10 Reasons To Jab, Jab and Then Jab Some More

Few boxing critics will argue against me, when I say, "Larry Holmes (69-6-0) made the best use of the jab in boxing history, bar none".

At the height of his tenor he ruled the heavy weight division by systematically breaking his opponents down primarily with a single punch; the jab.

Unfortunately, a lot of fighters today have not learnt from the lessons of their predecessors. They grossly underestimate the effectiveness of throwing a straight lead hand punch.

In my opinion, the jab is the most important and versatile punch in a boxer's arsenal. It manages distance, disrupts your opponent's combinations, sets up your offense, is the fastest and least risky way to score points, allows time to feel out your adversary, and helps control tempo.

The jab can be strategically used to pave the way to victory in a variety of competitive scenarios:

1. 
   
   Use the jab to get on the inside of an opponent. Jabbing while moving forward effectively occupies your opposition's attention, which allows you time to move into position and work in shots at close range.


2. 
   
   To exit from an inside position perform a back-step-roll followed by an immediate jab to help keep an opponent from readily following you and/or counter punching.


3. 
   
   Keep a bully fighter or bigger opponent at bay by setting up quickly, and then throw 2-3 explosive jabs before speeding off. Do this at the moment your opponent attempts to punch to disrupt their offense.


4. 
   
   Throwing jabs while in transition is a great way to safely change your attack angles relative to your opponent. It is the same for changing angles during retreat.


5. 
   
   Use the jab to draw your opponent's attention away from a desired target. Example, jab to the body to induce another fighter to lower his/her guards to protect the midsection, which then leaves them open for a head shot.


6. 
   
   It's a customary practice in boxing to lead with the jab. Play on this expected practice by occasionally pump faking the jab, and then lead with another punch instead.


7. 
   
   Probe with the jab to gauge when you are in punching range.


8. 
   
   Intercept incoming punches with the jab as a defensive measure. Essentially you use a punch to deflect a punch.


9. 
   
   Mark a spot on an opponent with the jab, and then follow with a power punch to the same location.


10. 
    
    Score points quickly with a rapid series of jabs to the head and body, and then follow up with more hard bruising shots to stop an opponent dead in his tracks.