In the past, only the boxing elite had access to video analysis. Now anyone with a smartphone does. Like the mirror, video is our ally and can provide a treasure trove of priceless data.

Record and review your sessions as much as possible. To help, there is a host of coaching analysis apps. These let you conduct reviews on the spot, straight from your phone or tablet.

I use this all the time when coaching. Rather than saying “you are dropping your guard hand on the lead hook”, I can show the boxer.  We can watch together, in slow-motion or by cycling back and forward. I find that boxers become very adept at fault correction after seeing it with their own eyes. 

Be discreet with your training videos. As you progress, remember that this footage is for you and your coach only. It is definitely not fit for social media. This applies to bag and pad work, sparring and any contests you may have. If it offers insight to you and your coach, imagine what opponents and their coach will take from it.

At my old gym, we had boxers competing in tournaments all the time. As coaches the first thing we would do is look online for footage of future opponents. Most of the time the boxer themselves, a relative or sometimes even their coach had obliged. 

Study the greats

Become a student of the sport. There is online footage of almost every world-level fighter dating back to the 40s. While it's good to watch popular fighters, take a turn off the beaten track now and then. There are boxers from the 40s, 50s and 60s who would be superstars today, yet you seldom hear their names.

Knowledge and skills sometimes get lost over time. Keep digging and you will find some real gems. A picture paints a thousand words. It always helps to see a skill in action and context.