How to neutralise/avoid the counter left hook?

[PainfromUkraine]

I was sparring yesterday and after a fairly long session also including pads and weights I finished up with a 4 minute round of sparring, I was tired so I got into a slugfest for the hell of it, was swinging for the fences - although we were only going at about 50%, and it all culminated in me basically being TKO'd (i'm sort of exaggerating) by a counter left hook behind the ear that I didn't see.

I got good shots in myself, and it was a fun slugfest I must say but I wouldn't recommend it, and when I say TKO'd I sort of just got audibly hurt and sat down (this was indoors, close quarters, not a ring). Imagine it sort of like the way Groves got stopped v Froch.
I'll try and upload and post a vid here if you guys would be interested, but bear in mind I won't be looking for any particular technical comments, it's not my usual style and it was just a fun round, technique went out of the window.

So, on to my main question - when I'm wearing my headguard, it affects my peripheral vision and when I get lazy or tired and drop my hands, I always seem to be getting hit by these quick counter left hooks. As you will know, or can imagine, these are particularly damaging. So, what tips can you guys give on how to avoid these? Sometimes I switch to southpaw to cover that side and get in a few straight rights but from my normal stance I seem to get hit a lot like that.

[ShoulderRoll]

You have to not drop your hands. Work the speed bag to build the endurance of your shoulder muscles.

The other defense against a left hook is to bob under it.

[Evil_Meat]

Never ever drop both your hands. You shouldn't drop your left hand either but really even if you are going to drop your left hand and use your shoulder to block the left side, the right hand should always be glued to the cheek unless you are parrying shots (and be careful not to try to parry a feint as you will obviously be parrying nothing and be open for a left hook). If you're being hit with left hooks behind the ear and not seeing them often it might be an issue of foot position and or being too squared up.

[PainfromUkraine]

Never ever drop both your hands. You shouldn't drop your left hand either but really even if you are going to drop your left hand and use your shoulder to block the left side, the right hand should always be glued to the cheek unless you are parrying shots (and be careful not to try to parry a feint as you will obviously be parrying nothing and be open for a left hook). If you're being hit with left hooks behind the ear and not seeing them often it might be an issue of foot position and or being too squared up.

Thanks for the feedback, yeah - could be a footwork issue, sometimes I get off balance a bit when coming off my shots. But also it is a headguard thing because it covers that furthest edge of the peripheral vision which means some shots are basically impossible to see. I sparred again today and wasn't caught as much though, and also I tried a new strategy of stepping to the right and hitting with my own counter right straight/hook. I dropped my sparring partner with one (10 years older than me) but unfortunately I wasn't recording at that exact point! Anyway, it's just an issue of practicing and working on my habits, and also improving my stamina and shoulder strength to make sure fatigue doesn't cause me to drop my hands.

I'll try get some videos posted for you guys very soon.

[Evil_Meat]

Thanks for the feedback, yeah - could be a footwork issue, sometimes I get off balance a bit when coming off my shots. But also it is a headguard thing because it covers that furthest edge of the peripheral vision which means some shots are basically impossible to see. I sparred again today and wasn't caught as much though, and also I tried a new strategy of stepping to the right and hitting with my own counter right straight/hook. I dropped my sparring partner with one (10 years older than me) but unfortunately I wasn't recording at that exact point! Anyway, it's just an issue of practicing and working on my habits, and also improving my stamina and shoulder strength to make sure fatigue doesn't cause me to drop my hands.

I'll try get some videos posted for you guys very soon.

Good stuff... If you move to someones left you will often land the hook on the front of the face/chin/nose even if they have their right hand glued to their face, so you have to remember that someone could do the same to you, or even go the opposite direction and cuff you behind the ear. Glad to help though.

[_original_]

Well you're getting into "slugfests", what else do you expect?

[PainfromUkraine]

Good stuff... If you move to someones left you will often land the hook on the front of the face/chin/nose even if they have their right hand glued to their face, so you have to remember that someone could do the same to you, or even go the opposite direction and cuff you behind the ear. Glad to help though.

I experimented with the strategy of stepping away to the right for two reasons - their left hook wouldn't be as powerful as i'd basically intercept it and see it much easier, reducing the effectiveness if it came in, and by also potentially altering my stance, if they switch to using the right hand more, I can get away from it and get my own one in. I did some ducking underneath those too though so I'm still working on varied defensive manoeuvres, the more sparring practice the better.

[PainfromUkraine]

Well you're getting into "slugfests", what else do you expect?

Touche, sir, touche.

[Ray Corso]

...........if it "happens alot" why are you asking about it! You purposely have a "slug fest"?
What you do in training especially sparring is what you will resort to doing in the ring at a fight! Get your priorites together and stop repeating so many mistakes and take control of your training course!
If your not planing on fighting competitively than disregard my comments.
Boxing for fun would get you hurt in a real boxing gym especially a "slug fest"
you'd be looking at the ceiling pretty quickly!

Get your work done and do it right, its not like you don't know how to do it!
Ray.

[PainfromUkraine]

...........if it "happens alot" why are you asking about it! You purposely have a "slug fest"?
What you do in training especially sparring is what you will resort to doing in the ring at a fight! Get your priorites together and stop repeating so many mistakes and take control of your training course!
If your not planing on fighting competitively than disregard my comments.
Boxing for fun would get you hurt in a real boxing gym especially a "slug fest"
you'd be looking at the ceiling pretty quickly!

Get your work done and do it right, its not like you don't know how to do it!
Ray.

Yeah I was being sloppy, It's not something I try or do too much, just a last resort due to fatigue... I do want to compete, but when i'm ready - need to eliminate the bad habits and respect the nature of the sport. I'm well aware, don't worry. Appreciate the comments though!