Muay Thai strategy against boxing

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Hey I just recently took another step in my training and am now learning Muay Thai. A boxer came by the other day and had some very impressive hand skills. Watching him spar, a question popped in my head: How would a muay thai fighter spar with a boxer? Would he try to keep his range and capitalize on the fact that boxers aren't used to kicks? Or would he keep out of range and just wait for the right angle and pick his shots? Any opinions would be nice. I just started so pardon my noobness .

[Slavez3ro]

Difficult scenario depends on the fighter like u said hands skills is something that i think MT fighters lack a bit beacause utilizing the kick tends to leave MT fighter open for jab/cross/hook and all sorts of punishement.

He will defenitely lay it on u if u miss or leave openings.O' they pretty tough above the waist and they pretty quick on their feet.

[WhiteTiger]

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Boxers are hard to get in on. I would stay out and use kicks. Move to the sides. But if he just throws fast punches and comes forward thats even hard to do.
Another thing to do is stand your ground as he comes forward and have a REALLY strong gard to the some punches on. Then take one of his punches down and knee him stright in.

I have truble with good boxers to. Thay are so good wit the hands. But this maby helps. Any other good strategy that someone can come up with?

[Garland]

kick him hard in the leg and the hand will drop...if he's stupid, he'll try and block a kick with his arm or hand... and then clinche and kill.

[sportmuaythai]

Difficult scenario depends on the fighter .

Exactly. Let's say that both fighters are of equal ability and speed.

Would he try to keep his range and capitalize on the fact that boxers aren't used to kicks? Or would he keep out of range and just wait for the right angle and pick his shots? Any opinions would be nice. I just started so pardon my noobness .

This would be the wisest thing to do. Fortunately, you're discussing sparring only. I'm solely expressing mho here. I'd keep my guard tight (chin tucked and jaw covered), and wait for the boxer to initiate first move. I'd keep foot jabbing every time he tries to jab his way in. I expect frustration will force him to start lunging, then it's easier. If he throws a left hook, try to intercept with your right kick to the ribs. If he throws right straight or hook, send out your left round house. A kick has longer range and will reach first, if you keep your cool. In case he gets inside (very unlikely) and start to throw combinations, guard tight all the way down your torso, and absorb his weapons, while side stepping 45 degree and kick the inside at his ankle. This will spread his legs apart and he'll likely drop. Don't try to throw knee, because it can leave you open. Remember this is a spar, and you shouldn't throw weapon with all power. You're supposed to show your skill and craftiness. Eventually, your opponent may wise up, but hopefully, he will gassed out quite a bit.

[Khun Kao]

Good points by SportMuayThai....

When I've faced boxers, I've had some success timing their punches and countering with kicks to the exposed ribs on the same side, but it is VERY IMPORTANT that you maintain a proper guard when you kick!!!! Even if you land the kick you're still likely to eat the punch if you leave your head exposed.

It takes EXCELLENT timing to land a teep (push kick) to a boxers body. What I would suggest as an initial strategy is to attack the boxers lead leg with short little "jabbing" teeps with the ball of your foot on his thigh. You don't have to land a hard kick, just enough to apply pressure on the leg. Remember, boxers weight needs to come forward onto their lead leg for punching power. This makes the lead leg an even more vital target. Short, fast teeps to the thigh will help keep the boxer off balance and unable to sit down into his punches. And of course, wait until he tries to throw a punch to lay a kick or two across this thigh. A few well-placed kicks to the thigh and that leg is going to stiffen up, which will start to affect his mobility and his ability to plant his foot for punching power.

I disgree with what others have said regarding not throwing knees. I think throwing knees is a GREAT response to a boxer!!! Most boxers are used to clinchwork, but not MuayThai style clinchwork! They are not used to someone grabbing their head and neck to pull them down into knees. Having your hands on the boxer and FIRMLY controlling his head will drastically reduce his punching power and a strong clinch prevents your opponent from effectively getting his body into his punches. If you are utilizing your clinch properly, you should be keeping your opponent off-balance and also controlling him from being able to effectively turn his body into punches.

