Key takeaways
- Wikipedia lists eight basic boxing punches; the six most used are the jab, cross, lead hook, rear hook, lead uppercut and rear uppercut.
- Any punch other than the jab is considered a power punch.
- Combinations are called by number: jab 1, cross 2, lead hook 3, rear hook 4, lead uppercut 5, rear uppercut 6, so a jab-cross is a 1-2.
- Lead and rear hands depend on stance: an orthodox boxer leads with the left, a southpaw with the right.
- Punches below the belt, to the back of the head or neck (the 'rabbit punch') or to the kidneys are prohibited.
Boxing looks like a flurry of punches, but almost everything a boxer throws is built from a handful of basic shots. The most used of them even have numbers, so a combination can be named in a few syllables. This guide describes each punch the way Wikipedia's article on boxing does, for a right-handed boxer, then explains the numbers, the combinations and the punches the rules forbid.
Lead hand and rear hand
Everything depends on stance. Wikipedia explains that a right-handed, orthodox boxer leads with the left hand, so the left is the lead and the right the rear; a left-handed southpaw reverses that. "Lead" punches come from the front hand, closer to the opponent; "rear" punches come from the back hand.
The basic punches
Wikipedia counts eight basic punches, with six used most: the jab, the cross, the lead and rear hooks, and the lead and rear uppercuts. The lead and rear overhands are the other two. Any punch other than the jab is considered a power punch.
| Punch | Hand | How it travels | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | Lead | Quick and straight, from the guard | Gauging distance, setting up heavier punches |
| Cross (straight) | Rear | Straight, crossing the body | Power down the middle |
| Hook | Lead or rear | A tight semi-circle to the side | Power from an angle |
| Uppercut | Rear or lead | A vertical, rising arc | Power from underneath |
| Overhand | Lead or rear | A semi-circular arc over the guard | Getting over a high guard |
The jab. Wikipedia describes a quick, straight punch from the guard position. The torso and hips rotate slightly, the fist turns horizontal on impact, the lead shoulder rises to guard the chin and the rear hand stays by the face. The hand comes back quickly to the guard.
The cross. A powerful straight punch with the rear hand, thrown from the chin across the body. The power comes from the ground up, starting with a strong push off the ball of the rear foot, while the lead hand tucks back to protect the chin.
The hook. A semi-circular punch, thrown with the lead hand to the side of the head, the hips and torso rotating and the lead foot pivoting. Aimed at the body, Wikipedia notes, it is sometimes called a "rip". Hooks can be thrown with either hand.
The uppercut. A vertical, rising punch, classically with the rear hand, which drops below the opponent's chest level before driving upwards with the legs towards the chin or torso. Wikipedia notes its strategic value is in "lifting" an opponent off balance for the next attack.
The overhand. Also called a drop or overcut, a semi-circular punch thrown in a vertical arc to come over an opponent's guard. It generates a lot of power but often leaves the thrower exposed, requiring a defensive roll afterwards.
The numbers system
Wikipedia explains that punches in combinations are often called by number:
| Number | Punch |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jab |
| 2 | Cross |
| 3 | Lead hook |
| 4 | Rear hook |
| 5 | Lead uppercut |
| 6 | Rear uppercut |
So a jab and a cross is a 1-2, and "1-2-3" is jab, cross, lead hook. The one-two is the most common combination, Wikipedia notes, because the jab blocks the opponent's view of the cross so it lands more cleanly. It also describes the rear uppercut followed by the lead hook, a 6-3 in numbers, as a dangerous combination: the uppercut lifts the chin, and the hook lands on it.
Wild punches and illegal punches
Wikipedia describes the haymaker or roundhouse, a wide, looping punch powered by its swing rather than body rotation, as unsophisticated: it takes longer to land and leaves the thrower open to a counter, and trainers regard it as a sign of poor technique or desperation.
Some punches are simply against the rules. Boxers may not hit below the belt, to the kidneys, or to the back of the head or neck, the so-called rabbit punch, and may not hold, trip or push. Boxing scoring explained covers how clean punches win rounds, and amateur versus professional boxing how the rules differ between the two codes.
Punches and style
Which punches a boxer favours shapes their style: an out-boxer wins from long range with footwork, feints and the jab, while a pressure fighter closes the distance to work inside; boxing styles explained describes each style, and what a boxing corner does explains the team in a boxer's corner.
In Boxing Prize Fighter Career, one of our sports career games, you throw jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercuts to the head and body yourself; the game guide explains how stamina, distance and defense come into it.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is a 1-2 in boxing?
What is the difference between a jab and a cross?
What is a power punch?
What is a rabbit punch?
Sources
- Boxing (Punches section) (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Punch (combat) (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
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