Sparring heavier opponents?

[Harry]

What tactics would be good to implement in a spar against a heavier opponent?
I'm talking 'heavier' in the regions of 50-60lbs heavier, I got the crap knocked out of me last night, he kept on plowing into me and the best I could do was pushing him off or getting him off with a quick hook to the side, I tried pressing into him and continually moving forwards at him, throwing punches, but I found it only worked for so long before he used his weight and I'd be pushed across the ring, I was keeping my technique fairly tight, my elbows were protecting my ribs e.t.c. I just couldn't match him pound for pound.

So are there any techniques you can use against heavier opponents, or is it a lost cause?
Thanks.

[Jeremy Lobdell]

Heavier poopnent!

Stay off the ropes and out of the corner so he can't lean on you. Stick and move, don't let him counterpunch. And utelize your footwork to ste up your combos, and make the guy chase you! Now this is probably all stuff you've been told and already know, so I appreciate that it's harder to do in the ring.
Mahalo, Jeremy

[Harry]

Stay off the ropes and out of the corner so he can't lean on you. Stick and move, don't let him counterpunch. And utelize your footwork to ste up your combos, and make the guy chase you! Now this is probably all stuff you've been told and already know, so I appreciate that it's harder to do in the ring.
Mahalo, Jeremy

Thanks, I'm a fair bit fitter than him, Might it be an idea to try and tire him out if possible and try to get him to chase me and overextend himself or would that most likely be too hard to do?
The particular guy im sparring has a few flaws in his technique, his elbows are nowhere near his ribs, It's just getting close enough to use this to my advantage that is a problem, but I shall try and put your advice to good use next time round.
Thanks.

[Jeremy Lobdell]

Harry

Absolutely, your thinking is right on. I'm speaking (i don't think we've ever met, but the world is a small place) from the point of view of a bigger than normal guy, and even with good conditioning, I wear down a lot faster than a smaller guy does, mainly due to the fact of having to support a greater muscle mass with the same cardiovascular system as a smaller guy. Don't allow him to set up and get comfortable trading shots with you, as he'll want to use his increased size and power to his full advantage. Make him move and fight your fight. Once fatigue fully sets in, his increased size and weight will become a disadvantage. You may also want to consider posting or sending a pm to Mike Brewer, as he may have some aditional insights, as his knowledge and experience greatly exceeds mine.
Mahalo, Jeremy

[Harry]

Absolutely, your thinking is right on. I'm speaking (i don't think we've ever met, but the world is a small place) from the point of view of a bigger than normal guy, and even with good conditioning, I wear down a lot faster than a smaller guy does, mainly due to the fact of having to support a greater muscle mass with the same cardiovascular system as a smaller guy. Don't allow him to set up and get comfortable trading shots with you, as he'll want to use his increased size and power to his full advantage. Make him move and fight your fight. Once fatigue fully sets in, his increased size and weight will become a disadvantage. You may also want to consider posting or sending a pm to Mike Brewer, as he may have some aditional insights, as his knowledge and experience greatly exceeds mine.
Mahalo, Jeremy

Hey thanks, you've been really helpful and I'll pm Mike Brewer too, Just a couple more generaly questions if you have the time, It was really my first time sparring anything more than full contact, I was used to kickboxing light contact before, As time progresses can I expect to be able to take blows to the face with less flinching and react in the ring with more confidence and aggressiveness with time?
Once again, Thanks.

[Jeremy Lobdell]

Reaction time with experience

I've found that once you become comfortable with the increased level of contact that you're experiencing, it will no longer be a concern. This just takes time, my friend. Also, once you stop "overacting" (for lack of a better word) to the other guys punching and working so hard on totally advoiding it, your counterpunching will become much faster. Just my .02
It must seem a little like a fish out of water not being able to use your kicks to set up your hands. Try using a slide step in place of where the kick was and step off to a 45 degree angle instead of strait in, forcing your opponent to circle back twards you. But be aware not to do it over and over again, as this may be a way for your opponent to time you. Good luck on your future sparring with this guy. I look forward to hearing how it turned out.
Mahalo, Jeremy

[Harry]

I've found that once you become comfortable with the increased level of contact that you're experiencing, it will no longer be a concern. This just takes time, my friend. Also, once you stop "overacting" (for lack of a better word) to the other guys punching and working so hard on totally advoiding it, your counterpunching will become much faster. Just my .02
It must seem a little like a fish out of water not being able to use your kicks to set up your hands. Try using a slide step in place of where the kick was and step off to a 45 degree angle instead of strait in, forcing your opponent to circle back twards you. But be aware not to do it over and over again, as this may be a way for your opponent to time you. Good luck on your future sparring with this guy. I look forward to hearing how it turned out.
Mahalo, Jeremy

