Comment deleted by Site Moderator

done some sparring but nothing too serious, 1st and foremost make sure you have some type of fitness, if your someone who just wants to jump into a ring and start sparring after lying on the sofa for months it wont work you will be blowing out your ar$e within minutes,

most local gyms that have boxing facilities will have some sort of trainer there, best to start there, get to know the fundamentals, stance, movements etc also go onto some websites for types of foods you need, if your looking to seriously get into you will need to change whatever diet your on

2nd year of uni, did a year amateur boxing. Did not compete, but reached a reasonable level.

I've been boxing training for 13 years. For enjoyment and effect I think its the best training there is. I sparred a lot for a few years but never had the confidence to have a competitive fight. By the time I got to a level of skill & fitness where competition would’ve been a possibility I had just started a new career and blacks eyes etc was not good for my prospects.

If you seek out a local boxing gym and focus on your fitness and picking up technique for about six months you should be ready to spar. Sparring regularly with the right attitude will help develop all of your skills in the ring.

My mate is a an amateur champ, convinced me to come to his gym to get myself fit and because he knew I loved boxing.

Long story short I had a sparring session with him, did alright for the first couple mins til he hit me with a body shot.

I must've been on the deck for a good 5mins

It's tough but enjoyable. I kept at it for a while but fell back into bad habits before too long

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Cheers for the responses lads.

Exactly how quickly does the training progress?

I've seen most boxing gyms run classes, how will I fit in as they're all so far ahead?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I've always been a big fan of boxing. But despite getting into a fights and even setting up my own fight club at the age of 10 and never step foot in a boxing gym till I was passed my prime.

I was doing pad and heavy bag work for a few years used to practices the drills of boxers I seen training on shows like 24/7.

It progressed where I would spar with a few mates from the gym.

Then it dawned on me, that if I didn't fully get into boxing down a boxing gym now, I would never get to have a real fight in the ring.

The offesnive side of the game I picked up easily, the defense is a little harder to master.

Did lots of sparring against lots of different opponents, and you can spot your strengths and weaknesses this way.

And what works on one guy is not necessarily work with another guy.

I had one fight and one victory, there is now blueprint to beat me

And best way to get into boxing, is simple, get down your local gym.

How old are you?

Only a young'un D4, 17.

I'm in decent physical shape, played football all my life, reached academy/semi-pro level but got seriously shafted, so packed it in. I go for the odd run and to the odd gym session, but I'm still in decent nick.

Boxing is a sport I've recently started to really fall into, can't get enough of it now, watching fights every day.

I'm often free in evenings and would love to try my hand at boxing.

Too old to get anywhere in the business I know, but I'm willing to give it a good shot.

the defense is a little harder to master.
-------------------------------------------------------------
D4, you could always ask your mate Floyd for defensive tips

The Hayemaker

Sergio didn't start boxing till he was in his 20s.

So it is possible for you to still make it.

Boxing is great fun, I loved the training. You get pushed to your limit, and think you have nothing left and then you go twice as hard.

One sparring drill we were doing, was that you fight one opponent for a minute, then every minute you get a fresh opponent to fight.

And do that for 6 minutes straight, because you have a fresh opponent everytime, he always raring to go.

It is a tough sport, but if you love challenges, you will love it.

D4, you could always ask your mate Floyd for defensive tips
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I do take tips from Floyd, I I think the guy might beat me, I won't fight him.

And I'm currently on a vacation

comment by D4thincarnation (U2520)
posted 3 minutes ago
D4, you could always ask your mate Floyd for defensive tips
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I do take tips from Floyd, I I think the guy might beat me, I won't fight him.

And I'm currently on a vacation
----------------------------------------------------------------------

True D4! I also remember reading a member of the Olympic GB team didn't lace a pair of gloves until he was 18.

It's possible, I'll give it my all.

Planning on starting up as soon as I'm on the road and able to drive to gyms, there are loads in the Wolverhampton area, roughly 5 miles from me.

It sounds brilliant, a real physical and mental test. I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing if you like.

Any more tips/advice?

It is a great sport to do whether you have great success or just do it to fit.

It is unbelievable, the strength, agility and fitness you can achieve when you train at that level.

I remember once when I was training for my fight, I had a coupon a pass at anytime fitness gym. There was a heavy bag there and after I finished my session I was like in beast mode, and smashed up the heavy bag for 15 mins straight. I looked around a a few people were justing watching me.


Tips:

Listen to your coaches.

Eat well, don't smoke, rarely drink, don't drink at all if you have a fight coming up.

You are going to get hit and pick up knocks, it happens, accepts it. This is where you find out what you are made of and if you are a boxer or not.

Push yourself hard in training, your only cheating yourself if you give up you too soon.

I do remember coming back from sparring a few time, with bruises, lying in bed with my head still ringing and hardly being able to move my neck, but my defence was very bad.

Looking forward to starting up D4, thanks for your info.

Did you find that you had a style of boxing in mind, and you trained toward that style?

Or will the style of the fighter be based on their strengths?

I'm guessing it's based on strengths.

Wanted to fight with a Pacquiao offense. That was very hard work to keep up that movement an work rate.

Wanted to fight with a Mayweather defense, didn't have the head movement or reflexes, so got caught a lot with the right hook.

Ended up fighting like Margarito, walking guys down taking big punches but marching through them and then throwing combos and body work on the inside.

Played around with a lot of styles in sparring, and actually boxed decently with a decent defence, used the jab well with good foot movement.

But come fight night, I forgot the lot panicked and just tried to out work the guy and throw big shots, luckily I landed a couple of them. The nerves can get to you.

Play to your strengths and to your mentality.

Sounds as I thought it may be then mate. Is it worth trying to base my style of a fighter of choice? Or just as you say see how it goes and work from there?

Also how can I help myself aside from boxing lessons/classes. Just keep up general fitness? Or is it possible to train yourself to an extent?

Visualise the techniques you learned from training, and shadow box when you can. Get yourself in your stance, practice moving, guard up, chin tucked in, throw the jab up.

So it all becomes second nature.

When I would go to the gym, I did a lot of neck work, strengthened my wrist, forearms, and explosive excercises.

Strengthening your core is alway good, also did some yoga.

Just my own ideas.

Then you have calisthenics, few different routines I used to go through.

Just been doing some light research, seems weight training isn't common in boxing, should I avoid this?

Apologies for seemingly ignoring your responses and firing another barrage or questions, I am taking what you say on board.

Much appreciated.

I would personally advised against heavy weights.

When you do weights, make sure it explosive.

I use to take apart the muscles used in a punch then work on that.

You can do weights but not weights that bulk you up, though I think they can slow you down if you do heavyweights all the time.

That sounds like it makes sense, I'll need to shake some rust off and get myself up to speed, don't want to jump straight into intensive sessions.

Thanks for all your advice and tips D4, you clearly know your stuff.

I'll keep you posted once I get started, thanks again.

Hayemaker,

17 is not a bad age to start. I started at 23 & in terms of fitness, enjoyment and having a real interest I'll never looked back.

There always something new to learn or work on.

My mIssus's cousin started at my gym after Xmas last yr and hes 28. Looking to have his first amateur fight in two months time...