Since the discussion is mostly about sparring, I'll skip discussing elbows, which are arguably the BEST counter for boxing.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Should I try to avoid throwing hands with him all together?

[WhiteTiger]

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If you think yo are better then him why not. Allways fun to take out a boxer at there own game. But if you arent a better boxer then him I think you shuld stick to leg techniqes: knees and kicks. But some punches maby.

[Tom Yum]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Should I try to avoid throwing hands with him all together?

Yes.

Is he used to seeing leg kicks?

If not, chop away. Not just offensively, but defensively slipping his straights and slamming those shin kicks. There's a chance he might drop his hand to cover his leg, that's when you can use punches but if you get lucky enough to land back out quick if he's not stunned.

If yes, stick to using those leg kicks defensively and then try to set up kicks upstairs. You're going to have to know something about boxing, some basic counterpunching, head movement etc.

If you get into infighting range, clinch and move him around so he can't plant and explode; try to make him run into a knee. If he gets free of your clinch, he's gonna open up a can of whoop @ss on you - use your push kick to keep distance and keep him in kicking range.

[Clooneytkd]

yeah if you do go for leg kicks just make sure your opposite hand is always in front of your face. maybe you could do a alot of leg kicks and such than switch it up and use hands to catch him off gaurd, he'll be to busy trying to figure out how to stop the kicks that he wont even think your going to swing your hands. maybe like th efirst minute just use your legs

[bigred389]

A lot simply depends on size/reach as well. If your reach is less, I strongly recommend against throwing hands until you've closed, and use kicks to set up entries. But then once you've closed you might as well knee...
And if you're impressed by his hand speed and movement...you probably don't want to trade hands with him.

Khun Kao's give you great advice, boxers are most dangerous when they're mobile. If that lead leg can't move forward, you essentially stuffed the right cross, and taken a lot of pepper out of the jab. You also hamper their entry, which is what they'll want to do to damage you.

Leg kicks while moving out to the sides is nice, but IMO that's only if you've got enough power behind it to really trash that leg. Work the heavy bag until ready.

Teeps to the body to counter the right cross, while difficult to time against a quick boxer, can cause MASSIVE pain for them, as it's essentially a head on collision, and the doubling over will stuff that cross as well. It's best when you "feel" the right cross coming.

If they get going with hooks and uppercuts, shield and close in fast to deliver some knees. I've had the most trouble when a good boxer really gets going with a chain of swinging hooks and uppercuts.

I think of it this way, kicks to maintain long range. Pick roundhouse shots at this range, and use the teeps to maintain distance. If you can, use leg kicks while sidestepping rushes.
Mid distance(easy punching distance) is their game...don't play there.
Once you get in easy range of hooks, you're probably not going to be able to exit easily, so close and knee.

Khun Kao, if you have some advice on using elbows on a boxer with significantly more reach it would be appreciated.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Where should the weight be when I teep or push kick? Should I keep all my weight on my back foot and then just do a quick shove with the kicking leg like a jab? I think I have a pretty clear understanding of the strategy I should use to approach boxers, it'll just take time for me to refine my technique enough to be able to do so.

[Khun Kao]

Doc...

Is there any video footage of that fight available?

[WildWest.]

I've sparred with a boxer or 2 at our MT club. I remember kicking them in the legs alot, staying out of their punching range as much as possible....oh and I remember kicking them in the head many times.

They aren't used to defending kicks and aren't familiar with fake set ups etc. I've watched full contact fights where an MT person will kick the sht our of a boxers lead leg until he cannot leave it out any more so reverts to southpaw (or orthodox) and. in turn, gets the shit kicked out of that leg until they fall over. Nice demonstration of the power of the leg kick in my opinion.

[Leo Daher]

Since the discussion is mostly about sparring, I'll skip discussing elbows, which are arguably the BEST counter for boxing.

Khun Kao, nice post. I'd be interested in your comments on using elbows against a boxer.

Thanks in advance,

Leo