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How to Parry in Boxing: Redirect Punches and Create Counters
- Simmy
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
A parry is a small, precise deflection. Instead of absorbing a punch with your guard, you redirect it just enough to make it miss and throw your opponent off balance. It costs less energy than blocking and sets up counters better than almost any other defensive move.
What a Parry Is
You use your lead or rear hand to bat away an incoming punch at the wrist or forearm, redirecting it past your head or body. The movement is short and sharp. You are not swatting or catching. You are tipping the punch just off course.
The difference between a parry and a block: a block stops the punch, a parry redirects it. That redirection disrupts your opponent's balance and rhythm while keeping your guard available.
The Outside Parry
Used against jabs and crosses aimed at your head. Your lead hand taps the incoming punch to the outside, pushing it past your left shoulder. As the punch goes by, you are clear to throw a straight right hand or a left hook counter.
Keep the parry tight and compact. A big wide swat takes your hand out of position.
Time it early. Let the punch come to you but redirect it before it reaches your guard.
Immediately counter. The window closes fast.
The Inside Parry
Used against jabs aimed at your face. Instead of deflecting outside, your rear hand taps the punch to the inside, crossing it toward your right side. This creates an opening to your opponent's left side for a left hook or left hook to the body.
The inside parry is slightly riskier because you are redirecting a punch across the centerline of your face. Timing has to be sharp. But when it works, the counter angle it creates is hard for your opponent to defend.
Parrying Body Shots
When a hook or cross is aimed at the body, you can parry with the elbow and forearm, pushing the punch down and away. This is harder to time than a head parry but prevents taking a clean shot to the ribs or liver.
Common Mistakes
Reaching: Extending your arm too far to meet the punch. This throws your balance off and takes your hand away from your guard.
Late timing: Parrying after the punch is at your face is just a slap. The redirection needs to happen earlier in the punch's path.
No follow-up: A parry with no counter is just a fancy way to not get hit. The counter is the whole reason to parry.
How to Drill the Parry
Start with a partner who throws slow jabs. Focus on reading the punch, timing the tap, and immediately returning a counter. Do not rush the speed. Speed comes from repetition, not from trying to be fast before the movement is correct.
Then work it on the mitts. A good mitt holder can throw slow jabs and cue you to parry before adding the counter combination.
The parry is one of those skills that looks effortless when it is working. That ease comes from drilling it until the timing is automatic.
Simeon Hardy is a boxing coach, former World Ranked professional boxer, and former WBC welterweight champion based in New York. He trains fighters and fitness enthusiasts of all levels at BOXwithSimmy NYC. Follow along on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
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