Best defensive boxing styles
- Ability to knock the opponent down
Weak Points:
- A Lot of time and still accuracy required
- One of the hardest skills and stances to learn
3: Slugger
Slugger is one of the most entertaining types of boxing styles to watch. Besides that, this style has some aggressive tricks that need to be landed on the accurate spots. The boxer should have brute force and enough power to get the slugging right.
It should be noted that slugging boxers don’t feel skeptical about getting some punishment because this will make them more motivated to do maximum damage to the opponent. Another important thing to mention is that such boxers can trap their opponent inside the ring very easily.
Strong Points:
- Can make the opponent scared
- Submissive the attacker with powerful moves
- Easy to perplex your opponent
Weak Points:
- A Boxer can lose balance easily
- Requires huge amount of energy to throw punches
4: Pressure Fighter
A Lot of people confuse pressure fighting techniques with a swarmer style. You better not make this mistake. This style has a lot to do with footwork and jabs. Also, the boxer throws uppercuts and hooks after getting into the position. The main focus of this boxing style should be short but powerful punches throughout the match.
Additionally, pressure fighters, as the name suggests, try to put pressure on the opponent by pushing them back. Additionally, pressure fighting frustrates the opponent and in return wastes a lot of the opponent’s energy.
Strong Points:
- Putting pressure on the opponent
- Help in getting control of the game
- Gives opportunities to turn the game in your favor.
Weak Points:
- Need to work on footwork
- Not great for a physically weak boxer
- Waste of huge amount of energy
5: Out Boxer / Puncher
One of the most traditional boxing styles is out punching or boxing. This style is suitable for boxers with a long reach and accurate foot and bodywork. This kind of boxing technique keeps the boxer outside of the opponent’s reach. In addition to that, this stance makes it harder for the opponent to take control over the boxer.
Another very important technique out boxer follow is strong and blunt jabs.
Strong Points:
- Perplexing for the opponent, keep him guessing
- Amazing and accurate footwork
- Not easy for the opponent to control the game
- Use of powerful straight hand
Weak Points:
- Not very favorite style of some fans
- Also, not able to get a swarmer and a pressure fighter right.
6: Boxer Puncher
Boxer puncher is certainly one of the most well-known boxing styles as many boxers with this style did reach the international level. Basically, a boxer can be a boxer puncher if he can do any of the following two techniques.
- Swarmer+Counter Puncher
- Outfighter+Pressure Fighter
One of the biggest advantages a boxer can get from this fighting style is adopting different boxing styles according to the opponent. Furthermore, the most important point about boxer punchers is that they have enough skills to knock opponents out easily. Also, it’s a lot easier for a boxer puncher to adopt different boxing techniques as well.
Strong Points:
- Easy to attack and defend
- Suitable for the heavy puncher with great power
- Offensive minded fighter takes advantage of it
- Easy to learn different fighting styles
Weak Points:
- Opponents can confuse you about which style to use
7: Complete Boxer / Fighter
A boxer with all the above-mentioned boxing styles is known as a complete boxer. Such boxers are called the best fighters as they know how to apply techniques to the opponent with a specific fighting stance. Additionally, they can adapt and use all fighting tricks on the opponent. That’s why this style is considered one of the best boxing styles.
No matter how strong the opponent’s skill is, a complete fighter will certainly get it right and take all the control. There were a lot of notable complete boxers such as Terrence Crawford. He was one of the successful complete fighters with a unique style of boxing.
Strong Points:
- Able to control any situation
- Know a lot of different boxing tactics
Weak Points:
- Not easy to learn as it demands years of practice to be perfect.
Different Boxing Stances:
Don’t confuse boxing stances with boxing styles. Both terms are completely different. Stance is the way a boxer stands during the attack. Following boxing stances are considered significant when it comes to boxing styles.
Southpaw Stance:
Southpaw footwork is one of the hardest to get a boxing stance. It has to do with the right foot in front of the other one. Boxers with left-hand dominance go for southpaw footwork. In this stance, the boxer places their right foot forward while keeping the right hand in front of the left hand. If you want to learn more about the southpaw stance, here’s our detailed southpaw stance-related article.
Orthodox Stance:
Orthodox footwork is one of the most common and famous footwork stances among boxers. It’s a foot style in which boxers put the left foot at the front of the other one. This boxing stance works amazing for right-handed boxers as this stance gives freedom to use the right hand and foot for better reach during a fight.
Switch Hitter:
If you’re a boxer, you’ll hardly see any boxer with a Switch Hitter boxing stance. Because it’s rare to learn as it goes more in favor of the opponent inside the ring. If we see the brighter side of a switch hitter, it is great to make the opponent guess about each coming punch. Changing stances will certainly confuse the opponent.
Which will suit you better?
We went to the extra length to explain the best boxing styles so that you can choose according to your compatibility. You can learn each boxing style, check their good points and pitfalls as well. After digging deep, go and select the most suitable one for you.
It’s always a great idea to master two boxing styles so that you can knock any boxer out. Besides that, if you like to put pressure on your opponent, go for pressure punching.
But if you crave to be the best out there, choose a complete boxer. But keep in mind that you have to be patient and dedicated to the practices.
Whatever boxing style you choose, do your best as well as try to master the boxing skill.
Final Thoughts:
Boxing is definitely not just a simple art, it’s way more intense than you think it is. Speaking of perfect boxing style, honestly, there is no one. Each boxing stance has a set of pros and cons. Undoubtedly, you have to choose the best boxing style wisely and carefully because that style will be your identity in the future.
We hope you gained some valuable knowledge from our article. Also, we really appreciate that you read the complete article and came to the end.
