BoxRec

Good evening guys...

I was wondering one day of these about the arm span measuring in boxing and today decided to write down. Getting the boxrec descriptions of arm's reach, I was thinking if the way boxers do to measure are wrong (as follows the picture example below) because if you think a little you use the gloves closed (of course ) and as soon as you measure your arm span with the hands closed (like if you were using gloves) the measure drops from 15 to 30 or more centimeters in comparison of them opened (you don't touch the opponent with the fingertips). I have 1.83 and 1.96 of arm span (based on boxrec description) and with the hands closed it drops to 1.80.

(Supposition): Is the common arm span measure in this case based on hand closed + thickness of wrap + gloves (or thickness of the gloves)? Looks like stupid but, what is the real explanation for this?

What do you think? Because if I'm right there must be a change in the way they measure boxers reach...

Thanks for all the attention!

* Sorry if any english mistake...

http://postimg.org/image/ifu0rcbn5/
http://postimg.org/image/eejqdhbxj/

Back width is always a factor. That's one thing HBO has right using arm length.

You should measure finger tip to finger tip by flattening your chest against a wall and reaching as far as you can left and right. The built up padding on your knuckles and then your glove on top of that, gives you more thickness and reach than just the flat of your fist... and then the most skilled jabbers will extend their fingers anyway to make contact and grease their punch stats.. But USING your reach well is a science.

You utilize your reach the best by boxing tall, with your head back, and being perfectly balanced over your feet. Boxers who box off the front foot, lean in, reach, or crouch, give up some of their reach. Everybody leans and uses their waist and torso a great deal to get better range on their jabs and punches from the outside -- but if somebody ALREADY leans in a quarter inch... or an inch... or 3 inches... (or 6 inches or more in cases where somebody uses a crouch) before they even punch, they're not actually getting the better reach or range they think you are... because they're giving that much range up before they even punch.

And for guys who box off the back foot the reverse is true... They think they gain range and can lean back and shoulder roll right hands better... and box better defensively in that back foot stance -- but they can't... They actually LOSE some of the distance they can move their head back, shoulder roll, and other defensive options. They're easier to pressure and they break down faster than somebody with a perfectly balanced stance.

Extended your fingers as you jab sounds like a good way to break a finger

Obviously you need to keep the fingers slightly curved and bent so that doesn't happen... I'm not recommending that... but I've known many boxers who used the technique and jabbed with enough speed to get away with it... Obviously any punch where you don't strike with the flat of the fist is technically illegal. Whether it's going to be called or not is problematic ... because it's usually not.