Bait Punches: Boxing’s use of bait strikes to build up counterpunches is incredibly successful. A strike delivered with the goal of eliciting a certain response from the target opponent is known as a bait punch. It’s one of the techniques used by skilled boxers to improve the potency of their counterattack.
The concept behind bait combinations is really straightforward. You launch a few punches, anticipate the anticipated response, and then counter it with another punch. It is a successful tactic that may be used against boxers of all ability levels. Since aggressive fighters often prefer to react to everything an opponent does, they are particularly vulnerable to bait combos.
Combinations of bait increase your awareness of your opponents within the ring and let you set them up for devastating counterattacks.
5 powerful combinations of bait punches
Are you prepared to understand how some experienced boxers prepare their opponents for Bait punches counters? Let’s begin our list now:
1) Jab–Cross, Bait The Jab, Counter Cross
Sending your opponent a jab-cross combo is a quick strategy to entice a jab. You should already be familiar with the jab-cross because it is often the first combination that boxers learn. Throwing straight punches as quickly as you can is the key to making your opponent respond with a jab. Don’t be concerned about giving them authority. You just want to make contact with your adversary to elicit action.
Another crucial move is to keep your head down so that your adversary believes they may poke you. Although you won’t always receive the intended response, when done correctly, the majority of opponents will automatically react to you with a jab, leaving them vulnerable to your powerful counter cross.
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2) Jab, Bait The Jab, Counter cross
By delivering one to your opponents, you can induce them to jab you. Due to the fact that many boxers frequently feel the urge to imitate their opponent, it is one of the most effective bait punches. It’s likely that if you manoeuvre around an opponent and lob potshot jabs at them, they’ll return fire with the same blow. Throw a counter cross over your opponent’s counter jab as soon as you see it. Then you may proceed with various combinations, such as a lead hook or cross combo.
Throwing a crisp jab with a strong force and snap can help you use this bait punch to your advantage. Then, as soon as you notice your opponent’s left arm beginning to extend, you should turn your attention to it and counter. Once you’ve done this bait punch enough times, it will come naturally to you and you won’t even need to set it up.
When trying to bait a jab with a jab, it’s also a good idea to position yourself such that your opponent feels that the jab is the only way to get to you. If you approach your opponent too closely, there’s a considerable probability they’ll decide to use a different type of counterattack.
3) Jab-Cross, Bait Lead Hook, Roll Under, And Counter Cross
Since the lead hook usually leaves the puncher exposed both during and after the punch, especially when it misses, it is one of the simplest punches to defend against. It’s also one of the hardest punches to avoid since you have to have a sense of timing to know when it’s coming. Due to the way, it wraps around your line of view, boxers frequently don’t notice it until it is too late.
When throwing this bait combination, you should be roughly an arm’s length away from your opponent to improve the likelihood that they will respond with a left hook. If you approach too closely, they can choose stronger tools like uppercuts and back hooks. If you stray too far, they’ll hit you in the face.
Plan to hit your opponent with a series of strong crosses so they must strike back. When you see the lead hook approaching, roll under and release a cross as you stand back up.
4) Jab-Cross, Bait The Cross, Counter With A Lead Hook
This baiting tactic is similar to the previous one we discussed, except this time you want your adversary to counter with a cross rather than a jab. Little aspects like how you position yourself, move, and exert pressure on your adversary cause them to counter with a cross rather than a lead hook.
When using the jab-cross combination, you aim to get near to your opponent so they can respond by shooting back and forcing you to retreat. Although you shouldn’t necessarily throw the jab-cross with malice aforethought, you should give your opponent the impression that you’re occupying their space.
When you throw the combination that takes your face closer to your opponent’s right hand, you also want to move your head a little bit closer to their right side. You want to be in the ideal position where a cross will successfully bridge the gap but a rear hook will still be able to reach you.
Attacking your opponent’s left arm with one or both punches is another tactic you might employ to lure out the right cross. It’s a psychological ploy that gives the impression that your opponent’s left arm is busy, increasing their propensity to hit with their right hand.
Slam a lead hook into your opponent’s torso or head after they throw their right hand. Waiting for your opponent to throw the right cross and catching them with a lead hook as they start to pivot to throw a follow-up left hook can make the punch even nastier. This enables you to turn their momentum against them and boost the force with which your punch connects.
5) Jab, Bait The Cross, Counter With A Cross
One of the best techniques to counter your opponent’s right hand is with a right-hand counter because it forces them to twist their body and shift their weight, leaving them open to a variety of blows.
This time, you pester your opponent with your jab in order to induce them to throw a cross. You must avoid the cross in such a way that you may immediately follow up with a crossfire. Boxers frequently annoy their opponents with careless jabs in an effort to get them to throw crosses. Your adversary believes they can catch you with a right-hand counter because of the length of time you take to recover after your jabs. By getting closer to an opponent, you can induce them to throw a cross by giving them the impression that they must strike you hard to dissuade you.
The trickiest element of this bait punch is dodging your opponent’s cross while positioning yourself to deliver your own. You can do this by delivering punches quicker than your opponent does or by employing head movement to deflect blows.
So these are the 5 powerful combinations of bait punches. Let us know your reviews in the comment section below.
