What is the name of the boxing punch thrown upward from below?

The boxing punch thrown upward from below is an uppercut. It begins low and travels upward, usually targeting an opponent’s chin, though it can also strike the upper abdomen or solar plexus.

Uppercuts are most effective at close range, where a boxer can bend the arm, drive through the legs and hips, and transfer force upward into the target. Throwing one from too far away often reduces its power and makes the punch easier to see or counter. A boxer must also avoid dropping the hand excessively, which can expose the head.

The punch was formerly known as an undercut. Historical accounts credit English boxer Samuel Elias, known as Dutch Sam, with developing or popularizing the blow in the early nineteenth century, although details of its early history are not fully certain.

An uppercut can appear in combinations, often after a jab or alongside hooks and crosses. It is especially dangerous when an opponent leans forward or keeps their guard high, leaving the center line open.