For the life of me I cannot see how experience and skill can be viewed as separate. When at home work constantly on the technique of each punch, of moving, how they work together. Hit the heavy bag like you are boxing it. Move in to land specific sequences your are working on then get out, like against a real foe. Your earliest experience with handling a "body" in close should come from the heavy bag. Work on where your feet need to be to land most effectively. In the mirror box yourself: for example double jab, parry a counter jab, roll your shoulder to deflect a right, counter with an uppercutblock a hook jab and pivot out. At hte gym spar a round or two jabs only, or contrate on defense and left hand counters. it is all part and parcel, repition and large muscle memory, and chess with blackeyes and sore hands.