pressure fighting/taller opponents

[ACzeMiky]

Hi everyone, First of all I want to appologize because my english isn't good. I hope you will understand. My problem is that I am only about 176cm tall and I compete in 69kg weight class. I have everytime about 10cm taller opponent with longer reach. But it is not a big deal because I won all of my matches for now. But in my gym there is one guy who trains about 1 year longer than me and I just don't know how to sparr with him. About 3 months ago I was better than him but now he is getting better and better really fast. When I try to keep pressure on him than he just puts his hand on my head and jump out. I can't reach him. Sometimes when I am trying too much to go forward and reach him, my right leg goes off the ground when I try to throw right cross. Ofcourse he is more experienced but by the time I will have better and better opponents who will be able to use their reach advantage (I have only 3 matches). Can anyone give me some good advices about pressure fighting and how to get inside and reach my opponent when is he just running away from me and jabbing me from a distance? Thank you guys .

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Well, it's hard to help you by describing it in words but I can tell you a few things you can work on.

When you are a shorter fighter, you usually need to come forward and pressure like you said. If you are facing a guy who has a good jab or moves very well, it can be difficult.

So the first thing you need to do is make sure you learn to cut off the ring. Sometimes you can fall into a habit of following him around because you want to hit him so bad. Make sure you cut the ring off by stepping to the side, properly. Applying pressure to the outside foot, to move the opposite way.

So for example, pushing off on the right foot to move left, and vice versa. Second thing you need to make you don't do is come in "naked'. What I mean by that is just come in not throwing any punches, particularly the jab.

I teach a great angle jab that you can double or triple to find your way inside and do the damage you want to do.

Once you are inside, it's important to know how to stay there. Smothering your opponent and being right in his chest. Sometimes that not what you want to do, but if you are facing good movers, that the best way to do damage while making sure you take his best punches away from him.

Once you are on the inside, head movement is the key. Making sure you throw your hooks and uppercuts, and finish with defense. Meaning finish with slipping off of your shots and setting the other hand up.

It takes a lot of practice and I would suggest you watch Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to see how it's done. Learn to catch and counter, jab your way inside, move your head while in side, and how to stay on your opponent as you cut off the ring.

Hope that helps.