well, keep in mind that when you are doing the inside deflection, that the footwork is very important. You have to step to the inside at a 45 degree angle, angling your body so that you can strike ACROSS the angle of the incoming blow. (if you are close enough/step deep enough, you can ram his sternum with your shoulder quite forcefully, possibly negating the strike right there.. i've only done this twice in sparring though..one of the times i did it I knocked him over his heels and on his ass..possibly only because of greater experience, possibly because it's a good technique). With sticks, this ensures no force on force at all, simply wacking the incoming strike to the side.. this works great as physics says the faster an object is moving forward, the easier it becomes to shove it to the side..
with a hook, this means grabbing the bicep/shoulder, which are at 90 degree angles to the direction of the incoming hook, still working with this theory of physics. not only that, but you are grabbing the lever (his arm) closer to it's fulcrum (his shoulder) which means you contest with far less leverage energy than if you stopped him at the forearm/fist level.
be sure you are stepping in when you stop the hook, or at least angling for it..
maybe the boxers will disagree, and if they do, they are probably right..
but this is my understanding of what i've been doing.
[Edited by quietanswer on 10-23-2000 at 11:58 AM]