What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

2024/07/13

In this blog, we will discuss what is southpaw stance in boxing, how to box with the southpaw stance, the 5 best southpaw boxers, the importance of stance in boxing, and effective tips to play this sport.

What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

What is Southpaw Stance in Boxing?

A southpaw stance in boxing is when the boxer stands with their right hand and right foot forward. This is different from the more common orthodox stance, where the left hand and left foot are forward.

Southpaw boxers lead with their right hand and follow up with powerful punches like a left cross and a right hook. This stance is especially beneficial for left-handed fighters.

How to box when you are Left-Handed or a Southpaw Boxer?

During a fight, the southpaw boxers have an edge over the other boxers due to their stance. In this position, he can place his right hand in front of him, allowing him to land his right jab with his right hand. A left-handed person has the following advantages:

  • Southpaw boxers are very much used to both types of stances.
  • You can throw punches more quickly with the left hand because it has a shorter reaction time.
  • They have a much sharper jab.
  • Unpredictability is inherent in punches.
  • Boxing Online Betting odds are always in favor of boxers with a southpaw stance.

If you are a right-handed boxer facing a left-handed opponent, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the southpaw stance and maintain distance from their left side. You should position yourself as if you were going to land a right punch. It is worth mentioning that when two left-handed boxers compete, it presents unique challenges for both fighters. They must adapt to unfamiliar angles of attack and movement techniques.

Top 5 Best Southpaw Boxers in History

Boxing has produced some great left-handed boxers as well, and here are some of them:

  • Marvin Hagler: Marvin Hagler, aka Marvelous, was a great champion during his time. A native of New Jersey, he has defeated John Mugabi and Roberto Duran in his weight division.

What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

  • Manny Pacquiao: As a boxing star, Manny Pacquiao is famous for his agility, punching speed, and agility. In his boxing era, he was most famous for his four fights against Juan Manuel Marquez. His Boxing Online Betting odds have always been very high and due to Pacquiao’s success, betting became quite popular in the Philippines.

What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

  • Sergio Martinez: In 2009, Sergio Martinez became famous following his thrilling bout with Kermit Cintron, having spent much of his career in the shadows.

What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

  • Joe Calzaghe: Calzaghe is one of the few boxers to finish their careers without ever suffering a defeat. He dominated the super-middleweight division for many years.

What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

  • Antonio Tarver: Traver was very popular due to his brutal strength. This southpaw boxer has knocked out ring champions such as Roy Jones Jr in his era.

What is Southpaw Stance? Detailed Guide & Best Southpaw Boxers

The Importance of Stance & Reach in Boxing

We need to review some fundamentals before discussing boxing techniques, such as what is southpaw stance or orthodox stance, position, and reach.

  • Right-handed boxers box orthodoxly, which means that their front arm is on the left, and their front leg is on the left as well.
  • Left-handed boxers box southpaw, which means their front arm is on the right and their front leg is on the right.

Naturally, one's preferred position is often determined by whether they are right or left-handed. However, there may be some exceptions to this rule. It can also be beneficial to work in both positions.

Regardless of your dominant hand, the placement of your feet should remain consistent. They should be positioned shoulder-width apart, as if an imaginary vertical line were drawn under them. Your feet should then be situated on one side of this line for proper placement.

  • If you box orthodoxly, your front foot (left foot) is to the left of this line and your back foot (right foot) is to the right of this line.
  • When you box in Southpaw, your back foot (left foot) will be to the left of this line and your front foot (right foot) will be to the right. This gives an upper hand to the Southpaw boxer, especially against the orthodox boxer and that’s why the Boxing Online Betting markets usually suggest odds in favor of left-handed boxers.

The toe of your front foot must touch the line, while the heel of your back foot must touch it.

Some Tips to Improve Your Boxing Technique

To learn and perfect these techniques that you have just seen, there is no secret, You must practice, repeat, and repeat these movements: “Practice makes a man perfect ”!

To improve your techniques, you can train with a punching bag, shadow boxing, sparring, or even bear paws. Furthermore, you need to analyze the opponent’s way of playing and have deep knowledge about what is southpaw stance and orthodox stance.

To help you have almost perfect technique, we have prepared a list of tips to keep in mind when you box:

  • Always stay relaxed and relaxed.
  • Move without taking your feet off the ground too much (you almost have to slide)
  • Vary levels (body/head) and angles
  • Think speed and precision before power
  • Pay attention to your footwork, move intelligently
  • Work on all distances (short, medium, long)
  • Remember to always have your guard up and your chin tucked in.
  • Be light on your supports, move on your toes and not on your heels
  • Remember to always exhale when punching
  • Contract your muscles on impact
  • Don't clench your fists all the time, only when you touch
  • Always keep an eye on your opponent
  • Stay well-balanced on both legs
  • Before throwing a punch, find the right distance (jab)
  • When sending directs, extend your arm fully
  • When you move, always keep your feet the same distance apart.
  • Stay compact, but not tense
  • Your two feet should never be on the same line
  • Move your head before and after each stroke
  • Practice each movement to have the right technique
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