Boxing styles and technique

Throughout the history of gloved boxing styles, techniques and strategies have changed to varying degrees. Ring conditions, promoter demands, teaching techniques, and the influence of successful boxers are some of the reasons styles and strategies have fluctuated.

The four main categories

Every boxer falls into one of the four boxing styles: In-Fighter, Out-Boxer, Slugger and Boxer-Puncher. While there are many different sub-categories for these styles, all boxers can be classified by one of the four main styles.

The in-fighter

The in-fighter (inside fighter, pressure fighter, swarmer, crowder) fights very aggressively and in close-quarters. This style involves bombarding the opponent with heavy attacks to prevent effective counters and wearing down the opponent's defenses by attrition. Notably, an in-fighter is identified by their forward movement, prioritizing their positioning to throw numerous punches while crowding their opponent. Boxers using this style consistently stay within or at the edge of the punching range of their opponent, forcing their opponent to engage 'on the back foot,' either retreating or attempting counter punches. This tends to require a large investment of energy (cardio) on the part of both fighters, meaning one goal of this style is to exhaust their opponent. In-fighters typically also fight in crouches to heavily target body and to be able duck head shots more effectively. In-fighters rely on large volumes of punches for offensive and defensive purposes against while in close range and in clinching by landing punches while offsetting some of the long range and counter shots from their opponents.

In-fighters prioritize initiating engagements, usually by entering their opponent's punching range using a combination of footwork, feints and straight punches or uppercuts. Once inside of their opponent's range, their objective is to score (land punches), then quickly exit the engagement - ideally at the very edge of their opponent's punching range. A boxer may also exert pressure by initiating a clinch instead of exiting the engagement after punching while fighting in very close quarters. Ideally, the swarmed will seek to leverage their weight over their opponent in the clinch, forcing their opponent to expend energy.

An effective in-fighter normally possesses a good "chin", as this style involves entering the punching range of their opponent before they can maneuver inside where they are more effective (one exception could be Floyd Patterson who was knocked down 20 times in 64 fights).
In-fighters are often shorter than other fighters with shorter reaches, as these fighters more frequently have to get inside of their opponent's punching range to land punches, though this is not always the rule.

Commonly known in-fighters are:

* Henry Armstrong
* Carmen Basilio
* Bennie Briscoe
* Julio Cesar Chavez
* Isaac Cruz
* Jack Dempsey
* Roberto Duran
* Alfonso Zamora
* Joe Frazier
* Gennady Golovkin
* Wilfredo Gomez
* Roman Gonzalez
* Harry Greb
* Ricky Hatton
* Naoya Inoue
* Jake LaMotta
* Marcos Maidana
* Rocky Marciano
* Julio Cesar Martínez
* Battling Nelson
* Bobo Olson
* Manny Pacquiao
* Floyd Patterson
* Aaron Pryor
* Donovan Ruddock
* Salvador Sanchez
* Leon Spinks
* Katie Taylor
* Mike Tyson
* Mickey Walker
* Winky Wright
* William Zepeda

The out-boxer

The out-boxer (outside fighter, boxer) seeks to stay well outside of their opponent's punching range when disengaged and land long-range punches. This style can be seen as an inverse of pressure fighting. Out-boxers are known for quick movement and an emphasis on optimal positioning in the ring, known as 'ringcraft' or 'ring generalship.' Since these fighters rely on punches from long range, the focus of these fighters tends to be obtaining a favorable position using footwork and feints, then using the threat of these punches to draw counters from their opponent or else corral their opponents into unfavorable positions along the ropes or in the corner of the ring, thus making the opponent's movements much easier to anticipate. Using positioning outside of the opponent's range, a successful out-boxer will score using their jab and attempt to anticipate their opponent's response, applying an appropriate counter.

Out-boxers rely on the defensive advantages given to them by staying outside of their opponents punching range. Their opponent is forced to initiate engagements from this range, and a successful out-boxer will attempt to reduce possible responses of their opponent using feints and footwork - in particular, achieving a favorable 'angle,' where the opponent is within the out-boxer's punching range while the out-boxer is outside of theirs. An out-boxers style is often typified by speed and a focus on accurate punches over knockout blows.

Out-boxers are generally taller fighters with long reach, as these fighters tend to be more able to threaten punches from outside of their opponent's range.

Commonly known out-boxers are:

* Laila Ali
* Muhammad Ali
* Dmitry Bivol
* Wilfred Benitez
* Ezzard Charles
* Billy Conn
* James J. Corbett
* Sunny Edwards
* Tyson Fury
* Naseem Hamed
* Devin Haney
* Thomas Hearns
* Larry Holmes
* Bakhodir Jalolov
* Jack Johnson
* Wladimir Klitschko
* Vitali Klitschko
* Sugar Ray Leonard
* Nicolino Locche
* Vasiliy Lomachenko
* Tommy Loughran
* Leotis Martin
* Floyd Mayweather Jr.
* Willie Pep
* Caleb Plant
* Guillermo Rigondeaux
* Barney Ross
* Shakur Stevenson
* Gene Tunney
* Jersey Joe Walcott
* Andre Ward
* Pernell Whitaker
* Benjamin Whittaker

The slugger

If the out-boxer represents the elegance in boxing, the slugger (brawler, puncher) embodies its brutality and ruthlessness. Offensively, sluggers possess the best balance and knockout capabilities due to their tendency to plant their feet on the ground while fighting. The most elite sluggers can punch with power from every angle. Some have the ability to corner their opponents to ensure they fall prey to their devastating punches. When it comes to defense, they smother their opponents and leave them vulnerable to power-punches. At the same time, they tend to be the masters of defensive movement in the danger zone of being punched. They apply subtle defensive movements, such as slipping and minimal ducking to reduce the damage they take in punching zones.

Most sluggers lack mobility in the ring and may have difficulty pursuing fighters who are fast on their feet but that is not always the case. Compared to swarmers and out-boxers, sluggers normally throw power shots and rely less on combinations. Sluggers often throw predictable punching patterns (single punches with obvious leads) which can leave them open for counterpunching.

Commonly known sluggers are:

* Max Baer
* Iran Barkley
* David Benavidez
* Artur Beterbiev
* Oscar Bonavena
* Riddick Bowe
* Derek Chisora
* Bob Fitzsimmons
* Eric Esch
* Chris Eubank
* George Foreman
* Bob Foster
* Carl Froch
* Arturo Gatti
* Rocky Graziano
* Larry Holmes
* Julian Jackson
* James J. Jeffries
* Stanley Ketchel
* Vitali Klitschko

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