Because most fighters are orthodox, southpaws can be difficult to battle because fighters have less expertise with them. That is the benefit. It's not a terrible idea to learn how to fight both ways; many fighters have had success swapping hands. Consider the jab, the primary tool for determining distance from an orthodox posture. With a southpaw, however, you have to get close before you can strike home. They also tend to keep their elbow in at all times, which can make it harder to land accurate punches. The advantage of being a southpaw is that it gives you extra room to move. Because they're used to fighting from one angle only, southpaws don't feel confined by the rules of orthodox boxing. They can avoid your attacks and look for opportunities of their own. For example, they may choose to walk straight into your left hand or swing wildly with their right arm - both effective strategies when you consider that your opponent's perspective is always from behind you! In addition, southpaws often score more points than their opponents think possible. This is because they aren't restricted by the rules of distance, so they can put on a show very close to the edge of the ring. Punches seem to go further when you're not worried about hitting the floor! Finally, southpaws can throw multiple combinations without having to worry about hurting themselves. They're able to do this because they have no interest in hitting their target.