First fight in 18 days!

[AbstruseAlan]

Hi all,

Just after a bit of advice if possible please.

I'm 25 and just started boxing a couple of months back. I'm 5'10 & around 71kg. The fight has been set-up with all proceeds to go to charity with free training etc. I consider myself pretty fit, I've been training ~3 a week, alternating between free sessions at one gym who is hosting the event (they specialise in Muay Thai mostly). Most of this training is padwork and very tight space sparring (the classes are busy).

The other gym I've been going to has been more conditioning and punch bag work. I'm a southpaw and been told I'm fairly quick, I like to fight on the outside and use my footwork and speed to my advantage. The opponent I was supposed to be fighting has been dropped and now my trainers won't reveal who my next one is.. (noone knows who they are fighting). What is the best way for me to train for this? It's making me nervous not knowing who I'm fighting (we all train together).

The fights are also only 3x1.5min rounds using 16oz gloves, I'm assuming this will effect how I want to fight as it's not much time so I want to be active but sensible not to blow myself out. Is the cardio, cardio, cardio root the best to go down now until the fight or what else can I do to give myself my best chance? I'm planning to continue boxing after, just want to be as prepared as I can be for this first test.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[stephenmc]

So your in a white collar boxing event yes/?
This is normal, 16oz gloves a minute and a half a round,. But listen, your 25 now with no boxing experience, people your age have been boxing for years at this stage, for example in 25 myself, 5-10 also, weigh 57ish kg but make 54 for fights, and iv been boxing since I was 12, and doing martial arts before that.... If you planning on boxing after this,your going to have to really knuckle down and go to a proper boxing gym and learn as quick as possible,
You will know after your fight weather you wanna continue to box not.
But remember that is only a tiny taste of what it is really like, when you are actually fighting,youl be wearing 10oz gloves, no headgear and against people with alot more experience you say your fit, but iv seen many fit lads hit the bag and work like animals in the gym,but once you get I the ring its a different story, you must overcome nervous, think about every little detail your doing, its your mind that gets you in the ring not fitness.

On preparing for the fight, do your bag work,cardio,skipping pads and try to spar as much as possible against different types the normal stuff really.

If you want to be a boxer after this, remember that you are not going to know the guy your fighting 95% of the time until your I the ring.

This white collar event will give you a taste of things, but remember its only a taste, the real fighting is a tough tough sport and at 25 with no boxing experience you will find it very difficult starting out.....all depends on how you react to training and learning and of course you will find out weather you wanna be a fighter after you get hit real hard for the first time and how you react to that.

Good luck �� ��

[AbstruseAlan]

So your in a white collar boxing event yes/?
This is normal, 16oz gloves a minute and a half a round,. But listen, your 25 now with no boxing experience, people your age have been boxing for years at this stage, for example in 25 myself, 5-10 also, weigh 57ish kg but make 54 for fights, and iv been boxing since I was 12, and doing martial arts before that.... If you planning on boxing after this,your going to have to really knuckle down and go to a proper boxing gym and learn as quick as possible,
You will know after your fight weather you wanna continue to box not.
But remember that is only a tiny taste of what it is really like, when you are actually fighting,youl be wearing 10oz gloves, no headgear and against people with alot more experience you say your fit, but iv seen many fit lads hit the bag and work like animals in the gym,but once you get I the ring its a different story, you must overcome nervous, think about every little detail your doing, its your mind that gets you in the ring not fitness.

On preparing for the fight, do your bag work,cardio,skipping pads and try to spar as much as possible against different types the normal stuff really.

If you want to be a boxer after this, remember that you are not going to know the guy your fighting 95% of the time until your I the ring.

This white collar event will give you a taste of things, but remember its only a taste, the real fighting is a tough tough sport and at 25 with no boxing experience you will find it very difficult starting out.....all depends on how you react to training and learning and of course you will find out weather you wanna be a fighter after you get hit real hard for the first time and how you react to that.

Good luck �� ��

Quality reply, thanks!

It's very similar to white collar, just a local more popular version. Same rules and concept. I know with my age it's pretty much too late to do anything of note but at the minute, it's like addiction, I count down the hours of a day until I can train. I've wanted to do it for years and finally got the balls to step up. You're right the training is unreal, I'm training at another gym as well as attending the lessons we have to with the events gym.

