Just before a recent bout, I bumped into former pound-for-pound greatest, Roy Jones Jr.  Naturally, I began to pester him for a boxing tip. A tired-looking Jones  started, “Use your jab. Everything revolves around the jab.”  Pulling a face I replied, “I know. I know. Everyone knows that, Roy. I’m a trainer. Give me one of your trade secrets.”

 

He laughed,  smiled, took a stance.
 “OK, here it is -- the 'pop right,' " Jones said. "You need to be able to throw two kinds of right hand. One is the real hard one that we all learn, but also a lead right that is kind of like a jab.
“Here is how you set it up. You are inside your opponent's lead foot and you shoulder feint left, then right. But just when you are coming back toward the middle from going right, you let go of the right – right down the middle.”   

 The onetime pound-for-pound legend was kind enough to demonstrate a few times and I could immediately recall that famous short lead right of his — and those bouts in which he wouldn’t throw a single jab.

 Lean left, lean right, and let the “pop right” go.

 

I thanked him, but then about ten minutes later I couldn’t resist and was pestering him again. “One more tip," I begged. "Come on.”

But Roy was busy and waved me off. "That’s it for today,” he said.