My experience and training with a few different boxing coaches has taught me that there are two different ways to throw an overhand right in boxing.

Most people consider the overhand right to be something similar to a haymaker. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A Haymaker - an undisciplined punch with little or no structure often used by amateurs as a way to generate power, but often lacks connection with its intended target. The difference between a sucker punch and a haymaker is usually the attention of the recipient. Not always, but usually.

A haymaker is a very wide over the head and angled punch intended to make impact at a downward angle - usually to the temple. Unfortunately most of the impact is delivered by the anterior deltoid (front of the shoulder), which is the weakest muscle used to generate power and can be strained easily.

Overhand Right 1

A short, controlled punch using a downward angle with full intention of landing on an opponent's temple or jaw.

In much the same way that I've described a hook in previous posts, the punch begins with an outward, but straight movement up and away from your right hand's starting position.

Imagine that there is a person hovering between you and your opponent by about 8 inches. The initial movement is to jab this imaginary person by extending the hand away from your face, but no more than 8 inches.

Simultaneously, pivot the back foot (just like the right hand) like a sprinter would push off a starting block, rotate the shoulders (NOT at a 270 degree angle), but rather downward at the 8 o'clock position (220 degree angle) and whip your hand downward as you are rotating your shoulders. The punch is a two step process.

The difference described in writing is more difficult to imagine than seeing it. But when executed, the difference is obvious and the punch much shorter, faster and with more power.

The trick is to keep the right hand inside the shoulder as much as possible. When the hand begins to move outside the shoulder (AFTER the shoulders rotate), the power is diminished because the anterior deltoid bears much of the brunt of the impact instead of using the body to punch. This is the biggest difference between a haymaker and a real overhand right. So the hand must begin at least at the same time as the body pivots, if not before.

This will create a shoulder punch. Combined with the sprinter's pivot and shoulder rotation, the overhand right can be devastating.

Again, the difference between a haymaker and the first example of an overhand right is a haymaker is a very long and wide punch. The hand extends high and away from the punchers face, which puts their chin in a vulnerable position. A short left hook by an opponent will squelch the dreams or a haymaker puncher. Also, a haymaker is much more easily slipped since it is a slower, wider punch.

Defense Against a Haymaker
The defense against a haymaker is an easy block with the left hand, moving your head to the left 6 inches, a left hook or a straight right. Lots of defenses!

The first overhand right makes it more difficult to defend against, since it is shorter and therefore faster.

Again, the two point movement of a short overhand right is an outward extension slightly upward and outward and then, like a whip, directing the punch downward to an 8 o'clock position while simultaneously pivoting the right foot and rotating the shoulders.

The Second Overhand Right is much simpler, but should only be thrown when the opponent is much closer.

The movement is exactly like a straight right with one difference - elevate the right elbow so it is parallel with the floor.
1. Extend the hand and elevate the elbow at the same time
2. Pivot the right foot like a sprinter out of the starting block

The punch will slightly elevate over the opponents hand and sneak past the shoulder to hit the temple or jaw. This is a very short punch.

A. Haymaker is long, slow and dangerous to the puncher because they are exposed
B. Overhand Right 1 is a medium distance punch, it is faster and more powerful and delivered with a downward angle
C. Overhand Right 2 is a close distance punch similar to a straight right with no downward angle, whipping the elbow up. This puts the hand slightly over the opponents hand and past the shoulder.

I hope this helps. Difficult to picture while describing with words, but I did my best.