One of the first questions your boxing instructor will ask you when you join a boxing class is if you’re right-handed or left-handed. While in most boxing gyms left-hand dominant fighters are usually southpaws, there are a few points to consider when choosing your stance. Even if you are left-handed, you may choose to remain in an orthodox stance, and there are a number of reasons why this could be beneficial.

The southpaw stance is when a naturally left-handed boxer uses the right hand as the lead punch or the jab, with the straight left hand as the obvious power shot. This is the complete opposite of the orthodox stance which has the left foot forward and the right foot back. Normally, boxers are initially taught to follow their dominant hand and use that as the power shot.

But there exists another option. Even if you are a left-handed fighter, you may choose to remain in the orthodox stance. There are a handful of reasons why doing this would be an option for you, if you choose to consider it. One of those reasons is to gain power in both fists, as well as stifling opponents with a powerful left jab.

As is usually the case, southpaw switch-hitters are usually packing power in both fists, rather than just their dominant hand. This is because naturally, the right hand is delivered with great force from the rear in addition to the left hand being a stronger hand.

Furthermore, training both hands as powerful offensive tools makes you effective with either hand. This is even greater emphasized with the presence of speed. A fast, speedy, and powerful southpaw switch-hitter is a very tough opponent to face and a dynamic offensive force at that. Some of boxing’s greatest southpaw switch-hitters were tremendous punchers and were incredibly hard to defend against.

the most powerful punch in boxing is the left hook. So if you’re a left-hand dominant fighter, your best punch will be the left hook. The reason for this is that the left hook has the shortest distance to travel in a fight. It is incredibly compact and carries loads of power and force.

Because it has such a short distance to travel to its target, the left hook from the orthodox stance can land quite easily both to the head and to the body. It is delivered with velocity and impact and rarely leaves you open to being countered. Your left hand can attack and then retract instantly back on defense.

This is a huge advantage because it means you can use the left hook all night long without much fear of retaliation. Some of the greatest left hookers in the sport include Oscar De La Hoya and Joe Frazier. These great southpaw switch hitters used their left hooks to score spectacular knockouts.