30 Realistic Boxing Combinations Every Beginner Needs to Learn

Many beginner boxers looking to improve their skills assume that the long lists of boxing combinations they find online, like the "Top 50," represent a high volume of unique, essential skills. In reality, these lists may be confusingly structured, repetitive, or even incomplete (!).

I decided to study, organize, and strip away the complexity of those lists, and added my own based on my own experience as a coach, and they shrunk down to a manageable 30 combinations.

Here is that list, organized for clarity, effectiveness, and focused practice:

1. Pure Punch Combinations

1. Jab, Cross (1-2)

2. Jab, Jab, Cross (1-1-2)

3. Jab, Cross, Lead Hook (1-2-3)

4. Jab, Cross, Lead Hook, Cross (1-2-3-2)

5. Jab, Cross, Lead Uppercut, Cross (1-2-5-2)

6. Jab, Cross, Jab (1-2-1)

7. Cross, Jab, Cross (2-1-2)

8. Cross, Lead Hook, Cross (2-3-2)

9. Cross, Lead Uppercut, Cross (2-5-2)

10. Lead Hook, Cross, Lead Hook (3-2-3)

2. Footwork & Defensive Combinations

1. Jab / Step Back / Cross (1-Step-2)

2. Jab, Jab, Cross / Step Back / Cross (1-1-2-Step-2)

3. Jab / Step Right / Rear Uppercut, Lead Hook (1-Step-6-3)

4. Jab / Cross / Lead Hook / Pivot (1-2-3-Pivot)

5. Catch (Lead Hand) / Jab (Catch-1)

6. Catch (Rear Hand) / Cross (Catch-2)

7. Jab / Pull / Cross (1-Pull-2)

8. Jab / Slip Left / Lead Hook (1-Slip-3)

9. Jab / Slip Right / Cross (1-Slip-2)

10. Jab, Cross / Roll Right (1-2-Roll)

3. Head/Body Combinations

1. Jab (H), Jab (B) (1-1B)

2. Jab (H), Jab (H), Cross (B) (1-1-2B)

3. Jab (H), Jab (H), Rear Hook (B) (1-1-4B)

4. Jab (H), Cross (B) (1-2B)

5. Jab (H), Cross (B), Lead Hook (H) (1-2B-3)

6. Jab (H), Lead Hook (B) (1-3B)

7. Jab (H), Rear Hook (B) (1-4B)

8. Jab (B), Jab (H) (1B-1)

9. Jab (B), Cross (H) (1B-2)

10. Cross (B), Lead Hook (H) (2B-3)

These 30 combinations represent a solid foundation. Consistency is your final combination. Now get on the bag and start working!