I'm fighting in a boxing match for charity

[SamuelGompers]

Mostly a lurker on this forum, but I started boxing because of a white collar boxing event that I signed up for.

Honestly depends on how long you and your opponent have to train before the event, if both people are starting from scratch and have about 10 weeks, it would be similar to what I experienced.

My advice (not so much technical given my lack of experience).
1. Train as much as you can, preferably with a trainer for technique/sparring etc. If not possible, do conditioning on your own (running, jumproping, shadowboxing)
2. Take those first 4 weeks of technique and conditioning training seriously - that's where you build your fundamentals like footwork, correct punching, movement, and general fitness. I saw too many people in my group of boxers underestimating it, and they ended up going out and fighting sloppy and gassing because they had no idea what they were doing and ended up throwing haymakers.
3. Once sparring starts, spar as much as you can. You need experience with punches flying at you and not flinching or running away. Staying calm is key, because on fight night, you're going to be jacked up on adrenaline and half of your technique is going out the window.
4. Have fun with it and try to be the best boxer you can be vs focused on beating your opponent. My personal opinion, but too many people tried to gameplan for their opponent if they were able to see them training, and that blew up in their face because they only knew how to deal with one possible scenario and couldn't adapt.
5. Train hard - too many people do these events and don't take it seriously and think they'll be the next coming of Ali after a couple of heavy bag sessions and some padwork. Don' fall into that trap, never be content with not improving, especially given the fact you're starting from scratch.

Honestly, a good jab and decent movement/defense won most people their fights at my event.
Also, go in for the kill if you get a chance - don't be in sparring mindset when you're actually in the ring the night of.

 

[aerius]

Honestly, a good jab and decent movement/defense won most people their fights at my event.
Also, go in for the kill if you get a chance - don't be in sparring mindset when you're actually in the ring the night of.

It was the same thing at the charity event where my co-worker boxed. The jab, 1-2 combo, and remembering to move was what won most of the fights. And yes, you still need to respect the punches with headgear on, one guy was knocked loopy and another had his jaw broken, it may be a charity event but the punches are still real.

And it needs mentioning again, remember to breathe. Work on your cardio as much as you can and remember to breathe both in sparring and the actual fight. Basics & breathing along with staying as relaxed & calm as you can will get you a long way.

 

[j123]

Yes, he's well known trainer in my town. Sparring starts 4 weeks in. He says he wants to prepare us for 3 min rounds though the rounds are 1.5 minutes.

I missed this bit on the post earlier.

If you're planning to continue training / competing in boxing after this event, then that is a good method to get you adjusted to it; However, I would say for this fight it isn't.
Very similarly the same thing happened to me when I was prepping for my first exhibition (3x2min). The class time was mixed in with MMA guys (they do 5min rounds). We ended up sparring and training with Muay Thai rules, but with 5min rounds. With that, I was unprepared for the intensity of 2min rounds. Training with a longer round duration forces you to try to maintain your tank over that period, where as a shorter round, is like a sprint.

So an example to this would be:
1.5min (90s) rounds = full 100m sprint
3min round = 400m run

The energy systems between the 2 are interchangeable, but running a pace at 400 will not be optimal for the 100

 

[Primitivo]

 

[ssullivan80]

I'm 30, no formal training except I've been hitting a bag for years.
I will undergo 8 weeks training before the opponent is scheduled.

I have a question, might be a stupid one. These white collar boxing matches have been uploaded to youtube.
The idiots come out swinging wildly for the fences. There is headgear so KO's are probably non-existant as a possibility.

How would you deal with a guy that comes out like a raging bull swinging wildly? Tips in order to win?

cheers

edit: i mean KOs in white collar boxing with headgear seem rare

Cover up , drop down by bending at the knees , get lower than your opponent (head in middle of his chest) and dig hard shot's into his gut. Pick your shots, if a guy's swinging wildly, cover up and get low until he has to suck a bunch of air into his lungs (deep breath). Then dig short hard shots into his gut/ribs. Then make sure to stay down low until he starts backing off, then stand up and step in with straight punches. In the overwhelming majority of these events I've seen, they are always "head hunting" with big looping shots and in turn leave there body open.

Just for caution: I know plenty of guys who've gone into these "white collar events" who may not of had a "boxing records", but have been training and in the gym for a long time and have put in a whole lot of rounds with experienced boxers. I'd make sure you're coaches/trainer are aware of your experience and that of your opponents. I don't care how many streetfights/etc you've found yourself in. They aren't going to help you when your getting hit by a guy who really knows how hit, headgear or not. A guy who really knows how and when to throw a punch won't simply hit you, you'll "stay hit". Best of luck brotha, it's good your participating in an event that can help others. Just make sure the "price" you pay is commensurate!

