fitness, chances are you throwing specific combinations of punches on the heavy bag, mitts, air, etc. This is a great way to train as the alternative is just winging it and I can 100% guarantee you that winging it will NOT significantly improve your boxing skills or your fitness. Even if you are an accomplished boxer, there needs to be a specific goal in your training and without measurable parameters, there is no way to track progression. But do boxers training for a particular fight practice throwing combinations?
The answer is generally "yes" but to varying degrees, based on the fighter and their opponent. While combinations are infinite, there are probably about 8-10 you see thrown over and over again in a fight. Professional fighters throw these a lot with their coaches on the mitts and sometimes the bag as well. When they show boxers backstage before a fight, you will often see them doing this very thing. Basic combos and counters with their trainer on the mitts.
There are some (not many), who rarely throw combinations in a fight and if they do, the combos are super short. Instead they throw mostly single punches. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the main example and obviously, he makes this work for him and his style but like most everything else Floyd does, this is not a great way to learn. Combinations teach us how to flow between strikes, set up bigger strikes, create openings and keep our opponents off-balance and overwhelmed, as well as simply hit them more. When you throw a punch at someone, they will generally react in some way. Going off this reaction allows an opportunity for another punch and then another, which keeps you in control of the fight.
Unless the opponent is hurt and/or on the ropes, most pro boxers rarely throw longer combinations (more than 3-4 punches) because their opponents tend to move by then, punch back, etc. but there is still plenty of value in practicing longer combinations for the same reasons I mentioned above. You never know at any given time what will be open so learning how to transition efficiently from punch to punch will help you in all scenarios. As punches are meant to flow together, combinations can help you better understand the mechanics behind a single punch. Like for instance if you were to practice throwing a lead body shot-lead uppercut-lead hook combination, it would make each one of those punches on their own better than if you just practiced them individually. The key with longer combos is to just make sure you are executing them quickly, once you have the proper form.
Then there might be specific combinations fighters work when preparing for a certain opponent. Every fighter has their own tendencies and style so any good game plan should include ways to exploit those tendencies when possible. If you were going up against someone who say, likes to parry straight, inside punches, you might practice faking the jab and then throwing the lead hook to try to catch them bring their right hand out to parry the jab. Or if they like to charge straight in, you might practice throwing combinations off of straight punches to the body. Or you can practice throwing a certain combination as a trap, to get your opponent to expect it, then change it up and catch them off guard.
There are also certain combinations that individual fighters just like to throw and are usually successful, becoming kind of known for it. Mike Tyson was the biggest example here and he did practice those combinations over and over again on the heavy bag (at least, when he was well-coached throughout the 80s). That can be used to trap your opponents too, as mentioned in the paragraph above. They see you throwing that rear body shot-rear uppercut-lead hook combo a lot on film, prepare for it, but then you throw a new variation of it in the fight they are not expecting, like a rear body shot-rear head hook instead.
Chess games like this can go on and on but since a fight presents so many ever-changing variables that require constant adaptation, you can't get to stuck on on throwing any specific combinations. You have to always adjust for distance, angles, counter attacks and overall movement and must be able to change on a dime. When these other factors prevent you from being able to throw a combo you want to land or even power punches in general, you can't let that frustrate you and take you off of your game. I always talk about one of my favorite and most effective combos was the jab-cross to the body-lead hook but if someone is constantly moving laterally and don't set their feet when the jab lands, I have to abort completely because they won't be there for the next two strikes. Then I have to figure something else out. This is why fighters may not get as attached to combinations as those who train in boxing for fitness but practicing them is still extremely valuable to both camps.
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