That being said, there are certainly punches and combinations that are thrown far more often than others. They are simpler and efficient by nature. Since we don't have infinite time to practice infinite combinations, it makes sense that we would spend the most time practicing the more fundamental combos, as well as defending them too.
A lot of boxers and trainers refer to any combo that is not one of the more fundamental ones as "unrealistic". Or that a seemingly strange, unorthodox combo "doesn't make sense."
That description is incorrect though. When you start to break down fights between high-level boxers and figure out exactly what they are throwing, you will see a LOT of combos that many people would call unrealistic. And you will see them land successfully. Particularly when finishing a fight. So as they are thrown in a real match between skilled combatants and they are successful, it is objectively wrong to call them unrealistic. You can call them uncommon but not unrealistic.
Again, there are many, many combinations that are far more common than a jab-4 lead uppercuts-rear hook-rear uppercut but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try different things and as I said in the beginning, you should be able to throw any punch with good technique off of any other. It is important to practice this. Practice throwing and defending them.
When boxers and trainers talk about unrealistic combos and combos that don't make sense, they are often referring to longer sequence of punches. This is because the likelihood of being able to throw more than 3-4 punches at a time without getting countered by your opponent is slim in many situations. But again, it can happen and does happen. Less often than simply more unorthodox combos being thrown.
Practicing long combinations does have other value too though. It helps you to flow between punches smoothly, as well as get more reps in chaining together different punches, provided of course that they are varied long combos.
I think it can also function as somewhat of a stress test on your technique. It is one thing to through a jab-cross on their own and try to make both strikes as perfect as possible but throwing them along with more punches will really challenge you to maintain that solid form without everything just becoming punch mush. Keeps the brain switched on.
Varying the length of combos is also a good way to improve stamina. If you get stuck throwing 2-3 punch combos over and over again and get into a rhythm with it, your body will adapt accordingly. Then when it's time to try to finish off your opponent and throw a long flurry of strikes, your body isn't used to that gear shift and you are more likely to gas out sooner.
Along those lines but beyond the physical, it is very easy to become an "auto-pilot" boxer just throwing the same combos and combo lengths. Makes it harder to adapt when other strike opportunities present themselves. Conversley, it also makes it easier for your opponent to predict what you are going to do.
This is why we like to vary things up at our club, as well as do those "Fight Like..." classes. Keeps us grounded in what strikes high-level boxers and kickboxers actually throw, as opposed to just writing off things as unrealistic. A strange thing I have noticed in the last 10 years is that even very experienced boxers, boxing trainers and boxing commentators, don't actually track what punches are thrown in a fight. Even Compubox just separates them individually as jabs or power punches (which is just anything other than a jab). So even people who seem to eat, sleep and breathe boxing - whose job it is to know as much about boxing as possible - don't seem to care to look closer. I will never understand this, myself, and would love for someone to explain to me why I'm wrong but as I write this in 2026, that day has yet to come.
In reality, no matter what any experienced person tries to tell you, there is no such thing as unrealistic combo. There are no combos that don't make sense either. Yes, there are combos that are much more commonly thrown than others, for sure, much more fundamental and good to learn but anything can work. Also, if you practice something, you can get better at it. So what might feel awkward for you to throw now can potentially get silky smooth with a lot of practice.
