Become Fighter
Working with your corner: Boxing guide
Listen in the fight, use the minute, and give your corner something to work with.
Your corner sees what you cannot. They watch the other fighter's habits, the scoring and the clock. In sparring and in fights, the minute between rounds is worth practising, because you have little time and a lot of information to take in.
A good corner gives one or two clear instructions. A good fighter listens, repeats them, and does them in the next round. Rehearse this in training so that it is automatic on the night.
Key points
- Between rounds, sit or stand as your corner prefers, slow your breathing and look at the person speaking.
- Take one or two instructions only. Repeat them back in your head: for example 'jab to the body, then out'.
- Tell your corner what you see, such as a dropped hand or a habit. Keep it short.
- Drink small sips of water. Do not rush food or fluids.
- Trust the corner's call to stop a fight or a spar. It is for your health.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Talking too much in the minute. Listen first. Use your sentences for the one thing you have noticed.
- Ignoring the instruction in the next round. Make the first exchange of the round the instruction, to lock it in.
- Staying angry or flustered. Slow breathing before anything else. A calm fighter can use the information.
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 Sparring and ring generalship module of Boxing fundamentals.
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More from Sparring and ring generalship
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.