The force of impact is determined by taking the mass of the striking object and multiplying it by the velocity it is moving 'squared'. I am a mathematical moron and cannot define ‘squared’ or hope to ‘square’ anything. I understand that we are talking about exponential multiplication. I just can’t wrap my ape’s brain around it. I can wrap my ape’s brain around the fact that I would rather get hit by one hundred pounds moving at 1 mile an hour than 1 pound moving at 100 miles per hour.

Now, if the faster the striking object is moving the harder the impact, how do I, as a boxing coach, explain how slow-handed boxers like Marciano and Shavers, indeed heavyweights in general, hit harder than speedy boxers. This dichotomy was expressed by old-time boxing people as ‘quick versus fast’, and it is very simple. What we are talking about is the classic example of the fighter who lands first not hitting as hard as the fighter that lands second.

A quick-fisted boxer puts more explosive effort into initiating his punch, loading his punch up front. His punches will often slow as they reach the target. Most guys do not have a flat punching velocity. There are a number of kinetic reasons why his punches will slow up. The root though, is psychological; he is concerned with getting off first, getting there first, and getting the hell out of there. Quick fighters tend to be ‘move and shoot’ defensive boxers and are often very muscular, Orlin Norris being a perfect example.

A hard hitting boxer may or may not come off with speed up front. Many do not. Archie Moore, with 135 KOs, the all time KO leader, came off slow, and dropped men! Again, the reason why his punch is slow starting off is he is most concerned with accelerating his velocity throughout the motion, achieving maximum velocity at the point of impact and continuing through the target. This is ‘fast’ in boxing; the punch that shocks and cracks through, which gives the gift that keeps on giving. In boxing the fast fighter tends to be a pressure fighter who weathers punches to get in range, or a counter puncher, who again, is all about timing his blow and developing its velocity on the far end of the arc.

This has always been a conundrum for me as a boxer and coach. I knew it was so, but not why. I discovered the answer stick fighting while observing and developing forearm mechanics as I cut air and hit posts, bags, and opponents. Most fighters will tend to either quick of fast. Ideally you want the option to be either; to decide in the blink of an eye if you should put smoke on your punch up front to get there quick or ‘set down on it’ and let the velocity build along your punching arc.

Play with that.

I hope it helps.