No Glove No Love

Man, I LOVE boxing. Last night I went to the White Collar Boxing event by Vanda Promotions at Suntec Convention Centre. It's a charity event to raise money for a Children's hospital in Cambodia - very noble cause.

Finance professionals sign up, train for 12 weeks at a boxing gym, and then slug it out in front of clients, colleagues, and well-wishers for three, 2-minute rounds. People get very fit during the 12 weeks, but I am not sure how much they learn about boxing...

Here's some points I feel the need to comment on.

1) the JAB
The most important punch in boxing. I hardly saw it, and when I saw it, I hardly saw it used properly. How do you use a jab?

• check distance - if you can hit him with the jab, bring something else right after
• unsettle opponent - every time your opponent stops moving, a jab should be right in their face
• look for holes in the guard - the jab is a probing punch
• faking - fake the jab to bring in a cross or hook

I did not see much good jabbing in the matches - shame.

2) The Hips
no hips -> no power. Simple. That's why no knockouts last night, despite some of the guys being 100 kg.

3) Lead the target
You should be punching where your opponent is going, not where he is. That is called leading. If you do not lead, you miss a high percentage of shots.

4) Leaning Away/Leaning Down
Anyone who does this deserves to get knocked out, sorry. NEVER bend at the waist except for the rockback (jab response). Especially bending forward is a sure way to take power from your punch and give your opponent the opportunity he needs to floor you.

5) Elbows in
lots of wide elbows/windmills last night. Most of those guys are lucky to be alive. All punches go straight except hooks.

6) Hooks
Very few hooks last night. This is a devastating up-close shot. I am surprised it wasn't used more. This wins a lot of pro fights.

7) Angles
The forward 45 is very important when your opponent closes guard on the ropes. If you don't take the 45 you cannot score when he is covered up on the ropes. You get tired, and then you are the one in danger. Angle in so your shots go around the elbows to the kidneys, or around the gloves to the head.

8) Finish off
Boxing is instinctive. You need the killer instinct to finish fights when the opportunity comes. Otherwise, you end up being the one on the canvas.

9) Get hit
During training, you need to get hit as much as possible to get over the fear of it.

10) RELAX
Every time in the ring should feel the same, regardless of where you are. The bout should feel like the normal sparring session. If it doesn't, you need to spend more time in the ring until it does. The audience cannot knock the other guy out - only you can. Focus on what you have to do. Lower your shoulders, relax, and let er rip.

It takes a lot of balls to get in the ring. Make sure your mid-life crisis does not become a medical crisis...See you in the ring.