 

[Art of War]

Mostly a lurker on this forum, but I started boxing because of a white collar boxing event that I signed up for.

Honestly depends on how long you and your opponent have to train before the event, if both people are starting from scratch and have about 10 weeks, it would be similar to what I experienced.

My advice (not so much technical given my lack of experience).
1. Train as much as you can, preferably with a trainer for technique/sparring etc. If not possible, do conditioning on your own (running, jumproping, shadowboxing)
2. Take those first 4 weeks of technique and conditioning training seriously - that's where you build your fundamentals like footwork, correct punching, movement, and general fitness. I saw too many people in my group of boxers underestimating it, and they ended up going out and fighting sloppy and gassing because they had no idea what they were doing and ended up throwing haymakers.
3. Once sparring starts, spar as much as you can. You need experience with punches flying at you and not flinching or running away. Staying calm is key, because on fight night, you're going to be jacked up on adrenaline and half of your technique is going out the window.
4. Have fun with it and try to be the best boxer you can be vs focused on beating your opponent. My personal opinion, but too many people tried to gameplan for their opponent if they were able to see them training, and that blew up in their face because they only knew how to deal with one possible scenario and couldn't adapt.
5. Train hard - too many people do these events and don't take it seriously and think they'll be the next coming of Ali after a couple of heavy bag sessions and some padwork. Don' fall into that trap, never be content with not improving, especially given the fact you're starting from scratch.

Honestly, a good jab and decent movement/defense won most people their fights at my event.
Also, go in for the kill if you get a chance - don't be in sparring mindset when you're actually in the ring the night of.

No no no. DO be in a sparring mind set. Too many people gas out because they think the fight is gonna be way different. It's not if you're sparring right. Relax. Let him gas out because he's scared it's gonna be crazy. He'll unleash his flurry, you cover up, pop pop, he'll do it again, pop pop, now he's so tired cause he blew his load and was tense that you can knock his ass out with an ACCURATE punch with a closed fist.

 

[mac11]

So an example to this would be:
1.5min (90s) rounds = full 100m sprint
3min round = 400m run

That's the irony of this almost. As a rookie outside of hitting a heavy bag at home for years with no ring experience.
I still would like the bout to be as technical as I can be.

With short rounds, people have the tendency to behave like a crazed animal swinging wild hoping for the best.
Then if it was longer rounds lots of us would gas.

Some white collar matches on youtube, the fighters look trained and technical. and others look like crazy dudes having fun i guess.
ofc a trained boxer would chew up the idiot, but as a rookie it's an interesting situation..

but the answer is the post above this....

 

[SamuelGompers]

No no no. DO be in a sparring mind set. Too many people gas out because they think the fight is gonna be way different. It's not if you're sparring right. Relax. Let him gas out because he's scared it's gonna be crazy. He'll unleash his flurry, you cover up, pop pop, he'll do it again, pop pop, now he's so tired cause he blew his load and was tense that you can knock his ass out with an ACCURATE punch with a closed fist.

Sorry, wasn't the most clear with my thoughts. I meant don't treat it like you would in light sparring where you ease up on the guy when he's clearly out of it and you can easily go for the kill or get your punches in. At my event there were a few people who wouldnt go in when their opponent was clearly overwhelmed and gave them time to recover/reset.

I totally agree with the advice to stay calm and fight like you do in sparring, picking your shots and not going nuts. But if the win is clearly there for the taking, take it.

 

[wilddeuces]

Keep it simple. You can win fights with smart, sharp 1's and 2's. A straight punch beats an arcing one, so work on those the most. Don't try and learn all kinds of techniques because with only 8 weeks to train and having only hit a bag around before this, you won't be responding the way you want to in the fight - unless the other guy is completely overmatched....

 

[wilddeuces]

That uppercut is getting an awful lot of air time on this forum, and I am VERY okay with that. That punch must have landed with a sickening smack you could hear in the nosebleeds...

 

[jm0b]

Is this charity event in Southampton by any chance?

 

[Higus]

No offense, but fighting for free is just about the dumbest thing you can do to yourself. I hope you and your opponents keep in mind that it's for charity and try to keep this at a fun exhibition level.

