Hello, everyone. I just joined here today, and recently I have been thinking a lot about myself and my boxing... I have been boxing since October, I have no amateur fights yet, I was supposed to get one on January 24th, but I couldn't afford the license. In this time I have been thinking about confidence, and is it needed in boxing? I've noticed all the really great boxers have that confidence to them, granted they have a right too. Although I have heard from a few people that you have to have confidence when boxing, and you need to believe in your skills and training. But for me... I don't know if I have that confidence. I mean I don't think my skills necessarily suck, but I always feel like they are behind everybody else's, even new people. I mean, I'm that person at the gym that is nice to everybody. When someone gives me an attitude, I kill them with kindness. When I spar, I always without even thinking tap the person on the back between rounds, or tell them good job. If I get hit with a shot in sparring, I will smile and nod, motioning to them that that was a good shot. I don't question the coaches, I do whatever they ask my to do, and I never slack off, so I don't get my lack of self-confidence. I have HORRIBLE conditioning, and refuse to spar until I get it up, because I get that sick feeling like I'm about to throw up. Actually... I have thrown up when I did a ton of round on the pads :!: I do feel like I suck at everything, but I do know that I have heart. I won't give up, and train my ass off everyday. I think I have a solution to my problem, I am going to try to train my hardest EVERY session. Weather I feel good or not. Also, I'm not trying to get attention with this thread at all. I posted this to ask two questions... 1. How can I boost my confidence, like majorly? (Silly question I suppose, but I'm serious) 2. Is confidence something you need to be a top boxer? Granted I'm not trying to go pro, and I just want to have amateur fights, and box for the experience. Thanks everyone! :bbb
That's very easy... just get experience, sparring, working pads, etc. You'll get better as time goes by, and the confidence will come automatically. Yes, you certainly need to be confident about your abilities. Of course everyone has their doubts when stepping into the ring, but that's just human nature. However, it doesn't sound like you're ready for a fight yet. Get some more combat experience (sparring) to get used to it. You say you don't want to spar because of lack of conditioning, but i think deep down it's your lack of confidence that doesn't want you to spar, so you grab an excuse. No problem, but once you improved your technique and form a bit, just look for someone who knows to take it easy, or ask him that you're new, etc. That way you can learn it. As for being "too nice", to be a good boxer, you gotta have some killer instinct. It's not something that you either have or you don't. That doesn't mean you beat up your sparring partners, but just let your hands go a bit more, when it is appropriate. If you score a good punch/combination, back off. But if all you do is tapping, you're in for a big surprise during your first fight. Good luck. :good
It's not a bad thing being nice to people and telling them when they land, it is sparring and you're there to help each other. As for the confidence issue, as Chris said it will come as long as your coaches are telling you your good points as well as what you need to work on.
Thanks for taking the time to reply with such a detailed answer. Yeah, I don't think I'm ready for a fight yet either. When I sparred my friend who is a Ringside Nationals Champ I got beat pretty bad, but I expected it. Apparently my coach thought I looked good and was ready, but I know I'm not. Oh, and about the sparring thing, I'm really not making excuses. Everytime I've sparred I gas in like the second round, I think it's from the nervousness, I get cotton mouth, and feel like I'm about to throw up, which I think is from a combination of nervousness and not enough endurance. Because I'm not scared at all to get hit, in fact, when I noticed that when I gas out instead of being aggressive like I am from the start I would rather just get beat up then throw more punches. Oh, I know I have that killer instinct, when there were some other guys from a different gym coming to spar, I had to spar this dude that was like 20 pounds heavier and way taller and older than me. He was talking **** in the ring, and when I did catch him and had him in the corner my technique went out the window and I just threw as much as I could. Mainly because I was pissed. atsch
Oh, also, I forgot to mention I think what may cause my lack of confidence is I have been diagnosed with severe depression. I think that may be a reason. That sounds pretty whiny and like I'm blaming other things, but I think that probably adds to it.
Yes, it's crucial if you want to make it. If you do not have confidence, you won't let your hands go and commit to your punches, underperforming during bouts.
First get conditioning up and learn your trade. Defensive drills, learn about the jab, etc. Sparring is only scary if you don't know what you're supposed to do. Then spar and hopefully gain confidence. In that order, don't put the carriage in front of the horse.
If you don't have confidence don't always spar with the best people in your gym, also spar with people who you are better than as well and that will build it back up.
I find confidence important, I can start off very confident but it tends to get shot and I become too hesitant coming forward and throwing punches whilst thinking of new ideas.
you know what mate, just tell yourself, you really dont give a ****.. if your allready depressed, use that goddamn irritating feeling, to your advantage.. it might sound weird, but if my day really sucks, ill use it as fuel in sparring.. tell yourself, the guy your sparring is the cause to your bad day.. dont go overboard, but use it.. works like a charm mate.. and as someone said, when you contiunally spar guys, who are better, then your confidence will suffer.. you will hesitate, wonder if your doing the right things.. find someone on your level, and use them as a measuring stick to your own progress.. personally i had the same problem, i was really tense, and would tire out quickly.. i knew i was doing ok for a beginner, but didnt care about it, i wanted to do as well as those who had trained a lot longer then me.. so basically i put alot of pressure on myself, as i wanted to compete, at a level i perhaps wasnt ready to.. i then got to spar guys, who also had been training alot longer, but not quite as good, as the other ones, and i did really good.. all of a sudden i had time to think about what i wanted to do, what counters, how i moved, in general just performing better.. and that was a good feeling.. which makes me feel more motivated and feel much better prepared for sparring the better guys in my gym..
Well i wasn't really talking about going nuts. :rofl Never throw technique out of the window. I was just saying it's okay to land a nice combination now and then. If you're diagnosed with clinical depression then that explains a lot. Go with what RDJ says. And if you spar someone like a national champion, tell him you're a beginner and if he wants to go easy. Sparring is to learn, not to get beat the **** out of you. Also, spar some guys of your own level or below.
