just skimming the thread-if you are looking to spar please find a decent gym. Punching your mates can soon get ugly.

Andre is right, there is a certain fear of the unknown & guess what? The brain is a wonderful thing, if someone tells you something is going to hurt you will perceive it as hurting more than if they didn't say anything.

I think boxing has given lots of people an inner strength that means they avoid conflict but they have the confidence to protect themselves if need be. I'm not saying you become a strutting peacock