I took this quote from another topic, and thought it was necessary to post a new topic on this subject.
I have to disagree with what you said about training a fighter. It does kinda upset me. Mostly with the fact that you would encourage any type of training without the most important part of boxing training, SPARING!!!!!!!!Originally Posted by Hornfinger
I am a member of USA Boxing, and have had 44 amateur fights without a defeat yet. I am a member of the Gary Police Athletic League. My trainer is John Taylor, who brought up Angel Manfreddy, until Angel got into the King Circle.
When i first started boxing, i was afraid to spar, because i didnt want to get beat up by the same friends of mine who i could out run, lift, and hit the bags.
So for my first 5 fights, i must have sparred a total of 10 rounds. In those first 5 fights, i had 3 decisions, and two RSC's (ref stops contest) in the first round.
The thing i most remember is that all i did was just go nuts in those fights. I would punch my ass off and be dead by round 3.
The only thing that saved me from getting my ass handed to me was that i was fighting in the novice division. That is a division for boxers in USA boxing who have less then ten fights.
It wasnt that i was a better boxer then my first five opponents, it was that i was a better athlete.
My coach took me aside after i fought fight 5 and said, "if you want to go anywhere, you have to spar. These fighters you beat are bums who didnt run or train as hard. They had no idea what they were doing just as you dont. After your 10th fight, your open and you will fight people with 100 fights under their belt. Your athletisism wont save you when a fighter knows how to roll corners, counter, and punch out of angles. You are gonna lose if you dont start training to box"
Next thing you know, I spar 9 rounds the next week, have another fight downtown, and have another first round rsc. I had 7 first round rsc's by my tenth fight. After that, i have only knocked out 6 people in the first round. That is in 34 open division fights.
For everybody who wants to become a boxer who is a member of this site, or reads these posts. You play football, play basketball, lift weights, you dont play or lift boxing. The most important thing that can make you a better boxer is not all the other things out of the ring. Its what you do in the ring.
Through sparring you will gain reflex, stamina, and lose the fear of being hit (which is the first thing that an amateur has to do).
The only way you learn how to slip a jab is get hit by one about 100 times, then you say to yourself, thatpisses me off,im gonna try to move this time.
If you want to exercise and get in shape, thats great. But how does that help the people who come to this board who want to be better boxers? Coach Taylor has a new rule about his gym. If you dont want to spar, get out of the gym.
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