Looking back over the log, looks like I failed to mention one important thing that happened in the past couple months. I actually met Mayweather Sr. I was in completely the wrong place(picking up a friend, went to wrong airport.) As I'm just figuring this out and looking down at my phone while I walk, I look off to my left and suddenly he looked familiar. I did a double-take and then looked at his jacket. It had a lot of green in it, representing the WBC belt with '50-0' printed on his back. I was like 'No ****ing way.. he looks like him.. is it Floyd?' He looked rather grumpy for whatever reason and was traveling with two older ladies. I saw on the front of his jacket where the nametag would usually be embroidered 'Floyd Sr. ' I couldn't pass up the chance to at least introduce myself to him and shake his hand. He went from having a frown to the biggest smile on his face. I won't go into detail about the conversation I had but it isn't every day you meet someone that's at the top(no matter how you look at, everyone knows Mayweather.)
Coach been wrecking us this week.. said he'd be pushing us harder. He'd been learning some new things.. and you know if your coach is learning new things, that means your gonna be doing it too. Makes us better fighters though.
Relentless, heart-filled training and sacrifices have paid off. Though it was against a bigger guy(typically slower), for the first time I would see what my coach was talking about. I wanted to get him some sparring in cause he has a match coming up next week. We had a nice pace in the fight and I could hear something in my training which I know my coach repeats, 'change the pace.' All of a sudden, I started moving faster and he couldn't compensate. I had a good angle and took a small step forward into the pocket but still in a way to keep me at that angle, I moved so fast that I saw an opening I never saw, a direct center shot to the exposed side of his chin. He was about a beat to a beat and a half behind me, I didn't shoot cause 1. He has a match coming up and 2. It was my first time setting up and reading that opening... After four years, I still find myself learning things that make me realize it is good that I've tried my best to remain always humble.
Came off a long bunch of months of rest. Just needed it physically and mentally I felt. Of course, I hate how weak I feel and how hard things are when you start back up after a long break but it has only taken a few days to start to feel like my old self again. That doesn't mean I didn't end up with a bloody nose during my first day of sparring though
I don't really update this much anymore or check-in as much. The long break off from boxing was also a time for growing more mature. I still love it, despite the risks associated. I'm surprised how quickly some parts of my body bounce back and others take a lot longer to recover where they once were, showing that some time off is good but going into complete 'potato' mode just made this really difficult to start through the process again. Though, there's something to be said from starting over from the beginning, rebuilding yourself from the basics and knowing what needs to be corrected. Been training consistently, already feeling the desire to go out and run when I'm just home late at night and nothing is going on. Need to shadowbox more but just don't have as much desire after training Mon-Sat in prep for coach's pro fight coming up. I'll be working corner for him again and keeping up with him has been a challenge while he's only couple weeks away. I will keep this log updated as I can, though I've grown a bit more selective with what I wish to share in a public, open forum after witnessing people using the art we teach to do something wrong.
Been four years since I've started this log. And every day, still reinventing the jab, the straight. The jab and straight right hand... you can spend so much time on perfecting those tools only to find that there is more to learn. I start to think of my craft like a blacksmith in a forge. Pounding away at the metal, sometimes starting over in effort of making a better overall product.
Fight Week! Ladies and Gents, I’ll be cornering for a pro bout in Missouri on the 28th. I’ll primarily be busy with my fighter but if anyone else happens to be there, feel free to say Hi.
Been in and out due to real life circumstances. Still coached for quite a bit but took time off from training myself to compete. But here I am again, starting over fitness-wise but at least the majority of the mental skills I learned have stayed along with some more maturity and a better attitude.
Still gettin it, dropping down to fight weight is a ***** though between the soreness from training, headaches from lack of calories and going to bed hungry every night. Feels just like the couple weeks before a fight except I've been staying on this schedule for longer cause of the weight I need to drop. Beating the food cravings is harder than beating the clock when your arms don't want to punch anymore. I call it the "fantasy" diet cause your diet is so bland, you start to fantasize about eating something tasty.. and god help you if you smell something good in the air cooking. Note to others: Don't let yourself get too out of shape when not in camp or else you'll be paying for it tenfold on the back end.