That's exactly how my first sparring session went. There were two guys in the ring. One was a beginner and the other was the former Australian Lightweight Amateur champion. My coach sends me in the ring with the latter. I was already nervous as it was but once I realized who I was sparring lololol. But like you said the guy was cool about it. He even stopped when I had trouble finding range and reminded me to step with my jab. He'd land jabs on me but only on the forehead of my headgear. They more like little tips than punches. "Keep your hands up or that will happen". "Move your head". I've got a tendency to really go for it in sparring because I'm not comfortable counter-punching and am always nervous but even when I'd try to land as many punches as possible he'd never make me pay. He'd just work on his footwork which would in turn make me work on not lunging. I learnt more in three rounds than I had the whole time I had been in the gym.