What is Southpaw Boxing Stance? Mastering the “Lefty” Advantage

1. What is a Southpaw Boxing Stance?

A southpaw stance in boxing denotes a left-handed boxer who keeps their right hand and foot forward while fighting. In this stance, their left hand and left foot are in the rear position, allowing them to deliver high-velocity, powerful hooks and crosses.​

• The Lead Hand: Your right hand is forward and used for parrying your opponent’s attacks and for jabs.
• Foot Placement: Your left heel should be raised, and your right foot should be turned at a 45-degree angle and kept forward.

2. Why is it Known as the Southpaw Boxing Stance?

Southpaw was used in baseball to describe left-handed pitchers. The term was later used in boxing for lefties. Some theories which explain the origin of the term “southpaw” are following:

• Southpaw is used to describe the orientation of baseball diamonds in which the home plate faces east. The left-handed pitcher in baseball would face south.
• In early baseball stadiums, the pitcher’s mound was on the field’s south side, hence the name southpaw.

3. How to Set Up Your Southpaw Boxing Stance?

Follow these steps to build a solid foundation and align your body correctly:

3.1 Foot Placement:​

• Keep your toes at a 45-degree angle toward your opponent.
• Step back with your left foot and forward with your right foot.
• Keep your feet wide with the distance of your shoulders.

3.2 The Guard:​

• Keep your chin tucked behind your lead shoulder.
• Tuck your elbows in to protect your ribs.

3.3 Weight Distribution:

​You have two options here for weight distribution in the southpaw stance.

• You can put more weight on your back foot, i.e., 60/40.
• You can keep your weight centred by putting equal weight on both feet (50/50).​

3.4 Hand Positioning:​

• Keep your right hand in a leading position for jabs and measuring distance.
• Use your left hand for throwing powerful shots and keep it near your chin.

4. The “Lefty” Advantage: Why It Works?

The main reason for southpaws being at an advantage is that they are rare and make up only 10–12% of the population. Other strategic advantages of Southpaws are as follows:

4.1   Experience Gap

Orthodox fighters mostly train with southpaws and fight 90% of the time against orthodox fighters. On the other hand, Southpaws fight mostly against orthodox. This gives southpaws a clear advantage and a dominant hand in combat.

4.2 Unfamiliar Angles

The Southpaw stance is the mirror of the orthodox stance. When they both fight each other (known as an open stance), the left cross of the southpaw often lands so quickly and unexpectedly that the orthodox fighter cannot see it coming. Punches come from unexpected directions.

4.3 Lead Foot Dominance

The main battle in an open stance (southpaw vs. orthodox match) is for the outside lead-foot position. Southpaws can dominate more easily in this battle by neutralising their opponent’s jab. They can do this by creating a clear path for their power shots by keeping their right foot on the outside of their opponent’s left foot.

4.4 The Liver Shot

Southpaws have a clear, direct path to land powerful body shots on an orthodox opponent in an open stance. They can also easily land a devastating kick to their opponent’s liver.

5. Key Southpaw Boxing Stance Weapons

The key weapons of southpaw fighters are given below:

5.1 The Straight Left (Power Cross)

You can land a powerful shot to your opponent’s chin after winning the outside foot battle because of having a clear and direct path. This is your “money punch.”

5.2 The Right Hook (Lead Hook)

The right hook comes from a sneaky angle, which cannot be easily defended by orthodox fighters because they are not used to it.

5.3 The Liver Shot

The southpaws land their rear left kick directly on their opponent’s liver.

6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Southpaws must stay disciplined to avoid the common pitfalls, such as:

6.1 Squaring Up

Don’t keep your feet too wide because it makes you an easy target by reducing your mobility.

6.2 Walking into the Right Hand

Move your head off the centreline and keep your left hand higher to defend against the Orthodox fighter’s straight right threat.

6.3 Lazy Lead Hand

Don’t keep your lead hand lazy and idle. Use it effectively for finding range and primary defence.

7. Fact-Checking Elite Fighter Stances

7.1 What is the Boxing Stance of Max Holloway?

The primary fighting stance of Max Holloway was orthodox, but he can seamlessly switch to southpaw to create angles and is considered one of the best switch-hitters in MMA.

7.2 What is the Boxing Stance of Conor Benn?

Conor Ben is a traditional orthodox fighter and explosive puncher.

7.3 What is the Boxing Stance of Bryce Mitchell?

Bryce Mitchell is a southpaw stance fighter and uses his unique striking entries and high-level grappling to dominate opponents.

7.4 What is the Boxing Stance of Conor McGregor?

Conor McGregor is a southpaw and famous for using his straight left hand for precision-based “Celtic Cross.”

7.5 What is the Boxing Stance of Manny Pacquiao?

Manny Pacquiao is a southpaw stance fighter and is known for his blistering speed and as the greatest southpaw in boxing history.

7.6 What is the Boxing Stance of Chris Eubank Jr.?

Chris Eubank Jr. is a primarily orthodox fighter with high athleticism.

7.7 What is the Boxing Stance of Anderson Silva?

Anderson Silva is a southpaw fighter known for his legendary counterstriking.

7.8 What is the Boxing Stance of Mike Tyson?

Mike Tyson was an exclusive orthodox fighter. He followed a “Peek-a-Boo” style under his legendary trainer, Cus D’Amato. In this style, he used his strong left hand to lead powerful left hooks.