The Ultimate Boxing Terminology Guide: 150 Terms Every Fight Fan Should Know

So there I was, watching the Fury-Usyk fight with my brother-in-law last month, when he turns to me and goes, “What the hell is a check hook?” Right after the commentator had praised Usyk for one. My brother-in-law’s been watching boxing for years, but like most casual fans, he only knows the basic stuff.

That got me thinking. Boxing’s got this whole language that insiders take for granted. I mean, I didn’t know what a “Philly Shell” was until my coach yelled at me for dropping my right hand while trying to do one back decades ago!

Back when I started boxing, I kept a little notebook of terms I didn’t understand. By the time I hung up the gloves and started coaching at Eastside Gym, that notebook was falling apart. I still have it somewhere in my garage, coffee stains and all.

Anyway, I figured I’d finally put all that knowledge to good use. I’ve pieced together this no-BS guide to boxing terms based on what I’ve learned from getting punched in the face (more times than I’d like to admit), coaching fighters, and spending way too many Saturday nights analyzing fights instead of having a social life.

Fighting Stances & Positions

1. Orthodox – The traditional right-handed stance where the left foot and hand are forward
2. Southpaw – The stance where the right foot and hand are forward (typically used by left-handed fighters)
3. Switch-hitter – A boxer who can fight effectively from both orthodox and southpaw stances
4. Square stance – Standing with shoulders parallel to the opponent (generally not recommended)
5. Bladed stance – Standing with shoulders at an angle to the opponent, presenting a smaller target
6. Front foot – The lead foot in a stance (left for orthodox, right for southpaw)
7. Back foot – The rear foot in a stance (right for orthodox, left for southpaw)
8. High guard – Defensive position with gloves held high near the face
9. Philly Shell/Shoulder roll – A defensive stance with the lead shoulder raised and rear hand positioned by the chin
10. Peek-a-boo – Defensive style with gloves held high and close to the face (popularized by Mike Tyson)
11. Cross guard – Defensive position with arms crossed in front of the face
12. Long guard – Extended lead arm used to maintain distance and block punches
13. Hand position – Where a fighter keeps their hands for both offense and defense
14. Fighting posture – The overall body alignment and position during a fight

Basic Punches

15. Jab – A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand
16. Cross/Straight right – A power punch thrown straight with the rear hand
17. Lead hook – A punch thrown in an arc with the lead hand
18. Rear hook – A punch thrown in an arc with the rear hand
19. Lead uppercut – An upward punch thrown with the lead hand
20. Rear uppercut – An upward power punch thrown with the rear hand
21. Overhand right/left – A looping punch thrown over the top from the rear hand
22. Body shot – Any punch specifically targeted to the opponent’s body
23. Liver shot – A punch aimed at the liver area (right side of body)
24. Solar plexus shot – A punch aimed at the center of the torso beneath the sternum

Advanced Punches & Variations

25. Double jab – Two quick jabs thrown in succession
26. Triple jab – Three quick jabs thrown in succession
27. Step jab – A jab thrown while stepping forward for increased power
28. Pawing jab – A light, distracting jab used to measure distance or set up other punches
29. Power jab – A jab thrown with more weight and commitment than normal
30. Bolo punch – A theatrical, wind-up style punch (famously used by Sugar Ray Leonard)
31. Shovel hook – A hybrid between a hook and an uppercut aimed at the body
32. Check hook – A counter hook thrown while pivoting away from an opponent’s attack
33. Corkscrew punch – A punch thrown with a twisting motion for added power
34. Lead hand uppercut – A short-range uppercut thrown with the lead hand
35. Rear hand uppercut – A power uppercut thrown with the rear hand
36. Rabbit punch – An illegal punch to the back of the head/neck
37. Looping punch – Any punch thrown in a wide arc rather than straight
38. Haymaker – A wild, powerful swing often telegraphed and lacking technique
39. Superman punch – A leaping punch where the rear leg is lifted forward (rare in boxing, more common in MMA)

