What do judges look for when scoring a boxing match and how might this organize a boxer’s training programme?

A judge scores a round by four criteria:

1) Clean punches

2) Effective aggressiveness

3) Ring generalship

4) Defence

These criteria are notoriously subjective. Many people have an intuitive understanding of clean punches and defence but get confused about effective aggressiveness and ring generalship.

What makes aggressiveness ‘effective’ or even ‘ineffective’? What does ‘generalship’ mean?

Here is my understanding:

• Clean punches are punches that land on the front or sides of the opponent’s head or trunk without being blocked.

• Effective aggressiveness is movement towards the opponent while landing clean punches.

• Ring generalship is movement around the opponent rendering their aggression ineffective.

• Defence is the ability to block punches or make the opponent miss.

In short, effective aggressiveness and ring generalship form a pair of opposites as do clean punches and defence; the difference is they concern the feet rather than the hands.

How might these criteria organize a boxer’s training programme?

I have listed below some ideas on shadowboxing and bagwork for solo training, and partnerwork for those under the supervision of a coach.

Clean Punches

• Shadowboxing: Visualizing the attack, punch and defend at the same time.

• Bagwork: Mark specific targets on the heavy bag.

• Partnerwork: Person A freezes while Person B explores attacking options.

Effective Aggressiveness

• Shadowboxing: Visualizing the ring, move the opponent into a corner.

• Bagwork: Move forwards or to the sides only.

• Partnerwork: Person A walks in any direction in the ring while Person B cuts them off.

Ring Generalship

• Shadowboxing: Visualizing the ring, move around the opponent.

• Bagwork: Move backwards or to the sides when the bag swings towards you.

• Partnerwork: Person A walks in straight lines towards Person B in the ring, while Person B circles around.

Defence

• Shadowboxing: Visualize the attack, block or move the head.

• Bagwork: Mix blocks and head movement while punching the heavy bag.

• Partnerwork: Person A only ‘defends’ while Person B only ‘attacks’.

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