I'm around 170 I took on a kid about 150 a few inches shorter than me. I was really nervous since the whole gym was watching me and a lot of pro trainers and well known manager Willie Savannah and his wife. First round I did okay stayed behind the jab landed some 1-2s. But he hit me too, and I can't describe what it feels like to get hit, it doesn't hurt so much as it jars you like a jolt. I don't think you can ever really get used to it. Second round was even he landed some good shots he had speed and my hands were low most of the time since I was tired and stupid and once in a while I got in a jab or right but he had good head movement so wasn't easy to hit. Third round I had nothing left he teed off on me at will. Overall I did everything wrong didn't use my height right foot was too far behind left foot didn't bend my legs didn't slip punches didn't block the right hand and didn't jab enough and my hands were too low. Boxing is a crazy sport I have a new respect for anyone who steps in the ring.
You started out fine. Then you started misusing commas. Then you just stopped using them altogether. Great story though.
You won't do anything right when you are tired. Train your heart until you are comfortable maxing it out for 3 minute intervals. Max being 220bpm minus your age if memory serves. Having a pro designing your workout routine and monitoring is very desirable for something like that, obviously. This is the first, best thing, you can do to get better.
Two and a half months but all that training is nothing compared to being in the ring it's the most exhausting thing I have ever done.
Excerpt from a classic thread: "...in Montana where I'm from once you fight a man you have his respect..."
so is there a "sparring night" at the gym or something? interesting that the whole gym gathers around and watches. congrats on getting to the level of being able to spar. must have been an interesting experience to be in an "organized" fight for the first time. how often will you spar?
Actually you do get used to getting hit, but unfortunately thats not a good thing. Boxing screws you up. I gave up on boxing competitively when I met Richard Lord in person. The guy couldn't talk without slurring. He is also the norm and not the exception. Unless you plan on being competitive, I don't recommend sparring too much. Too much to lose and very little to gain. If you do want to continue sparring, ie actually getting hit, I would recommend getting your cardio work in. All boxers should be able to run 5 miles without breaking a sweat. When you get hit really hard with a body shot, it feels like you are fighting someone after taking a fast five mile run. To get good at boxing, you also have to control your adrenaline and energy. To be able to think while someone is swinging at you. It is very difficult even for the pros. Just watch the corners during a pro fight. The fighter only hears maybe 10 percent of what the corner is saying. This is why the trainers repeat themselves so much.
Ali's story is worse. During Thrilla in Manilla, he used a technique called the rope-a-dope. He laid back on the ropes, and had to take punches from Frazier in order to let the dope wear itself out. I can't believe boxing is even a sport sometimes. Without the right testing, it can screw up the rest of your life ala Foreman, Ali.
Boxers do not go on to lead long, happy, healthy lives. Boxing does serious harm to your brain. That ESPN doc "Muhammed and Larry" was a great illustration. The feeling of indomitable masculinity that comes from beating another man with your fists is probably really awesome, but not so awesome that you'd be willing to start drooling at 60.
I hope you were wearing head gear. I've boxed a few times and I can relate to your experience. As other posters have noted cardio training is very important. Most people don't realize how much stamina it takes to go even a couple of rounds and your arms quickly get tired just holding up the heavy gloves. The most important thing that I learned is to always keep your hands up infront of your face and keep your feet moving. Another thing you might want to consider is to always stay aggressive and press the attack. I've noticed in martial arts that there is a big problem with beginers of being too tentative when they spar. While they are worried about committing because of being countered most them don't have the defense to stop a more skilled attack or the skill to successfully counter attack. The best policy to me for a beginner starting out in a combative sport is to be aggressive and take the attack to the other guy. While that might mean you end up being laid out by a strong counter at least you tried something.
He had been during that before Manila and in Khinshasa he let Foreman, one of the strongest punchers at the time just wail on him for a few rounds. I remember reading that Ali had come up with that strategy after being pounded by very physical boxers like Ken Norton so he trained up his abdomenal muscles to absorb that sort of punishment.
If that is your goal, I can't emphasize enough the importance of cardio work. The better your cardio, the better your movement. The better your movement, the better your chance of hitting the other person without getting hit back.
I've sparred about 5 times this year.. and I'll start sparring atleast 2 or 3 times a week in February. I'll have my first amateur fight in March. I'm not in shape yet to jump into the Golden Gloves, since its in late January. Boxing is the most intense thing you will ever do, guaranteed.
Pretty quick, it took me 6 months of training to convince myself to get into the ring back in the day. Good luck bro.
Yea, but no one should have to take abuse from a man doped up on drugs. A lot of people think Ali was calling Frazier a dope, he wasn't. He was talking about the drugs.
