Plain and simple, I got my ass beat. I've been sparring for about 5 months and went up against a guy who had me by 30 pounds and was significantly more experienced. We had 4 local boxing gyms and the UNC Tar Heel team at a really sweet gym in the Raleigh area. I'm about 200 pounds and this guy was 230 plus all day long and hit like bricks. Caught me with a Right Hook that dazed me then went to my body. All I could do to tie him up. Once I tied him up he slung me to the ground which got the 50-60 boxers in gym saying WTF.... Unfortunately all of my sparring has been with guys in the 150-180 range because that is all my gym has to offer. My footwork stunk, my defense sucked, and I simply did not punch enough. Lots of work before I get set my first amateur bout. :-(
Well, that is the downfall of not having folks your size to spar with on a regular basis. Those 150-180 pounders don't hit like guys over 200. At least you recognize what you did wrong and your shortcomings this time out. Now go back and work on them.
No doubt! Not to mention I'm 35 years old and the other dude was 20 something. I hate using that as an excuse, but man did I feel the difference. Had to pop some Morton tonight LOL!
Sparring is about learning, just work on your faults for next time. I personally dont get caught up on who wins and loses
You are too old to get an amateur bout. :-( You are forced to retire from amateur boxing, a same year that you turn 35
Don't feel bad man. Don't feel bad about anything. Getting tagged with shot isn't a big deal because if the guy is good he will bait you into openings. Getting slung to the ground is probably a mixture of you being rocked and in shock at the butt kickin'. In both cases forces greater than you set upon you. The only thing to feel bad about is what you do or more specifically DON'T DO going forward. :thumbsup 5 months isn't long at all in "Boxing Years" as far as your experience goes. It is literally nothing. At around the same mark, I got whipped up so bad I didn't spar again for 6 months while training furiously. I made a much better account of myself the next time I sparred. My advice to you would be to learn to do a handful of things exceptionally well rather than to do everything average, i.e., a guy with a relentless piston jab, a crisp fast well timed straight, a solid left hook, and solid defense will be able to make an great account of himself in the majority of situations. This is in contrast to the guy who is learning jabs, hooks, uppercuts, check hooks, foot switching, shoulder rolls, etc... Check out Masters for your first amateur bout.
Sorry, should have mentioned I already have my Masters Division Passbook. Likely will be fighting at Ringside, the Title Event or one other. For those that aren't familiar with the Masters Division, it is for 35+. You fight guys in your weight range but no more than 10 years apart. In other words: 35-44 45-54 etc... So you can keep going past 35!
EVERYONE has to experience that ass beating, it's what really puts things into perspective and allows you to truly be great
The "Where is so-and-so?" beating. Most cats never come back. The ones who do get their respect! :good
The people who don't come back aren't boxing material then, I've received countless ass beatings by people I had no business being in the ring with
I do understand the early ass beatings but surely you never learn much. I think it was Bernard Hopkins who said "if you don't learn anything all you take is punishment"