The Catch and Slip
How to defend the double jab is not something I am commonly asked, which is almost a surprise because you would think the double jab is one of the attacks a boxer is most used to seeing and having to defend against. I have previously made a video on how to defend the double jab and how to counter the double jab. That is one way which works as you are parrying the first jab and then catching or parrying the second jab, which allows you to then counter with your own right cross. The method in this article however will show how James Toney, a defensive master, uses an old school method of boxing defence to nullify the double jab.
James Toney would use what I call the catch and slip to defend against the double jab. The first jab Toney would block by catching with his back hand(right hand for an orthodox fighter), the second jab Toney would simply avoid by slipping to the outside. This defence was so effective because not only does the catch and slip allow you to avoid the double jab, but if the opponent throws a 1,2(jab, cross) instead, by slipping the second punch, whether it is another jab or the right hand, it allows you to safely get out of harms way.
Doubling up the jab is a great move in boxing, it allows you to do many things inside the ring, such as closing the distance and disrupting your opponents rhythm, so if you can successfully negate the double jab, and indeed the jab as a whole, you have taken away pretty much half of your opponents attack because they don’t use any other punch as much as they use the jab. By limiting the damage they can do with their jab, it makes the fight much easier for you as they are now easier to defend against. If you can’t defend or counter the jab, you are in for a long night because having a stiff jab thrown into your face round after round will soon become very frustrating.
Another reason the catch and slip is so effective is that it allows for easy counter attacking. If you catch the jab and slip the next shot, whether it is another jab or cross, by slipping to the outside you are now in prime position to counter with your own straight right/back hand. You don’t even need to counter immediately, if for example your opponent throws a jab, cross and you have used the catch and slip, they might throw a hook in which case by bending at the waist and slipping to the outside, you only have to stay down low in the same position having slipped and the left hook will just sail over your head. If they have thrown a double jab followed by the right hand and you have used the catch and slip, you can either stay low after the slip to avoid the shot or if you have come back up you can slip back outside again. It is a very versatile defence that was used by some old school greats such as Archie Moore.
Give the catch and slip a go when defending the double jab or jab, cross and learn to mix it into your boxing defence. It is more of a shoulder roll technique so can take some getting used to but it is always a great idea to have more than one way of doing things and having more than one style you can use.
