Boxing Styles

While all boxers use different moves, punches and combinations, there is a specific way in which they fight. This is called their style. There are different types of boxing styles. Each varies widely but not totally as one style may resemble a few elements of another style. There are 3 main types or at least, 3 generally known types of boxing styles, "the boxer", "the slugger", and "the inside fighter."

The boxer – This is the technical type of boxing or often referred to as the "textbook fighter." The boxer is a master of both offense and defense. He fights generally from the outside, come in to make few hits, and the back off again. The boxer may not be the most entertaining to watch if you are looking for some great action but he possesses excellent technical abilities that beginners can learn from.

He can fight well against sluggers because he is faster and more agile inside the ring. Muhammad Ali, Benny Leonard, and Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Winky Wright, and Felix Trinidad are some of the most popular fighters who possess this style.

The slugger – This fighter may not possess the technical skills of "the boxer" but power and aggressiveness are his main weapons. A slugger is the most fun and most exciting fighter to watch. Also known as the brawler, he lacks finesse in the ring, but he makes up for it by his unpredictability and powerful punches which often result to knockouts. This is the reason why Manny Pacquiao is the most popular and well appreciated boxer today. Other well-known sluggers are Naseem Hamed, Sonny Liston, George Foreman, and Arturo Gatti.

The inside fighter – This fighter is not as technical as "the boxer" but he is as exciting to watch as the slugger. The inside fighter spends most of his time in the ring closing inside his opponent and throwing heavy blows of uppercuts and hooks.

He may take some shots on his way in but an inside fighter often has a strong chin that can resist any possible damages. Some of the most popular inside fighters are Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton, Julio Cesar Chaves, Mike Tyson, Julio Margarito, and Joe Frazer.

There are two other boxing styles that are worth mentioning: hybrid boxer and the crowder.

Boxers may fall into more than one type of style. This is called the hybrid boxer. For example, Naseem Hamed is considered a slugger but his agility and ability to move around the ring makes in an out-fighter. Mike Tyson who is known as a brawler is a very intense inside fighter.

The crowder didn't get his name from his ability to please the crowd but his ability to put pressure to his opponent inside the ring. Also known as the swarmer, this type of boxer puts constant pressure to his opponent through non-stop attacks and aggression. Crowders are a rare type since there are only few fighters who possess great stamina and can continuously attack his opponent throughout the game.

A boxer may not be a crowder throughout in his fight. For example, Manny Pacquiao is considered a slugger but become a crowder in his first fight against Marco Antonio Barrera. Some popular crowders are Henry Armstrong, Joe Frazer, and Ricky Hatton.