Boxing is mainly about skill, and fitness is a close second. Even brawling is a style that requires skill despite being perceived as crude. I don't discredit brawlers for not being skillful but many novice to intermediate boxers naturally like to brawl because it's badass and intuitive. If your opponents a "very good" brawler and fit as f*#k, then you have a problem. But like I said, a lot of brawlers (especially not seasoned fighters) have a lot of holes in their style that a boxer can exploit here are some tips.
1) Composure - Brawlers want you to suck into their own game. You are right. Don't brawl back. YOu can only have good composure if you have...
2) Good Defense - Defense whether by footwork, slipping, weaving, ducking, and blocking. A brawler's first frustration is an opponent with a solid defense.
3) Distance - Brawlers love the pocket. Stay away from the pocket unless it's your turn to attack.
4) Pick your shots - In every brawler's attack, there's a chance for quick counter. Your counter may hurt sometimes not but if it happens often that will be another frustration for the brawler.
5) Pacing - Brawlers are often bad at pacing. Their aggressiveness makes them swing hard and fast making them tired. Brawlers will likely fade and depending on your agreed upon number of rounds, you'll know when is your time to be aggressive.
6) I assume that you like a philly style of countering via shoulder roll. It's very good against brawlers that are "right hand happy". Just roll and attack with your own right.
On a more personal note:
1) If I do not know much about my opponent, I devote the 1st round figuring his attacking distance and study what kind of attacks my opponent favors. I fight tall, and hide from my jab. I focus on speed and don't counter that much. (Sometimes I like to test his power) I try to make him comfortable... eventually sucking him into a trap because of he's false sense of superiority.
2) Round one should be enough if you are feeling sharp that day. By round 2, I should already know if I can beat him to the punch. Brawlers love to swing. If he's not that fast, I do "stop-hits"---popping straight punches in the middle of his attacks.
3) If he's still quick and active, I tend to have a tight defense and footwork and pick my shots by countering.
My favorite counters against brawlers:
-step back or sidestep check hook against a right
-shoulder roll, then straight right or uppercut (depending on how close he is after his right punch)
-right hand over an overreaching jab
4) I do not throw too much combinations until I am "very" comfortable. Brawlers will oblige to exchange in your combinations and they will hit you hard. (And I do not have the cardio to throw hard and frequent combos ;D )
Remember: A frustrated brawler is slower and more careless.
Sparring isn't about brawling. It's about working on things. I would talk to the partner and ask him to tone it down a bit. However some boxers spar how they fight, there is no slowing down. Roy Jones Jr use to knock out sparring partners, but it's also why later in his career nobody would spar with him. Anyway, if he insists on fighting all out, then fight all out with him. It all depends how you box but I usually just sit on a jab, catch it and fire a straight right hand to the nose, that'll make him think twice about coming in again.
When I sparred bigger guys would challenge me assuming their size would easily stop me. But boxing is a skill - scientific, they always come in swinging but as you know it does not take long to get out of breath, especially if your not that good (thats them, not you). I would let them tire a bit then stick one very, very hard straight right on their nose and repeat it when they tried to fire up. This always worked because my right (and left) was very powerful, so they knew they had been hit and could get some more if they took liberties.
Try to absorb their punches then stick a hard punch on them but make it your best hard punch.
After all they are trying to hurt you so you have the right to smack them hard even when sparring. I could always tell when they get out of breath - you can hear them breath heavily.
But always have humility never be arrogant - shake hands ans say thanks that was good sparring. Dont be the same as them.
Not about the brawling, its about the moves.
Dont think in terms of the punches, think in terms of distance. Fast feet and a strong interrupting jab will stop anyone from mauling you.
If you are right handed, with it chambered and left hand leading. Use your left lead foot to pivot and circle to the left..consequently use your right foot to pivot right and to the outside. Once you have quickly circled, they have to turn to refocus..as soon as they turn, stick them in the mouth.
Shoulder roll: This is important, this only works if you tuck your chin below your shoulder, and raise it up and LEAN BACK on your back foot slightly..this way hooks can glance off your lead shoulder (when coming from that side), having your right hand caddy corner to your jaw (not in front of it or to the side of your head which is worthless) will catch anything else hooking your face.
Remember, distance creates AND destroys more opportunities in boxing than hands.
I think you should rather stick with your defensive game. If brawling is not really your game, you need not engage or you might get KO'd. You see, brawling requires, first and foremost, a good chin because you'd get tagged for sure. And you got to have decent hand speed and a big punch. If you don't have those, better stick with your defensive game plan. Nothing wrong with that. Remember that boxing is about hitting and not getting hit.
Recently when sparring, I've come across a few brawlers who've come in at 100% trying to get a KO during sparring, when they're in range, I tend to turn away so they only have my shoulder to strike, I was wondering from here, what the best way to continue was, I've tried to brawl back, but feel its a sloppy way out, and suggestions?