Yeah, It was a shock to see how hard it was to keep my distance with him without using my legs, In kickboxing I could at least give him something else to concentrate on other than hitting me, I also have to get used to having less techniques to use, It's one of the reasons I consider boxing much harder than kickboxing, It's like trying to paint a masterpeice with only a couple of colours rather than the whole set, you have to learn to be the best at the things you've got.
I'll be sure to let you know how I'm doing in the future with the guy.
Thanks

[Hardball]

Also, if I might add a little............work on his pressure points.. liver, solar plexus, chin, nose, temples................mix it up high low, low high...........slow it down give him some off speed stuff..........then Blam!!!! Lightining fast combos.......Repeat sequence. Also, what size gloves are you using? If the gloves are too big........he won't feel a thing.

[Tom Yum]

Yeah, It was a shock to see how hard it was to keep my distance with him without using my legs, In kickboxing I could at least give him something else to concentrate on other than hitting me, I also have to get used to having less techniques to use, It's one of the reasons I consider boxing much harder than kickboxing, It's like trying to paint a masterpeice with only a couple of colours rather than the whole set, you have to learn to be the best at the things you've got.
I'll be sure to let you know how I'm doing in the future with the guy.
Thanks

Are you guys the same height? or is he also taller?

If you are about the same height, play the distance game and set up your punches. Get him thinking you're going to throw a certain combo and suprise.

If you are shorter, keep your head moving, hands up and try to work out of his pressure with counterpunching. Eg. parry his jab, slip the cross (notice where your weight is now positioned after the slip!!!???) and immediately counter with a hook, cross or hook uppercut.

[osopardo]

As the "bigger guy" I can tell you the smaller guys who give me the most trouble are mobile, agile and have better cardio conditioning. I've been in many matches where I've had the weight and reach advantage neutralized by some little 'skeeter who would stay just out of reach and run me ragged until he could sense fatigue weakening me. Then he'd move it and take control, slipping, parrying and countering. Really sad to watch...

[Tom Yum]

As the "bigger guy" I can tell you the smaller guys who give me the most trouble are mobile, agile and have better cardio conditioning. I've been in many matches where I've had the weight and reach advantage neutralized by some little 'skeeter who would stay just out of reach and run me ragged until he could sense fatigue weakening me. Then he'd move it and take control, slipping, parrying and countering. Really sad to watch...

There's something to be said about mobility and speed. Power too.

[HtTKar]

It's like trying to paint a masterpeice with only a couple of colours rather than the whole set, you have to learn to be the best at the things you've got.

You only Need three colors. Everything else comes from those.

Boxing truly is like painting a masterpiece using only the basic colors. You have to learn how to put them together. Thanks, never thought of it that way before.

[Tom Yum]

You only Need three colors. Everything else comes from those.

Boxing truly is like painting a masterpiece using only the basic colors. You have to learn how to put them together. Thanks, never thought of it that way before.

...hey, lets keep this about boxin'

[Harry]

Well it's been a few weeks since I made this thread, I missed a session because of illness, but I got back into the ring last night.
I feel I have improved vastly, my guard is now much better, I'm reacting better to attacks, I'm leaning away from punches also and I'm not getting thrown around as much by the heavier guy.

I think I found the main cause of me getting my ass kicked, I was constantly trying to circle round him and he'd see and predict my movements, plowing into me and throwing me off balance, and I was trying to escape from the attacks rather than fight my way off the ropes.

So halfway through the session I tried to play on his terms, he mostly stayed in the middle of the ring, There was a circle diagram for reasons unknown in the centre, I decided to make it my goal for the session to stick it out in the circle and see what difference it made.
It was a massive one, now I had suprised him, I was no longer darting around and getting plowed into, I was standing my ground, leaning and counter punching when he opened up.
I was now using his sloppier technique against him, throwing punches at his exposed stomach and ribs, he seemed to find it much harder to fight me on these terms, Whilst he could still get some weight advantages on me, he seemed to have lost his focus, I kept on moving back into the centre of the ring, trying to push him back with counter punches.

So a question, whilst this worked, Is this a good tactic to approach (trying to secure the middle of the ring) in a fight, or is it a specific tactic that only works with fighters such as my opponent?

Also near the end of the spar, I threw a left jab, fully extended and missed, I got a momentary tingling pins and needles type sensation in the wrist, and then for the next few jabs, so I switched stance and went one handed for the last few minute just to be safe.
Any idea what this is?
Thanks.

[HtTKar]

whilst this worked, Is this a good tactic to approach (trying to secure the middle of the ring) in a fight, or is it a specific tactic that only works with fighters such as my opponent?

Every opponents different. Good fight!