1. Understanding Orthodox vs. Southpaw Stances
| Orthodox vs. Southpaw: The Ultimate Stance Guide | ||
| Orthodox Stance | Southpaw Stance | |
| The righty | The lefty | |
| Lead Foot | The left foot is the leading foot (forward). | The right foot is the leading foot (the forward one). |
| Lead Hand | The left hand is the leading hand (used for a jab). | The right hand is the leading hand (used for a jab). |
| Rear Hand | The right hand is the rear hand and is used for crosses or power shots. | The left hand is the rear hand and is used for crosses or power shots. |
| Logic | Fighters can generate more force with their dominant right hand in the back by rotating their shoulders and hips over a larger distance. | Uses the left hand as a power source. Mirrors the orthodox stance. |
| Liver Shot Vulnerability | They are vulnerable to liver shots by southpaws. | Southpaws can hit directly on the liver of orthodox fighters with their dominant left hand. |
| Number Comparison | More in number. | Fewer in number. |
| Rarity Advantage | Orthodox fighters are easy to defend against both southpaws and orthodox fighters. | Southpaws are rare, so because of that, they find it easy to get their shots in because orthodox fighters are not used to fighting them. |
| Age | Traditional | Crafty and modern |
| Vulnerability to the Cross | Orthodox fighters find it difficult to intercept Southpaws’ jab. | Southpaws can easily intercept an Orthodox fighter’s jab using their straight left power cross because it needs a short and direct path to travel. |
| The Right Hook Trap | They are vulnerable to the right hook trap by Southpaws. | They can easily trap orthodox fighters by mixing wide right hooks and straight lefts, as orthodox fighters’ static guard is not well positioned to block. |
2. Open vs Closed Stance
- In boxing, if both fighters are of the same stance, such as a southpaw facing another southpaw, it is called a closed stance.
- If both fighters are of different stances, such as a southpaw facing an orthodox fighter, it is called an open stance.
| Tactical Element | Orthodox vs. Orthodox (Closed) | Orthodox vs. Southpaw (Open) |
| Primary Footwork | Circular/lateral movement | Battle for the outside lead foot position |
| Jab Effectiveness | High; used to set the rhythm | Low; lead hands frequently clash |
| Power Hand Alignment | Power hand must often go around the jab | Power hand can travel a straight line |
| Defensive Strategy | Static guard (slipping/parrying) is effective | Must constantly adjust guard for wide angles |
3. The Main Difference Between Boxing Stances
- The orthodox stance is used mostly by right-handed fighters, in which the left foot is the leading foot and the left hand is the leading hand.
- The southpaw stance is used mostly by the left handed fighters, in which the right foot is the leading foot and the right hand is the leading hand.
4. Should You Switch Between Southpaw and Orthodox?
Yes! You should switch between southpaw and orthodox more often because:
- It will help you become more powerful on your non-dominant side.
- You will be able to defend opposite-stance fighters.
- You will have more skills and strategies to win against your opponent.
- You will become a versatile boxer.
5. Which Is Harder to Fight: Southpaw or Orthodox?
- Southpaws are harder to fight because they are rare. Besides this, both stances are equally effective and powerful. It just depends on whether you are right-handed or left-handed.
- You should switch stances in your training so that you can fight southpaws and orthodox fighters easily.
6. Benefits of Southpaw and Orthodox Boxing Stance
6.1 Orthodox Stance Benefits
- Effective and excellent balance for beginners.
- Easy to develop a strong lead jab.
- Provides a solid defensive structure.
6.2 Southpaw Stance Benefits
- Opponents find it difficult to defend against the rarity of the Southpaw stance.
- Make it difficult for their opponents to read angles.
- Can easily find more gaps in traditional guards.
- The rear left hand delivers strong power.
7. Top Southpaw Boxers
- Audley Harrison
- Marvin Hagler
- Manny Pacquiao
- Adonis Stevenson
- James J. Corbett
- Naseem Hamed
- Joe Calzaghe
8. Top Orthodox Fighters
- Muhammad Ali
- Floyd Mayweather Jr
- George Foreman
- Wladimir Klitschko
- Sugar Ray Robinson
- Mike Tyson
9. How Do You Decide Which Stance Is Best for You?
But some people might choose the opposite. For example, right-handed southpaws. They choose the opposite stance to gain better control and faster jabs with asstronger lead hand.
You should decide your stance based on your dominant hand. If your dominant hand is your right hand, then go for an orthodox stance, and vice versa.
