So i sparred a champ today..

[southpawed]

The guy was some kid around 115 lbs and a tad bit taller than me. Well supposedly the kid had like 100 amateur fights under his belt. Which i wasnt aware of before our sparring match. My trainer advised me not to get in there and box with this guy. But i was like eh screw it, thats why i joined this sport right?

So i get in there, and to make a long story short. I landed, well i think i landed like a jab in the whole four rounds. LOL :P and i was just getting RJJ'ed all over the place. Eating left leads (we were both southies) every step i took, eating a counter jab each time i threw mines. Well overall, it was an awesome humbling experience to get in there with some younger kid that really knows his S***, and it was an honor to eat his punches

After the match everyone told me things like "keep your head up, that guy was real good, on a different level" this and that. I guess they were trying to cheer me up after the fact that i just got turned into a boxing bobblehead. But i wasnt disheartened at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I felt pretty damn alright. I felt i kept my cool and relaxed despite all the punches that i had just took and that flew my way. I felt like just standing there and bracing those vicious 1-2's.

Which leads me to a question for you guys. I find one strength of mine is that i can stay calm and collected while in the ring. Almost too calm. You know how some/lots people snap and lose their cool after they get hit with a good shot? I think i've learned that out of my system. You could be landing neck snapping one twos on me the whole round, and i'd still be as docile in my approach as i was before. Its not a matter of aggression, i can turn that on quite easily.

I dont know if staying calm is benefitting me at this point. My head is clear and i dont freak when punches are flying at me, but this odd calmness makes me eat unnecessary jabs because i notice i dont even flinch sometimes when jabs are flying towards my face. I just kind of...take it, to put it simply.

I'm starting to think im getting too comfortable and delusional with the headgear protecting me. Its almost like im not scared to get take punches to the head anymore. Which is a bad thing, and also a good thing. but its turning into a bad thing for me. catch my drift? So what do you guys think? Any thoughts and experiences? Am i getting too comfortable with this protective headgear or what? Or am i just too damn relaxed in the ring?

[donnydarkoIRL]

I can relate bro, Im straight up orthodox. Was in the ring with two Southpaws the last night, slick as can be, tried boxing them the first three rounds and the just popped me with their irratating jabs. Lst rounds i broke through and gave them hell, sparring them again tonight and i no its only sparring but im gonna start of heated.

I think you may adopt the same approach. I no when i get in the ring not to be the aggresor i get outboxed as i don't impose enough, When i do go in willing to dominate i usually do, but you gotta maintain a balance between intent and logic.
So next time u go in and spar, go in with the intent to beat him, let him have to live upto u.