 

[j123]

No offense, but fighting for free is just about the dumbest thing you can do to yourself. I hope you and your opponents keep in mind that it's for charity and try to keep this at a fun exhibition level.

Thats pretty much every amateur fight. In alot of cases you're paying to compete as well (event registration fee, transportation, etc).
For career seeking fighters, its the way to get the exp. Its okay to lose in ammy, you definitely don't want to be using your pro record as the testing ground.

 

[Higus]

Thats pretty much every amateur fight. In alot of cases you're paying to compete as well (event registration fee, transportation, etc).
For career seeking fighters, its the way to get the exp. Its okay to lose in ammy, you definitely don't want to be using your pro record as the testing ground.

Just to clarify, I would support amateur fights if your intent is to go pro eventually. Even the desire to test yourself in an amateur fight is fine too depending on circumstances. I'd have reservations fighting for charity without knowing additional information, like what value the fight would have for the charity, i.e. how much financially is my fight worth to the charity? Am I risking my health for $5 or $500 towards the charity?

 

[j123]

Just to clarify, I would support amateur fights if your intent is to go pro eventually. Even the desire to test yourself in an amateur fight is fine too depending on circumstances. I'd have reservations fighting for charity without knowing additional information, like what value the fight would have for the charity, i.e. how much financially is my fight worth to the charity? Am I risking my health for $5 or $500 towards the charity?

Okay, thats fine I agree as well.

 

[mac11]

Guy instead of making a new thread.
I have a newb question about stance and basic moving. I was getting a head start watching youtube video how to move, not crossing the legs fine.

But two guys said that the heel of the back foot should be raise so your are bouncing the ball of the foot.
I've been practicing moving forward backwards laterally and now it seems my fucking toe of the back foot is sprained from bouncing on it.
Maybe the guy in the video is wrong for emphasizing raising the back foot heel. I don't know.

 

[n.diazismylife1999]

If you have a problem with basic movement... well, you have balls, I'll give you that, agreeing to a charity fight.

I have no idea how you can sprain your toe from moving on the balls of your feet, though...

The basis of all footwork is keeping your weight on the balls of your feet. Don't worry about raising the heel, just focus on moving on the balls of your feet. The heel will raise by itself. If you focus too much on the heel, you might be raising it too much. A raised heel is not the point, it's the consequence. Try skipping rope?

 

[Reyesnuthugr]

Guy instead of making a new thread.
I have a newb question about stance and basic moving. I was getting a head start watching youtube video how to move, not crossing the legs fine.

But two guys said that the heel of the back foot should be raise so your are bouncing the ball of the foot.
I've been practicing moving forward backwards laterally and now it seems my fucking toe of the back foot is sprained from bouncing on it.
Maybe the guy in the video is wrong for emphasizing raising the back foot heel. I don't know.

You're committing a very common rookie mistake. Many coaches forget to emphasize to their students that you're supposed to always push off the ball of the foot and avoid pushing off the toe (pushing off the tip of the toe always happens unless you think about it each time until it's drilled in). Pushing off the toe results in the same problem as lifting your foot OFF the ground, which is complete loss of power and form. The toes are not even 1/50th strong enough (I don't care who's toes they are) to ground or transfer the weight in your punches (usually the right hand punch), or to keep you grounded and mobile. What looks, at a glance, like the toes of the pros pushing off the ground are actually the balls of their feet if you look very carefully.

Go put some athletic cream on your sprained toe.

 

[mac11]

You're committing a very common rookie mistake. Many coaches forget to emphasize to their students that you're supposed to always push off the ball of the foot and avoid pushing off the toe (pushing off the tip of the toe always happens unless you think about it each time until it's drilled in). Pushing off the toe results in the same problem as lifting your foot OFF the ground, which is complete loss of power and form. The toes are not even 1/50th strong enough (I don't care who's toes they are) to ground or transfer the weight in your punches (usually the right hand punch), or to keep you grounded and mobile. What looks, at a glance, like the toes of the pros pushing off the ground are actually the balls of their feet if you look very carefully.

Go put some athletic cream on your sprained toe.

You're right. Pushing off the toe is the problem.

 

[fightingrabbit]

Just to cl
arify, I would support amateur fights if your intent is to go pro eventually. Even the desire to test yourself in an amateur fight is fine too depending on circumstances. I'd have reservations fighting for charity without knowing additional information, like what value the fight would have for the charity, i.e. how much financially is my fight worth to the charity? Am I risking my health for $5 or $500 towards the charity?

lol yeah. If they aren't matching you up by weightclass I'd highly reconsider it.