Distance

One of the most common mistakes (actually series of mistakes) that people make is throwing punches from the incorrect distance. This is most commonly visible in the instance of a jab/cross combination. The puncher will throw the jab and the opponent will step back. When the puncher throws the cross, he is supposed to move in to close distance. If he does NOT do this, then the puncher will lunge and over reach with the cross. This will yield a series of really bad problems in the puncher's structure. The cross will have no weight behind it and become and 'arm strength' punch that is totally ineffective plus the puncher's head will be leaned forward putting him in an incredibly disadvantagous position. It would be as if the head was in a guillotine because the any punch that hits a person in the face while they in are such an off balanced position will yield a big knockout.

Moral of the story: stay in the proper distance range when throwing punches or they will get you into trouble. I used the cross as an example, but other common mistakes are throwing the hook and uppercut(s) from too far out as well.

So stay in the proper distance!