The jab is most commonly thrown punch in boxing and it can be used in so many different ways. It is not just about setting up an attack or finding your range, it can even be used as a form of defence and there are many ways to throw the jab – something I have written about in the past including this article here on seven ways to throw the jab.

In this article I am going to look at yet another method of throwing the jab which was used by the Old Mongoose, Archie Moore. Moore was full of tricks and was a great fighter and is someone I have written about extensively as a result, both here on my website and in my book Forgotten Legends of the Ring.

I like to call this one the In Jab – very similar to the screw jab which is thrown with the hand turn upwards with your palm ending in a position it is almost facing you. The screw jab is used to split the guard of an opponent and Archie Moore’s In Jab was no different.

Moore would often use this jab after the inside slip having slipped the jab from his opponent. Following the inside slip Moore would counter with his own jab except instead of throwing the palm down or palm up – as in the case of the screw jab, he would turn his hand in to try and squeeze it between the guard of the opponent, just like the screw jab it would split the opponents guard and is a great jab to throw against anyone using the high guard.

This In Jab would also allow Moore to swivel to the side so he could set up his next attack from a change of angle or he could spin out of range and reset ready to go again. Moore could also begin to feint this shot, he could lean to the inside and invite the punch from the opponent and instead of throwing the In jab he could throw the counter right.

The jab is the most versatile punch in boxing and Archie Moore was certainly someone who made full use of the jab – watch the video below to see how Archie Moore would use the In Jab.