The Art of Boxing

Although it looks simple, boxing requires a great deal of strategy, quick reflexes, and superb agility to win matches. It can take years before you learn how to punch a punching bag with perfect timing and delivering powerful blows. During your first few rounds of training, boxers will often break a leg or wrist before the fight gets underway. This physical conditioning is crucial for boxers to avoid getting injured during their matches. Proper conditioning of the legs and wrists will help boxers increase strength and endurance.

A boxer's footwear greatly affects his performance. Heavyweight boxers like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Andre Ward are known for their shoes. They have been said to purchase the best pair they can afford because they believe that it improves their overall game. Professional boxers like Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, and reigning world heavyweight champion (and pending candidate for the throne) Antonio Beltran are all believed to wear the same brand of shoes that they feel most comfortable in. They are also made from the finest leather and feature air pockets for comfort and padding in the soles for extra durability. For amateur boxers, they may only use boxing shoes that are approved by the local amateur level boxing rules.

Another critical component for a boxer is his footwork. Professional boxers use a variety of footwork techniques to throw their opponents off balance and put them off balance to beat them. Some common footwork techniques include foot stands, front and round kicks, jabs, forearms strikes, knee strikes, elbows, and turning punches. The footwork improves the speed and power with which a boxer throws his punches and can greatly affect his ability to defend himself in the ring. Boxers who do not improve their footwork will likely be unable to withstand the pressure from a skilled opponent, and will not stand a chance against opponents on the amateur level.

The judges score punches in a match by assigning points. The more points that a boxer has as he punches, the more legitimate he looks to be as a fighter. However, some fighters do not always appear to have a lot of points when they do actually have a lot. This is usually due to having a weak foot or not being able to keep his opponents off-balance long enough to punch effectively. As a boxer, you must ensure that your scores are accurate and consistent no matter who is judging the bout.

In the early rounds of boxing, the referee sometimes calls out a knockout. He then walks down to the center of the ring and announces the winner by clapping his hands. This is an illegal procedure called "clapping out" and is subject to sanction by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). The referee will clap out when there is 10 seconds or less left on the round or when the round has been stopped due to a knockdown.

When a boxer wins a fight, he may be awarded one or two points for his performance. He and his opponent then proceed to the next round. If there is no knockout in the first or second rounds, the bout is declared a no win. Therefore, boxing bouts are commonly known as "ruehr matches."

A "ruehr match" is a boring way to go into the ring. There are usually few meaningful exchanges, and the action tends to be non-stop. The purpose of this type of boxing is to conclude the bout quickly and without significant fighting. Most fighters have no desire to spend three or more rounds fighting to the finish, so they do not enter these types of matches thinking that they might lose.