Kid Gavilan is said to have been the inventor of the bolo punch. He and Sugar Ray Leonard are widely recognized as two of the best bolo punchers in boxing history.

The bolo punch might not even be thrown at all. It really is a circular motion that one boxer does with one of his arms to distract the opponent, causing the opponent either to take his eyes off the attacker's other arm, or actually focus on the fighter's other arm. When the opponent concentrates on the punch that is circling, usually the bolo puncher would sneak in a punch with the hand that is being sustained. When the rival concentrates on the hand that is not moving, then the bolo puncher usually uses the bolo punch to attack his target.