I did some sparring last night with 2 lads from the gym who have been boxing for a while and are bigger/heavier than me. The sparring experience I quickly found was completely different to anything training/pads/bags can prepare you for. It's hard to keep calm and calculated and I did get hit with some big shots by both. In a weird way, I enjoyed it and it was nice to know I can take such shots so far.

With it being 1 and a half minute rounds, 16 oz gloves and headgear, how would you approach these 3 minute round fights? It's a very limited time, do you start slowly and finish strong or just try and be as active as possible each round. My fitness at the minute I'm happy about, I'm one of the more fitter lads in the gym and always stay back to do a little more at the end of a session, 5 times a week.

The ring we spar in I found to be quite small and my main weakness is being swarmed into a corner and having to defend most of the time.

Appreciate all the advice and good luck with your own training too! I've a bunch of family coming over from Dublin for the fight too, can't wait haha!

[Boxfan83]

I wont comment to much because the other poster gave some sound advice. I can only suggest 2 things to you, 16oz gloves are pretty heavy even for 1.5min rds, do some shadow boxing with some weights no more than double that weight. Also ease up on your roadwork as time approaches and substitute it with swimming if possible, you can swim up until the day before the fight, but I wouldnt suggest the weights anywhere near 3-4days before the fight.

[Ray Corso]

1. Win the first round by being first with punches!
2. Concentrate on outscoring your opponent with your hands high!
3. Don't get stopped because your winning!

good luck, be aggressive and be first!
Ray

[stephenmc]

It might only be a min and a half, but with this been your first time those are going to be 3 long rounds. Even sparing although will prepare you a bit better, your going to deal with alot of nervous, adrenaline, and even pressure with your friends and family watching......if I'm gonna be 100% honest itl prob end in a draw as its only a charity thing and the organisers won't want anyone to look bad in front of family and all that....

I don't know what way you box so I cant really give you advice on that.
But like ray said above be first with your punch's. Keep your hands up at all time.
You will want to be as active as possible but without running around like a headless chicken ha.
If you get caught on the ropes you have a number of options that you should work on this week maybe..

The minute your back touch's those ropes get off them.
Either move yourself of the ropes or hold.
You can also throw a left hook while moving left to turn your opponent or throw a right hand,duck and move away.
Try to Keep your punches straight, their is no point in swinging madly when you cant throw a proper hook 1st.

When you throw your jab, step in with it, make sure its quick and your shoulder protects your jaw as you throw it. After the punch,make sure your hand is going straight back to your head to protect yourself.
When you throw your right hand, the same as the jab but don't step in, turn your hips into the punch so your right foot is going onto the balls of your toes, make sure its straight,with your shoulder protecting your jaw and after you throw make sure it goes straight back to your chin.
Keep it active but simple.

[AbstruseAlan]

Good points made boys, I like the idea of shadow boxing with weights, the 16oz gloves, definitely make it feel a massive different throwing punching. I'm not far from a swimming pool too so it's an idea to my runs down there, swim and jog back even. Pulled a muscle yesterday at training in my right arm so will be good for me.

Yeah that's the part I'm probably most worried about, I know the adrenalin is going to hit everyone and I just hope it doesn't effect how I plan to go about fighting. I don't want to just be non stop swinging wrecklessly and turning it into a brawl. They've done 2 of these events before and none have ever ended in a draw so that's unlikely. As I said it's for charity but it's extremely competitive, noone wants to lose in front of their family and friends!

I plan to be active, using my jab a ton. I'm a southpaw so I'm trying to find what will work best vs an inevitable orthodox I'll be fighting. Good advice on the ropes, I'll think of it as signal to instantly make a move away or try fight out away into the middle. I plan to mostly just stick to straight punches, I'm not so comfortable with hooks, I just never seem to be in range to land them well on opponents, especially with my right hand jab.

Quality advice all round and I appreciate it. Any extras on being a southpaw I'd appreciate too. I've looked up a few things, outside foot, straight left etc being to my advantage. I'm best trying to control the fight and moving to my right?