Joe Byrd's Boxing Academy

[Chris Nagel]

Sparring

The Friday before last was the first time that I'd spar I had in 5 years. For the four consecutive days leading up to that, I've been doing the regular routine described above along with running 4 miles in the early morning. I was still a little beat from the days before.

Anyway, Joe Sr. didn't come in, so it was just me, Jackson (aka "Man-man"), DJ, Brandon with Joe Jr. left to run things. DJ and Brandon would get to move around first, and I was hoping that I could spar DJ since he is closer to my weight. I was 165 last week, and DJ says he's around 175.


-DJ and Brandon Sparring

I loaned my previous headgear to Brandon. DJ was finished with his sparring, so Jackson would be sparring with me. Jackson is a zippy southpaw who never sparred before but was eager to get into the ring. He didn't have any headgear, so he borrowed the one of mine that Brandon just got done using.


It's funny, it looks as if we're both circling the drain. Man-man brushed me with a quick double-jab soon after the bell started the round. After about a minute we have a little exchange in the corner, which turns his headgear.

I notice his chin strap was loose, as he just put on the headgear without fastening any of the straps. Soon I feel confident about throwing the right to the body as I'm getting lucky with them. I step on his right foot a couple of times, and my foot rolls. I keep throwing too many rights to the body, and the left hook, pivot move I was working on with Joe Jr. yesterday was too slow and I couldn't time it right. I go back to jabbing, I catch most of his punches on gloves.

Overall was fun, but I see where I need to work on things with my footwork, cutting off the ring, and improve my defense. Afterward, Man-man was happy telling everone, "I just sparred a middleweight!"