My boxing really complements my grappling as once kicks are thrown i like to catch them or time it with a takedown.
smaller gloves leave more openings, so ALthough im more easier to hit i can hit opponents easier too.
I feel like overall boxing has put me ahead as some mma fighters i spar with have below avg hands (Maybe cuz they neglect boxing even tho its an important part, almost as important as grappling)
If i come up against a guy who has good kicks and tkdowndefense then I struggle a lot, but i feel like im better off doing boxing as my first base than kickboxing.
***FInally, i feel like mma values aggressivness and scrapiness more? When i was doing boxing, i was a defensive fighter who liked using angles. Due to more weapons such as kicks, u cant move the same way , i had to revamp my fighting style to a pressure boxer, i feel like only 1 boxing style really works in mma and its pressure boxing, paired with sum counterpunching since outboxing is almost impossible with a good kicker