- THE PERFECT JAB
Why: This is just a nice, quality jab. The jab is the most important punch in a fight; it’s a good scoring shot, judges can see it clearly landing when the head goes back, and everything else comes off the jab. With the length of my arms, if I get full extension the opponent is well out of range.
How: Make sure your wrist is turned over and turn your front foot forward as well when you throw the jab, so your heel is almost parallel with your toes; this adds extension and weight behind the shot. It’s important to get full extension on the shot, giving you added distance.
In Practice: – Round 1 v Mohamed Hikal (Egypt) 13-4
I was the first one out of the group to fight so I had a lot of pressure on me. After the first round I was down, but I kept my cool and waited. It was all long shots, even the hooks, not really any body shots, simple stuff. A good jab was key, especially as he was a southpaw like me.
- LONG HOOK OFF THE JAB
Why: This is one of my favourite shots because I’ve got long, big arms and this always used to score. The jab is more of a range-finder in this case, setting up the hook. The hook is not really a powerful shot here; it’s a scoring shot. The opponent is not expecting the hook off an already-extended arm.
How: You jab first but you stay in the same position; I’m touching him, he knows what’s coming so he’s blocking it. Your arm is fully extended, you lean back a little to get that extra angle then turn the hand over, pivoting off your front knee and front hip. Make sure you turn the fist fully so you’re landing with the knuckles.
In Practice –Round 2 v Shawn Estrada (USA) 11-5
For a couple of rounds it was kind of close, I was still up – but only just – and once again the last two rounds I was patient, let him come to me. I hit him with all kinds of shots: bolos, uppercuts and a lot of long hooks and shots like that from distance.
- PARRY THE JAB AND COUNTER
Why: I think you can come back with your counter more easily when you parry rather than block. When you block you’re quite tucked in, compact but when you parry, you knock the opponent off balance and you’re ready to counter with the other hand. The back hand is the opposite hand to the one you’re parrying with; an orthodox fighter is wide open to it from a southpaw.
How: I’m looking at his eyes, ready to parry. It’s subtle again – if I knock his hand too far down my opponent is going to come over the top. It’s a reaction move, the left hand has to come out straight away, as soon as you’ve parried the jab. For the cross, twist your back foot, get full extension on the arm and turn your knuckles over.
In Practice – Quarter-final v Bakhtiyar Arteyev (Kazakhstan) 8-3
I had a bit or nerves there because he was the reigning Olympic welterweight champion, I had boxed him twice before – we won one each – and technically he was a very good fighter. After the first round, once again my feet were key, straight shots, hooking. I was doing a lot of parrying and blocking, a lot of defensive work.
- DOUBLE BACKHAND WITH SIDESTEP
Why: You don’t want to be predictable and just move in and out; you have to switch it up. The step to the side is one of my favourites – I use it as a pro as well. Stepping to the side rather than backwards provides angles and gives you more twist and more power. It’s only a small, subtle movement really, it’s not an obvious one.
How: For the cross, twist your back foot and turn your glove over as you throw so you land with the knuckle part of the glove. You take one short, little step to the side – your front foot stays in the same position, but your back foot moves across – so you’re just out of range then you come back with another back hand.
In practice – Semi-final v Darren Sutherland (Ireland) 10-3
This was someone I’d boxed five times prior to that and he’d beaten me four times. But everything was going so good and this was probably the best I boxed through the entire Olympics. I moved my feet well, forward and back, side-to-side. It was all about throwing shots from angles.
- JAB, STEP BACK, CROSS
Why: The way the points are scored in the amateurs, you need good feet. You need to get in and out, so this is a perfect move. The way you move out of range then suddenly step back in with a fast shot gives you the element of surprise. Moving in and out makes it harder for the opponent to land his shots too.
How: I throw the jab, I’m always on the balls of my feet, chin down. You lean back a little bit with your upper-body. You step back with the back foot first, then the front foot, so you increase the distance between you. Then walk them on to the left hand as they come forward.
In practice – Final v Emilio Correa (Cuba) 16-14
For the first round I was boxing lovely; I was five points up. Once again making him miss and making him pay, particularly with the back hand. There was a lot of holding as the fight progressed and got messier but my back hand and my long shots in general won me it.
