The transformation begins!!!

[El Kabong]

Well I joined the boxing gym again and I am hoping to change up my style from slugger to more of a combination throwing counter puncher. Suggestions and training tips are welcome, I will let you know how I progress and what works for me in training and sparring.

[Douglas]

Can't find a gym in my town but I have started to practice more.

[Chris Nagel]

Hey, good for you. Let us know how it goes when you start sparring again.

[El Kabong]

Hey, good for you. Let us know how it goes when you start sparring again.

I plan on being ready for some sparring by the end of the month. It's not that I'm so out of shape, it's that #1 I'm a little out of shape and #2 I haven't boxed in forever so I have to get my timing, rhythm, and all that back up to snuff before I have punches thrown back at me.

Looks like I'll have only 2 sparring partners....no freaking heavyweights in all of Greensboro (at least it seems that way).

[Chris Nagel]

Hey Lyle, I highly recommend talking to Ron Lipton over at the cyberboxingzone. He was a sparring partner to terrific fighters such as Rubin Carter, Emile Griffith, and Dick Tiger. He's great guy to talk to whether you want to talk about boxing technique, or about any fights/fighters in particular. Another reason I bring this up is the way he fought, and how he teaches is fighters is hard combination punching and conditioning. Definitely the kind of guy worth getting to know, and you can a lot just by talking to him.

Andre's the one who actually tuned me into that site, and that's where I found Ron. I haven't talked to him in a while, I haven't gone to a boxing gym in nearly a year, so I'm just a little out of sync.

[El Kabong]

Cool, I may have to check that site out.

I've been watching some of those Russ Amber videos on youtube and it's been very informative and I feel I can apply those effectively. He explains counterpunching in an elementary manner like it's the most simple thing in the world but my timing has to be there to make it work.

[CFH]

Cool, I may have to check that site out.

I've been watching some of those Russ Amber videos on youtube and it's been very informative and I feel I can apply those effectively. He explains counterpunching in an elementary manner like it's the most simple thing in the world but my timing has to be there to make it work.

You do know that he's a Canadian, don't you? You can't trust them.

Good luck with getting back into training, I've been trying to find the time to get back into recreational boxing but I haven't been able to yet.

[Andre]

Good move If I was anywhere near New york I would be heading straight for Ron. If I was in England I'd be heading for Scrap.

[Cerberus]

Good move If I was anywhere near New york I would be heading straight for Ron. If I was in England I'd be heading for Scrap.

What is you were in South Africa?

[El Kabong]

You do know that he's a Canadian, don't you? You can't trust them.

Good luck with getting back into training, I've been trying to find the time to get back into recreational boxing but I haven't been able to yet.

Yeah I know he's Canadian, I figured that's why I could understand him when he spoke. Most American trainers are variations of the Mayweathers or Micky from Rocky, they need subtitles!

[El Kabong]

...well had my first workout, pretty lackluster, I'm not in good cardio shape, but a little workout is better than none at all. A few rounds jumping rope, a few rounds shaddow boxing (and I didn't hurt myself doing it ) and a couple rounds on the bag......but I couldn't contain myself, I rocked the bag a couple times, it just feels so good to smash that bag after a rough day.

My after workout food: 1 Muscle Milk light, 1 turkey sandwich, 1 serving veggie soup

Eventually i plan to do cardio in the A.M. then do my boxing workout after work

[Andre]

Good move If I was anywhere near New york I would be heading straight for Ron. If I was in England I'd be heading for Scrap.

What is you were in South Africa?

I was in SA, but not for Boxing bro, healing not hitting.

I live in Australia,I was just saying it like an expression " if I was him, if i was anywhere near New york " I would head for Ron Liptons gym.

[El Kabong]

Well I started my week off right by going to the gym!!

I felt sick all day yesterday, but gutted out work and began feeling a bit better when I decided to go ahead and get a work out in even if it was just a few rounds on the heavybag (which is what I did). I have asthma and although I was wheezing the entire workout and trying to fight off a sinus infection I got in a pretty quality work out in given my state.

I rewarded myself with another Muscle Milk Light and a Steak (which was freaking awesome!!!) and then a hefty serving of mineral water

[johnmaff36]

Well I started my week off right by going to the gym!!

I felt sick all day yesterday, but gutted out work and began feeling a bit better when I decided to go ahead and get a work out in even if it was just a few rounds on the heavybag (which is what I did). I have asthma and although I was wheezing the entire workout and trying to fight off a sinus infection I got in a pretty quality work out in given my state.

I rewarded myself with another Muscle Milk Light and a Steak (which was freaking awesome!!!) and then a hefty serving of mineral water

Good on you for having a go. Without meaning to sound patronising, stick to what your good at and work on your weaknesses and never EVER EVER try to cram 10yrs of not training, into 1 week of trying to make it up otherwise you just might vomit in the ring after an innocuous bodyshot. I was that soldier. Very embarrassing.

[RozzySean]

I'm just back to the gym myself, Lyle. I've only been out about six months, but there was still plenty of rust. One of my favorite sparring partners was there and actually sparred two rounds( not too intense) .I'm heading over a little later tonight.

While I certainly don't consider myself an expert, I've put a fair amount of effort in that direction and it's probably one of my relative strengths. I've had a few different trainers, but my best so far and the one who taught me the most is Franco DiOrio. His biggest claim to fame is a 10 round decision loss to Hector Camacho. He was one of Vinnie Paz's main sparring partners and he sparred with all the good New England JWW/WW's of that time- Ward, Oliveira, Curet, etc.

I use two main drills to practice countering. The first is with hitting pads and you've probably done it at some point. While running through your pad work, the trainer "counters", smacking you with the pad, and you in turn counter the counter.

Countering with the same hand I use to block was not intuitive for me, and this really helped. Throw a 1-2, making sure to the right back into position immediately. Then the trainer throws a left hook at your head. Block with the right and throw a straight right followed by a left hook. The trainer counters your left with a right. You wait for the contact, the fire a 3-2. Trainer throws a 3 to the body, block with elbow, counter with 4-3. You get the picture. It will build counterpunch sequences into your muscle memory based actually feeling the contact. As you get better increase the speed and make the sequences longer.

The second main thing I do it more or less the same drill, but substitute a sparring partner for the trainer with pads. I almost always spend two rounds with a partner jabbing, parrying, and counter jabbing, alternating leading or even free sparring with jabs and parries only. The I'll do a round of partner jabs, I swat jab, counter right. Then I'll move on to something like your partner throwing a 1-2, you parry, block, counter left hook or parry, slip and step, left hook to body. They you build in blocking the left hook with your right hand/elbow, and countering right a 2 or 4, building and building until it becomes automatic with different sequences.

Obviously there are different possible counters to different punches, and you can drill them all. Normally, I take what I learned on the pad work and then partner up, agree on the sequences, and work, and eventually, apply it for real in sparring.

This really helped my overall sparring, but in particular, it helped my inside game.

PS, if you ever come up Boston way, I'm currently a cruiser, hopefully soon back to light heavy, but I'm happy with hw's.