Possibility of Competing at the End of Oct

[Brand NOOBian]

My coach told me about a competition for hobby boxers at the end of October, and he thinks I should fight in it. Matches are based on age as well as weight, and each fight is only two 1 min 30 sec rounds. I'm 28, 176.5 cm (5ft 9.5 in), currently 72.5 kg (159 pounds), and I started boxing in January of this year. I can try to compete at either 70 kg or 75 kg, though he thinks I'll be on the short side at 75 kg. I'm sure my coach will have more to tell me later on, but thought I'd ask a few questions here.

1) Even though it's not a serious competition, I don't wanna take it lightly. Do you guys do anything differently when preparing for a fight compared to just an average day/week at the gym?

2) I've never competed in a sport with weight classes and have no experience with cutting water weight. Since weigh-ins are on the day of, should I try to get down to 70 kg ahead of time and just stay there, or should I stay around my current weight and cut right before?

[markiepoop]

Originally Posted by Brand NOOBian

My coach told me about a competition for hobby boxers at the end of October, and he thinks I should fight in it. Matches are based on age as well as weight, and each fight is only two 1 min 30 sec rounds. I'm 28, 176.5 cm (5ft 9.5 in), currently 72.5 kg (159 pounds), and I started boxing in January of this year. I can try to compete at either 70 kg or 75 kg, though he thinks I'll be on the short side at 75 kg. I'm sure my coach will have more to tell me later on, but thought I'd ask a few questions here.

1) Even though it's not a serious competition, I don't wanna take it lightly. Do you guys do anything differently when preparing for a fight compared to just an average day/week at the gym?

2) I've never competed in a sport with weight classes and have no experience with cutting water weight. Since weigh-ins are on the day of, should I try to get down to 70 kg ahead of time and just stay there, or should I stay around my current weight and cut right before?

I only have 4 four fights so far ( 2 competitions ) so im still inexperienced but here's my 2cents!

1. yeah of course! If i were you i would definitely step up the training if you want to win! Go more often and train harder. Do some running regularly to keep the weight down and increase your training intensity.

Since it's a 2 round 1min30 sec bout which is extremely short, you got to ensure a very high workrate for the whole 3 minutes.

Try to get more sparring sessions in too so that you become very comfortable with fighting and know the ring well ^^!

2. Weight wise, you shouldn't try to lose more than 1kg of water since the weigh-in is on the day itself lol, it'll tire you out. One week before your fight, reduce your sodium intake as it causes water retention.

On the day itself you can do some skipping/shadow boxing to warm up as well as lose ~1kg of water.

Ur only 2.5kg away from the 70kg weight class so you only need to lose 1.5kg of fats so that should be pretty easy with minimal diet changes.

GOODLUCK FOR THE FIGHT AND BE PREPARED FOR A GUY RUSHING TO YOU LIKE A MAD MAN FOR THE WHOLE BOUT!!! STAY CALM AND KEEP THE GUARD TIGHT

[Matty lll]

My coach talked about entering me for a local tournament which eventually leads to the Ulsters then to all Irelands but I haven't been in a while because of exams and then a two week holiday, I haven't even back since then because of other reasons.

I struggle to keep my weight down so I'm worried that I wouldn't have the fitness, In fact I know I don't. Don't make the mistake I did, if you're fit enough and want to do it I say go for it!

[Speechless]

That's great news. Good luck in your fight, and let us know how it goes.

1) Step up your conditioning big time before the fight, as a novice amateur, I feel conditioning trumps skill, at least at this level. The week of the fight most boxers generally do no sparring, and the couple of days leading up to the fight, tone it down a bit - e.g. do moderate drills & conditioning, and no weights. Ideally, you want to use the last couple of days to just sharpen up and polish up your skills.

2) Definitely try to get down to your fighting weight in advance, and gradually. Pros can dehydrate, because they usually have 24 hrs between the weigh in and the fight to re-hydrate. You don't have that luxury - you'll only have a couple of hours between weigh ins and the match. Sometimes people still end up having to drop an extra pound or two the day of the fight, it's not ideal - but a couple of pounds won't kill you. But you do not want to go into the fight drained, hungry and thirsty cuz you were too busy trying to shed the last 5 or 6 pounds.

[Brand NOOBian]

Thanks everyone. Just weighed myself and I actually lost 1 kg since I last weighed myself. Only 1.5 more to go.

[boxon123]

Originally Posted by Brand NOOBian

My coach told me about a competition for hobby boxers at the end of October, and he thinks I should fight in it. Matches are based on age as well as weight, and each fight is only two 1 min 30 sec rounds. I'm 28, 176.5 cm (5ft 9.5 in), currently 72.5 kg (159 pounds), and I started boxing in January of this year. I can try to compete at either 70 kg or 75 kg, though he thinks I'll be on the short side at 75 kg. I'm sure my coach will have more to tell me later on, but thought I'd ask a few questions here.

1) Even though it's not a serious competition, I don't wanna take it lightly. Do you guys do anything differently when preparing for a fight compared to just an average day/week at the gym?

2) I've never competed in a sport with weight classes and have no experience with cutting water weight. Since weigh-ins are on the day of, should I try to get down to 70 kg ahead of time and just stay there, or should I stay around my current weight and cut right before?

Here is a tip for you ! If there is a 67 kg class fight at that weight. The last week before the fight you will be so scared you will lose 5 kgs. I am not being nasty I am just giving you some Facts.

[markiepoop]

Originally Posted by boxon123

Here is a tip for you ! If there is a 67 kg class fight at that weight. The last week before the fight you will be so scared you will lose 5 kgs. I am not being nasty I am just giving you some Facts.

hahaha i'm pretty sure he won't lose 5kg because he gets nervous or scared LOL! well i didn't..

[Brand NOOBian]

I'm down to 69.5 kg with about 7 more weeks to go, so I don't have to worry about making the 70 kg limit anymore. I'm feeling pretty good right now. Training/sparring sessions are going well. I'm curious how I would feel fighting at 65 kg though. Took me about a month to lose the last 2.5 kg. I might be able to lose 4.5 kg over the next 7 weeks. I don't know if I should risk it though.

And if I decide to stay at 70 kg, I'm gonna have to review my diet and caloric intake from now on. Haven't had to deal with trying to maintain weight before.

[orriray59]

I'm going to be honest here. What's going to happen is you'll train your ass off, you'll think you're going to do brilliantly, you'll enter the ring, and both of you will swing hay-makers at each other until you feel like puking at the end of it.

Every time for a first fight.

[Brand NOOBian]

Originally Posted by orriray59

I'm going to be honest here. What's going to happen is you'll train your ass off, you'll think you're going to do brilliantly, you'll enter the ring, and both of you will swing hay-makers at each other until you feel like puking at the end of it.

Every time for a first fight.

Haha. I've heard that before from several people. Hopefully knowing that in advance will help me to not do that. We'll see though.