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The cross

The cross — also known as a “straight” is usually your primary power punch. It crosses your body heading to the target. Among the punches, it comes from the farthest distance away, so your opponent has more time to see and deal with it. For this reason, it’s risky to lead with your cross. It’s used more in a combination or as a counterpunch.

The cross to the body uses the same technique. As with the jab, throw the punch from a level so that your chin and shoulder are in direct line with the target. To get in line, dip your rear knee and drop your weight, making sure you don’t pitch towards your opponent.

Boxers sometimes develop a habit of flourishing their rear hand after impact. It reminds me of a gunslinger spinning and holstering his gun after a shootout. If you have concussive power, and your opponent is already falling to the floor, then be my guest. I’m not averse to a bit of theatre. If not, stick to the basics and get it back to your chin tout suite! 

Cross to the head

1. Stay in guard.

2. Twist on the ball of your rear foot.

3. Turn your rear hip and shoulders towards your opponent.

4. Pull your lead shoulder and hip away from your opponent

5. Punch in a straight line, rotating your fist palm down before impact.

6. Return to guard. 

Concentrate on your:

• chin — keep it down and behind your lead knee

• rear elbow — don’t let it flare out like a chicken as you throw the jab

• rear hand — make sure it returns to guard in a straight line 

• rear hip and shoulder — make sure they snap back to guard

• lead hand — protect your chin

• lead arm — protect your body

Cross to the body

1. Stay in guard.

2. Flex your knees and dip.

3. Twist on the ball of your rear foot.

4. Let your rear hip and shoulder follow until they are square to your opponent.

5. Punch in a straight line, rotating your fist palm down before impact.

6. Return to guard. 

Concentrate on your:

• chin — keep it down and behind your lead knee

• opponent — as you dip, don’t look down or away 

• rear elbow — don’t let it flare out like a chicken as you throw the jab

• rear hand — make sure it returns to guard in a straight line 

• rear hip and shoulder — make sure they snap back to guard

• lead hand — protect your chin

• lead arm — protect your body

Study

For a picture-perfect cross, look no further than Nicaraguan legend Alexis Argüello. “El Flaco Explosivo” campaigned as a featherweight and lightweight in the 70s and 80s. His right cross is a thing of beauty.

For a variation on the cross, study British Heavyweight Lennox Lewis. Lewis gets overlooked when talk turns to the all-time greats. He excelled at throwing an arcing right cross that looped over his opponent’s lead shoulder. He lost in shock circumstances twice — to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. Both times he avenged the losses in immediate rematches. The return with Rahman ended with a chilling right hand. 

Filipino phenom Manny Pacquiao often lead with his cross. Pacquiao was a southpaw, so threw the left. The artist Pablo Picasso said: “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist”. Pacquiao was that artist. He tore up the rule book by tilting in and pushing his rear foot off the floor to power the punch. This confused opponents, as one second he was out of range and the next in range, landing with a stinging left cross. Watch Pacquiao’s ruthless dismantling of Oscar De La Hoya to see this in action.