Is body punching a lost art?

Old-timers bemoan the lack of body punching in today’s boxing matches. They claim that yesterday’s fighters went to the body more, and with more effectiveness, than today’s greats.

Is this just another boxing myth, or is there really something to it all? I think an examination of the facts leads us to the inescapable conclusion that effective body punching is a thing of the past.

Modern amateur boxing devalues body punching

Amateur boxing judges rarely, if ever, give points for body blows. Whatever the reason, this definitely discourages young fighters from developing the skills necessary to land these sorts of shots.

Many of today’s professional fighters perfected their craft in the amateurs. So it stands to reason that these same fighters are deficient in the skills needed to hit to the body.

In the past, fighters learned by doing. They started fighting professionally at a relatively young age, and they only practiced what worked. The fact is: body shots worked for these fighters.

Shorter boxing matches make body punching less worthwhile

In the formative days of organized boxing, matches could last many, many rounds. 40-round battles were not unheard-of, and fights were only stopped when one man either gave up or couldn’t continue. There was major money riding on the results of these matches and the fighters’ safety was the least-important factor in the decision about whether a fight should continue.

In long, protracted boxing bouts, body shots are of much more value than they are in today’s shorter fights.

When fighters know they’re only going to fight a 10 or 12 rounder at the very most, they don’t want to waste energy on punches that might not pay off in the long run.

Muhammad Ali rarely went to the body

Plenty of modern fighters try to emulate Muhammad Ali’s style. Or, if they’re too young to remember Ali, they emulate boxers who were heavily influenced by him. They want to be the outfighter who can hit without being hit.

This style is antithetical to body punching.

Modern protective equipment makes headhunting a viable option

In the past, pro fighters practiced with much less equipment than we have today. If they broke their hand(s), they didn’t eat. Body punching was safer than going upstairs and trying for the quick knockout.

Today, we have all sorts of protection during practice, and the protective equipment worn during fights is more effective.

Further, modern beltlines are higher. In the past, “below the belt” was anything below the points of the hips. Now, it’s anything below the navel. Modern trunks come up higher and referees seem to be more willing to warn for low blows that would have gone unnoticed in past years.

MMA discourages body punching

Mixed martial artists don’t develop any skill with body punching. Despite incessant crowing about “liver shots”, you hardly ever see any actual body shots in MMA.

MMA fighters spend so much time on the ground that they’re unwilling to stand and trade with a skilled puncher. It’s either long-range punches, or wrestling; there is no in-between.