Become Fighter
Distance management: Boxing guide
Stay just outside their range and step into yours when you choose.
There are three ranges. Long range is where only the jab reaches. Mid range is where the cross and hooks land. Close range is where you can hold, throw uppercuts and body shots. Every fighter has a range they like. Your job is to fight in yours and keep them out of theirs.
The skill is the in-and-out. You stay at the edge of their reach, step in to land, and leave before they answer. The best defence at the edge is simply being a few inches too far for their punch to arrive with full power.
Key points
- Learn your reach. Stand so your outstretched jab only just touches the target. That is your measuring line.
- Keep the ball of your front foot just outside their front foot at rest.
- Step in on the jab, step out on the way back. The foot that moves first is the one nearer the direction of travel.
- Do not retreat in a straight line. Step back with a small angle so they cannot simply follow.
- Change your rhythm. If you always step in on the same beat, they will be waiting.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Reaching with the head and shoulders to land. Move the feet, not the upper body. If you have to lean, you are too far away.
- Backing straight along the ropes or a line. Angle off. Straight retreat is the easiest thing to chase down.
- Stopping in range after the punch. Land and leave. Finish the combination and take your step out before they reply.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Ring craft module of Boxing fundamentals.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Ring craft
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.