Jabs to the body...

The question: is the jab to the body, in and of itself, a viable offensive weapon? Nobody doubts it is an adequate substitution for the more common jab to the head, in terms of setting up shots and keeping opponents at bay. But generally speaking, does it achieve the weakening effect of traditional body-punching?

 

Floyd has an excellent jab to the body, and it seems to work pretty fucking well, despite not being a hard puncher.

I think in my mind a hard jab to the body is a pretty good punch. Discourages opponent, keeps them guessing, hurts, lowers guard, and fighters don't expect it.

 

Mex got there first, but yeah Floyd's jab to the body is excellent. Sucks the wind out of the opponent, makes them cautious about coming in. Took the steam out of Hatton and helped him turn the tide against Maidana in the first fight. Gets the other fighter to drop their guard and leave themselves open to his right hand.

 

It's no different really than a jab to the head... effective and it doesn't tickle but it's not a hook or a shot with your rear hand

If you kept getting jabbed in the stomach, your body wouldn't like it ... but it'd like it better than a hook to your liver

 

If that's true, then a jab to the body seems hugely underused.

 

If you let Mayweather jr tell it, he invented the jab to the body

 

I get your point. But body punching is unique in that it is expected to weaken an opponent over time. Sounds like you're saying jabs to the body would over time weaken an opponent, just not to the extent a left hook would. But there's a possibility jabs to the body would not accumulate in the same way. Basically, a stupid thread.

 

There's a real potential danger there that's less prevalent with a jab upstairs... the jab to the body requires the extra component of going lower which leaves your head exposed longer even if we are talking split seconds... split seconds are the difference between a left hook smashing you in the cheek and a left hook only partially connecting because you've successfully rolled with it...

Jab to the body is easier to throw a right over the top of then a head jab ... therefore quickness becomes a more essential element for the jabber... this is why not a lot of fighters utilize it regularly and the ones who do are usually guys that are very very quick and very good defensively... the only others you'll see typically are tall men with really big reaches... Lennox Lewis threw good body jabs

 

I agree except to say it's easier to move your head out of the way of an oncoming jab than it is to move your torso, especially when you're trying to apply pleasure.

 

Exactly. Worked really, really well didn't it? Surprisingly so. Makes you wonder why more fighters don't use it.

Only thing I can think of is it takes a bit more effort than a normal jab, and leaves you more open to eat a hook or uppercut counter.

As good as the punch is, if I was a pro boxer, I do think I'd be far more weary and hesitant in throwing it compared to a normal jab. You do feel way more exposed and open.

Floyd got away with it because of his amazing reach, positioning, and defence.

 

Well they'd still accumulate but just not as significantly... any landed punch is a useful thing when you get right down to it

 

Yes of course but it's also easier to toss a right hand counter on a guy jabbing you to the body than a guy doing it up top

 

Corrales was prob the best example, he established it early then had Chico jumping at every feint.....left hook to the head again and again

 

Aye probably takes mayweather-level timing and skill to get away with it safely consistently

 

It's a very good punch if you can pull it off.

 

Theres a reason its rarely used. Very dangerous punch to use as your a sucker for the straight right
Pbf was a phenom, so he could get away with it.

 

Sugar Ray Leonard used it effectively vs Thomas Hearns in 1st fight

 

It was the PERFECT Weapon of Choice for Floyd, Especially Welterweight Floyd...

Inherently the Jab to the Body ISN'T a Safe Punch to Throw, But it Was for a Sharp, Defensive Minded Dude w/Floyd's Reflexes, Footwork and Relatively Low Punch-Rate...And He'd Often Win Otherwise Mundane Rounds on the Strength of Jabs to the Body Alone...

It's Definitely Not a Sexy, KO Inducing Punch (Let REED Know If/When You See a Jabs to the Body Highlight Reel), but it Serves a Purpose...

Errol Spence Uses it Effectively...Not Often, but Just When a Guy Thinks He's Got the Timing Down on Spence's Souf'Paw Jab to the Head, He'll Fire it to the Body to Throw Him Off/Keep Him Honest...REED Can't Say he's Seen Spence Get Hit While Doing it Either, in Sparring OR an Actual Fight...







REED

 

I think PBF kod a guy with a jab to the body in his first fight.

Edit: was in his 3rd pro fight, and it only was a bs KD

 

The T-1000 in T2 could jab through a dude's body

 

Spence Literally Uses the Word “Stabbed”.

“I Stabbed Him to the Body....”







REED

 

Then the phone rings and Spence answers in the guy's exact voice and tells you the dog is fine ... but he ain't! Don't listen to him, REED!

 

Good option for short fighters, facing taller ones.

 

And for futuristic killing machines capable of liquefying their metallic skeletons

 

It’s a risky punch because of how open you are to counters. Lewis-Ruddock is an example.

Mayweather had the timing and distance down pat, plus he had very long arms/reach for his height.

Just like bodypunching in general, fighters tend to go away from it when they’re hit with counters.

 

Exactly.

 

It’s a good weapon to keep the guy guessing.

You can jab to the body a few times to bring his hands down and then feint a jab to the body and turn it into a hook.

But it does leave you open if you’re facing a guy with great timing and anticipation.

 

Yuh fawhstuh purrends are did.

 

And then 20 years later Reed is like:-

 

Exactly