Defensive Techniques

40. Slip – Moving the head to the side to avoid a punch
41. Duck – Lowering the head to avoid a punch
42. Bob and weave – Combination of dropping under a punch (bob) and moving to the side (weave)
43. Pull counter – Pulling back to avoid a punch, then immediately countering
44. Parry – Using the hand to deflect an incoming punch
45. Block – Using the gloves or arms to absorb a punch
46. Catch and counter – Catching a punch with one hand and countering with the other
47. Roll under – Rolling the upper body under a punch, often transitioning to the opposite side
48. Shoulder roll – Using the lead shoulder to deflect punches
49. Clinch – Holding an opponent at close range to prevent them from punching effectively
50. Cover up – Using both gloves to protect the face and head
51. Shell defense – Tight defensive posture with elbows protecting the body and gloves protecting the head
52. Footwork defense – Using movement to avoid punches rather than blocking
53. Pivot – Turning on the ball of the lead foot to change angles
54. Smothering – Getting extremely close to prevent an opponent from generating power

Footwork & Movement

55. Pivot – Rotating around the lead foot to change position
56. Shuffle – Small, quick steps to maintain balance while moving
57. Circling – Moving in a circular pattern around the opponent
58. Lateral movement – Side-to-side movement
59. In-and-out movement – Moving forward to attack and backward to defend
60. Shift – Changing stance during movement or after punching
61. Cutting off the ring – Moving to block an opponent’s escape routes
62. Ring generalship – The ability to control where the fight takes place in the ring
63. Creating angles – Moving to positions that create advantageous punching opportunities
64. Step-back – Moving backward while maintaining balance and positioning
65. Distance control – Maintaining optimal range for offense while staying out of opponent’s range
66. Out-fighter footwork – Movement that maintains distance and creates space
67. In-fighter footwork – Movement designed to close distance and fight on the inside

Fight Concepts

68. Infighting – Fighting at close range
69. Outfighting – Fighting at long range
70. Counterpunching – Throwing punches in response to an opponent’s attack
71. Combination punching – Throwing multiple punches in sequence
72. Feinting – Making a fake movement to create a reaction from the opponent
73. Trap setting – Creating situations to lure an opponent into a vulnerable position
74. Timing – The ability to throw punches at the optimal moment
75. Rhythm – The pace and pattern of movement and punching
76. Fight IQ – A fighter’s tactical and strategic intelligence
77. Ring generalship – Controlling the geography of the fight
78. Fight tempo – The overall pace of the fight
79. Pressure fighting – Constantly moving forward and forcing the opponent backward
80. Rope-a-dope – Deliberately leaning on the ropes to tire an opponent (made famous by Muhammad Ali)

Technical Terms

81. Pocket – The optimal punching range, especially for hooks and uppercuts
82. Range/Distance – The space between fighters
83. Inside fighting – Fighting at close range
84. Outside fighting – Fighting at long range
85. Mid-range fighting – Fighting at a distance between long and close range
86. Punch resistance/”Chin” – A fighter’s ability to absorb punches without being hurt
87. Gas tank/Stamina – A fighter’s cardiovascular endurance
88. Hand speed – How quickly a fighter can throw punches
89. Punching power – The force behind a fighter’s punches
90. Punch accuracy – The percentage of punches that land cleanly

Scoring & Results

91. Knockdown – When a fighter touches the canvas with any part of their body except their feet due to a punch
92. Knockout (KO) – When a fighter cannot continue within the ten-count after being knocked down
93. Technical Knockout (TKO) – When the referee stops the fight due to one fighter being unable to defend themselves
94. Standing count – A count given by the referee when a fighter is hurt but not down
95. 10-point must system – Scoring system where the winner of a round gets 10 points and the loser typically gets 9 or fewer
96. Decision – Result determined by judges’ scorecards after all scheduled rounds
97. Split decision – When two judges score for one fighter and one judge scores for the other
98. Majority decision – When two judges score for one fighter and one judge scores it a draw
99. Unanimous decision – When all three judges score for the same fighter
100. Draw – When the judges’ scorecards indicate an even fight

