In-Fighting
We have so far dealt with what is termed "out-fighting," and have now to describe what happens when two men come to really close quarters: here we have done with all finessing and manœuvring, and the only thing possible is to try to hit quicker and harder than your opponent, and to endeavour to get your hands inside his, as by that means you gain a considerable advantage. 66 In-fighting is brought about generally by one of the men getting cornered and setting to work to fight his way out like one rightly struggling to be free," or simply obeying the natural law which dictates combat to every hunted animal whose retreat is cut off, and is often forced by a boxer who finds himself over-matched at out-fighting by an adversary gifted with a better left hand than his own.
When this happens, you will bring your right foot nearly in line (front line) with your left, the ball of the right foot on a level with the heel of the left, and with an interval of about 12 inches separating the two; you will keep your head down by well sinking the chin, while you keep your eyes fixed on your opponent's and strike with right and left hands as quickly as may be at the head, not drawing back the arms too far, and throwing the weight of the body into each hit by bringing the shoulder forward as you strike. Both knees are slightly bent. In beginning in-fighting, the left hand should be aimed at the face, the right hand at the point of the jaw. This gives the desired position inside your opponent's arm.
Holding your adversary is not allowed in competitions, and it is better, irrespective of this, to have both hands free and busy in hitting. Blows should mostly be aimed at the head, the mark being visited when occasion offers; they are delivered with a bent [BOXING arm, and constitute what is termed "halfarm-hitting." After the delivery of four or five effective blows you must get away smartly. Nothing is more distressing to the onlooker than to see two men, exhausted and out of breath, tumbling up against each other and feebly pushing their gloves each into the other's face.
The above description, although it makes no claim to be exhaustive, will give, we hope, to the inquirer a sufficient idea of the various modes of attack and defence which are most sanctioned by experience.
Other methods of attack there are, no doubt, and some of them, such as the leadoff at head or body with the right hand, have been deliberately omitted, as we consider that they lay the boxer dangerously open when opposed to a man with a good left hand; and it is well, in accordance with the ancient precept "never despise your antagonist," always to behave as if you had a good man in front of you. 66 It used to be the custom in works on boxing to describe various wrestling movements such as the "cross-buttock," " backheeling," &c., &c., and also what is named, by a kind of innuendo against the legal system of this country, getting into chancery," from which it was as difficult to extricate a pugilist as a litigant; but since the well-nigh complete extinction of the old system of prize-fighting, these, with all sorts of holding and gripping, have been excluded from the field of legitimate boxing and particularly tabooed by the Amateur Boxing Association.
Training. It may be expected that we should say a few words as to the mode of preparation for boxing, although we cannot lay down a complete system of training for boxing competitions.
The boxer who wishes to maintain himself in good and tolerably hard condition and to develop quickness and activity, is, in the first place, recommended to avoid such exercises as tend to produce a huge and unwieldy development of muscle, which, however imposing in appearance, would only make him ponderous and slow in his movements. The rapid motions of the torpedo-boat are rather to be imitated than the slow, if majestic, progress of a first-class ironclad, and while the weight of the body should be employed in driving home the force of a hit, inert weight is of but little use. Weight-lifting, practice with heavy dumb- or bar-bells, Indian clubs, and slow gymnastic exercises, are therefore to be carefully avoided.
Quick movements with dumb-bells weigh- BOXING] ing from two to three pounds each, stepping in and striking at a suspended football and getting away smartly from its recoil, or, following the example of many distinguished boxers, skipping with a skippingrope, with plenty of walking exercise, and occasional sprinting, or running a distance of about sixty yards at top speed, are exercises admirably adapted to develop the breathing power and to induce quickness and alertness on the feet. Fencing and sabre or stick-play might be looked upon as excellent practice for sparring, were it not that they themselves demand so large a share of the attention of their devotees.
Lawn tennis, no doubt, requiring, as it does, quick movements and a watchful and attentive eye, is an admirable preparation for boxing. In fact, any exercise which tends to increase the respiratory powers and to develop the muscular system by a series of active movements not entailing too great an expenditure of force at a given moment may safely be recommended.
Above all, let the learner never throw away any chance that may present itself of engaging in friendly sparring with the best men he can induce to put on the gloves with him; and let him rest assured that he will always find the best performers the best tempered and the most opposed to slogging and roughing. B. JNO. ANGLE.
G. W. BARROLL.
GLOSSARY.
Break away. To get away from an opponent.
Break ground. To take up a fresh position to the right or left.
Bye. In a competition where the number is uneven, the odd man is said to draw a "bye," and has to box the usual number of rounds with a non-competitor.
Corner. The opposite angles of the ring in which contestants sit during the intervals between the rounds.
Catchweight (To box at). - Boxing without restrictions as to weight.
Counter. A blow given in response to an opponent's lead-off, as nearly as possible simultaneously. Cross Counter (Right Hand). -A blow at the head delivered with the right hand, across an opponent's left lead at the head.
Draw. A feigned attack, to cause an adversary to expose his tactics. Duck. Inclining the head to left or right to avoid a blow.
Feint. A show of attack made at one spot, in order to make an adversary guard that, and in the act uncover some other point.
Foul. An act committed contrary to the rules of boxing.
Gloves. Leather gloves padded with horsehair used in boxing.
Guard. Defence with either arm to protect the head or body.