This is one of the most fascinating aspects of fighting, and why I think "range finders" are so absolutely important. SummerStriker, how confident would you be of your sense of range if you were fighting Jimmy McLarnin, or someone with a stance like his?
You say that you like to throw your jab (or whatever initial shot) and then continue based on the reaction of your opponent. But what if your opponent knows that he seems closer to you than he is, and simply lets your jab fall short? I'm certainly no master of this, but there are times during sparring when I do feel like I can just stand still and let my partner throw, because he thinks I'm leaning forward when I'm really just crouching somewhat over my right hip.
I'm not very good at boxing compared to amateur fighters who are competing. When it comes to boxing, there are a lot more people who can make me look silly.
Most of my sparring experience is with mma. I'm tall and usually have the most confidence with long range kicking. Most kicks hit low on the body, so it is a good trick to make your low body appear somewhere it isn't, and for me, the burden of closing the gap is almost always on the other person.
On the rare occasion when I'm doing mma sparring with someone who has a better long range kick than me, who did TKD and can avoid my kick with a switch step or snap back, or who can kick me and escape without being countered, I do what everyone else does.
I try to endure their attack, and close off some of the room. Once they are near the wall, I'll try to force them to box or wrestle.
In short, I think what you are talking about doing is harder in mma than boxing because the weaker technician can force you to work at a different range. It does no good to play with someone's sense of distance because after like 5 seconds of being on the losing end of boxing, they are going to try to kick or clinch. You would need a preponderance of skill to play such a game across multiple ranges.
I'm not saying that is impossible. You would just need to be a real master to pull it off.
If you take the game of superior boxing and distance control into mma, I think you would need to put some punch lines on it. Be ready for them to back up and beat them to the kick, or ready to clinch and get a lick in before forcing neutral grips.
Edit: I can't see the still image you posted but I'm sure I know what it looks like.
Specifically, if I were boxing and I was missing because I couldn't get the range, "I" would wait for them to hit me and try to counter, and to the body if I could.
If it were mma, and if felt out classed at optimal punching distance against someone with the same reach, I'd retreat to kick and force them to close the gap. If that failed, I'd stalk them to the wall and try to wrestle. If I couldn't do that, I'd lose because I'm shit at pulling guard.
