Boxing Styles Explained

Boxing may look like nothing but punching, but deep under the surface, it is much more than that. If you notice its diversity, you will find a legendary martial art.

The boxing strain begins with learning the basic techniques and steps. Once you’re skilled in applying the basic techniques, it’s time to understand the various boxing styles. With time, you can build your unique boxing style through experience and practice.

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boxing styles

About Boxing Styles And Techniques

Boxers will gravitate towards a specific boxing style. That style depends on different things, such as the boxer’s aggression, quickness, skill, ability to take a punch and personality. As you box more and more, you’ll find yourself in different boxing styles.

Keep in mind that boxing styles are more of an instinctual thing than a learning thing. When specific types of boxers meet, the result can more or less be predicted based on the boxing style every fighter uses.

How Many Boxing Styles Are There?

Several boxing styles exist, but only 4 are considered the most popular, which are utilized to distinguish fighters. Those are boxer-puncher, slugger, out-boxer, and swarmer. Most boxers don’t often fit into these categories, and it is not uncommon for a boxer to change their style over time.

What Are The Four Styles Of Boxing?

Are you at a point in your life where you are beginning to explore your unique defensive and offensive style in boxing? Then maybe it is time you begin to look at the different boxing styles that have been prominent in the history of boxing.

These are not all the styles that exist, but here are the four typical ones.

1. Boxer-puncher

This is considered the most dynamic form of a boxer in sports, combining the best of both worlds into a single style. You see, the boxer-puncher can switch between being a pressure fighter to becoming a methodical out-boxer waiting for an opening to close the gap.

They also often begin from the outside and work their way up in, using combinations from range to irritate their opponents and force mistakes. They also capitalize on the mistakes and maximize openings. 

2. Slugger

The slugger pays little attention to technique and would rather overwhelm the opponent with his brute force and strength. Often, sluggers aren’t afraid to take a decent amount of punishment to deal with the volume of damage.

You’ll prefer to prevent trading punches with a boxer with this style, as this type of boxer cares less about preventing firefights. They relish in this kind of setting. These are the action stars of boxing and are often responsible for giving fans the most amusing attacks.

3. Out-boxer

Out-boxer is all about keeping on the outside, using the reach as a weapon, and keeping the opponent at the body with a unique technique. Out-boxers often have long wingspans and have a reach and height edge over their opponents.

Using an effective, rangy, and long jab, many out-boxers prefer to pepper their adversary with pinpoint accuracy, connecting with shots from the outside to avoid their opponents from closing the gap and getting on the inside.

4. Swarmer

A swarmer is a fighter endeavoring to beat their opponents by being both defensive and putting consistent pressure on the opponent. They keep repeatedly punching, offering their opponent little room to get a punch in edgewise.

It’s a challenging boxing style to accomplish, as it needs perfect form and the stamina to put pressure on the other boxer.

What Boxing Style Is For Short Fighters?

Swarmer style is the perfect style for short boxers. Keep in mind that this boxing style is connected with fighting from the inside, meaning short-range boxing. There’s nothing more annoying than fighting against a taller man who stays at a distance and throws long jabs at your face and cannot even reach him at the same time.

But your opponent won’t be able to do that if you’re fighting from the inside. Taller boxers need space so they can throw long punches. Meanwhile, you don’t need so much room to catch your opponent when your reach is short, especially with uppercuts and hooks.

What Boxing Style Is Best?

Pressure-fighting is the most highly effective boxing style, which is probably the most typical in boxing. Famous boxers in history who were pressure fighters are Roberto Duran, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and Julio Cesar Chaves.

What Is The Hardest Boxing Style?

The pressure-fighter is one of the most challenging and hardest boxing styles to accomplish. The boxer only keeps punching over and over again, giving the opponent very small room to get a punch edgewise. Further, this boxing style needs nearly perfect form and the stamina to put pressure on the other fighter.

This fighting style needs an improved cardiovascular condition. If your health isn’t in top condition, then don’t try using this fighting style on your opponent.

When you are applying pressure fighter style, you must also endure backpressure. You may lose the fight if your cardiovascular health isn’t in good condition. That’s why it’s highly suggested that you put emphasis on cardiovascular endurance training to become a great pressure fighter.

How Do I Know My Boxing Style?

Don’t force yourself to a specific style. You probably like to become a full package, so you begin with the boxer-puncher immediately. But that’s wrong. It will help if you see and feel what fits you best. You must take your mentality, aggression, and skill into consideration, not to mention your physique too.

The ideal way to feel is to begin sparring. Don’t get into a boxing fight instantly. Spar with someone and determine how you react under specific circumstances. Simulate fighting scenarios. Make your partner go at you with full force. You’ll see what comes naturally to you.