The uppercut, is there a more devastating shot in professional boxing when delivered correctly, even in today’s modern day professional boxing era?
You go back to that George Foreman uppercut back in the day against Joe Frazier that literally lifted Frazier off his feet, on route to a quick demolition job of Frazier.
That might have been one of the best uppercuts in both professional boxing and heavyweight boxing history.
Of course Mike Tyson had lethal uppercuts that were deadly in his career early on particularly, when he first won the world title in his young days.
The uppercut is still used today of course at the highest level of world title boxing and at all levels but maybe not as much as it should be, or could be.
It doesn’t always have to be thrown from close quarters when both fighters are on the inside fighting, sometimes also referred to as ‘in the pocket’ in boxing.
The Underrated Power of the Uppercut
It can be used even from middle and long range distance at times as Foreman showed above and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez often did this in his career as well.
Floyd Mayweather criticized Muhammad Ali for never throwing body punches much in his career previously but Mayweather didn’t throw the uppercut much either.
It can be a wild miss of a punch at times if not thrown well but when it hits home and is on the money, it is an excellent punch.
Vitali Klitschko and Lennox Lewis landed some uppercuts of pure savagery on one another back in the day of their title fight at heavyweight.
Tyson Fury in more recent times landing some very heavy uppercuts at points in his legendary fights with Deontay Wilder at heavyweight.
Due to the inverted nature and angle of the punch it can leave the opponent completely caught off guard when it hits as it is the punches that they don’t see coming that hurt them the most.
Sometimes an uppercut can be even used as a counter punch.
