There were times when I hated it. But then came to love it. The endorphins, serotonin and feel good chemicals in the brain as well as the self confidence. Can't put a price on that.
NoChin i have a question: my old trainer told me that you should only go pro if you're knocking fools out. How does a guy like Pernell sweet pea (r.i.p.) make it? Or for any defensive cutie for that matter?
Probably better you didn't. You'll live a more productive life. Think of all the brain cells you saved.
Hard sparring is hard to resist. Remember it often goes hard naturally and it is a skill keeping it calm. Also, the buzz of hard sparring is different to the buzz of a hard fight. A hard fight you are trying to please fans, hard sparring your only trying to please yourself.
They can be the best years of ya life. We were about 2 hours out of sync with you. Wake up 5.30 for morning session (road work etc), 6pm session, bed by 10pm latest. Sometimes a 1pm session in middle. feel on top of the world. Only problem is when you get old and out of shape, your mind still can think your that guy
I think one thing that probably doesn't get explored enough - and it's the same with a lot of sports, but probably magnified with boxing... Being a famous and popular boxer turns your life upside down. For most men, your reputation, your usefulness and dare I even say "your value" all increase as you age, acquire experience, knowledge and wealth... For 90%+ of us, this is the case, to greater or lesser extents. For boxers this is reversed - a fighters maximum value is during your physical prime and declined after that... And with such early retirement, their value drops off sharply in the overwhelming majority of cases - and that's bloody hard to take. Heck, it's hard enough for normal men to accept at 60 or 70!
Very good post. Many people deteriorate massively after retirement. Hence many workers don’t even want to retire as it feels like a death wish and feeling lost. then people wonder why boxers find it hard to quit or carry on too long
Exactly... And feeling like they're on the scrapheap at an age when, in an evopsych sense, they should be becoming more important, not less.
It’s similar in most sports and performing arts etc. your finished when your peers are just starting to settle in their career. Good points.
Nothing wrong with out pointing you're opponent and boxing defensively. I disagree that you have to knock everyone out.