Ring & Equipment

101. Ring – The square platform where boxing matches take place
102. Canvas – The floor of the ring
103. Ropes – The boundaries of the ring, typically consisting of four ropes
104. Corner – Where fighters rest between rounds with their team
105. Boxing gloves – Padded gloves measured in ounces (oz), typically 8-12oz for competition
106. Hand wraps – Cloth wrapped around the hands for protection, worn under gloves
107. Mouthguard/Gumshield – Protective device worn in the mouth
108. Cup/Groin protector – Protective gear for the groin area
109. Boxing shoes – Lightweight, ankle-supporting footwear designed for boxing
110. Ring attire – Shorts, robe, and other clothing worn during a fight
111. Stool – What a fighter sits on between rounds
112. Water bucket – Contains water and ice for refreshing between rounds
113. Enswell/End-swell – Metal tool cooled with ice to reduce swelling
114. Cut kit – Collection of tools used to treat cuts during a fight

People & Roles

115. Cutman – Specialist who treats cuts and swelling between rounds
116. Cornerman – Member of a fighter’s team who assists between rounds
117. Second – Another term for a cornerman
118. Referee – Official in the ring who enforces rules
119. Judge – Official who scores the fight
120. Timekeeper – Official who keeps track of round time
121. Ring doctor – Medical professional present at fights
122. Promoter – Person who finances and organizes boxing events
123. Matchmaker – Person who arranges competitive, marketable fights
124. Commission representative – Official from the governing athletic commission
125. Ring announcer – Person who introduces fighters and announces results

Competition Terms

126. Round – Timed segment of a fight followed by a rest period
127. Three-minute round – Standard length for professional men’s boxing
128. Championship rounds – Rounds 11-12 in title fights
129. Weight class – Divisions based on fighter weight (e.g., Heavyweight, Welterweight)
130. Weigh-in – Official procedure to ensure fighters meet weight requirements
131. Weight cut – Process of losing weight to qualify for a weight class
132. Title fight – Match where a championship belt is at stake
133. Mandatory challenger – Fighter officially designated next in line for a title shot
134. Walkout/Ring entrance – A fighter’s entrance into the arena
135. Purse – Money paid to a fighter for a bout
136. Sanctioning body – Organization that recognizes champions (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO)
137. Main event – The featured fight on a card
138. Undercard – Preliminary fights before the main event
139. Fight camp – Training period before a fight
140. Sparring – Practice fighting with a partner

Boxing Styles

141. Boxer-puncher – Well-rounded fighter with good technique and power
142. Slugger/Brawler – Power-focused fighter who relies on heavy punches
143. Out-boxer – Fighter who uses range, speed, and movement to outpoint opponents
144. Swarmer/Pressure fighter – Aggressive fighter who applies constant pressure
145. Counter-puncher – Fighter who specializes in punching in response to opponent’s attacks
146. Volume puncher – Fighter who throws many punches per round
147. Power puncher – Fighter known for knockout ability
148. Switch-hitter – Fighter comfortable in both orthodox and southpaw stances
149. Defensive specialist – Fighter who excels at not getting hit
150. “Old school” boxing – Traditional boxing techniques and training methods

Final Bell: Putting Your Boxing Knowledge to Work

Whew! That was a lot of boxing jargon to throw at you. I actually didn’t realize how many terms I’d collected until I started writing them down. My old coach Jimmy would be proud – though he’d probably argue with half my definitions just to bust my chops.

Look, here’s the thing about boxing terminology: it’s messy. Different gyms call the same punch different things. What I learned as a “shovel hook” in Detroit, they call a “half-uppercut” in Philly. And don’t get me started on the regional slang that never makes it to TV.

Just yesterday, I was watching some young fighters at my gym. One kid kept asking what “make him miss and make him pay” meant. Sometimes we forget not everyone speaks the language.

This list isn’t perfect, and hardcore boxing nerds will notice I left out some obscure stuff. But honestly? This covers about 95% of what you’ll hear on fight night.

Next time you’re watching a big PPV and your friends look confused when the commentator starts talking about “fighting in the pocket” or “pulling the counter,” you can be the smartass who explains it. Just buy them a beer afterward so they don’t hate you for it.

Drop me a comment if I missed anything major. I’m thinking of turning this into a series covering MMA and kickboxing terms next – if my fingers recover from typing all this out!