What advice would you give to your begginer self?

Virginia, fought around the DMV and Carolinas.

I had 5 pro fights, only 1 was against a tough opp (1 other one was supposed to be but didn’t turn out that way..)

Had lots of good and fun fights in the ammys thankfully, and sparring of course.

 

The ams were fun, I was out of Detroit. Was any of your time spent around Pernel while you were boxing? That guy was great!

As far as I'm concerned, if you are fighting professionally, than every opponent will be tough. The guy who I fought in my debut had no business fighting in a professional ring though. So every pro will not be tough, but you know going in, that you are assuming that the guy must have at least some skill and grit.

I don't recommend fighting at the Department of Motor Vehicles though. On the streets, slap a returd and end up in jail. j/k

 

Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet Pernell, and the golden gloves tournaments were right in his backyard, but he wasn’t there any time that I was.

I agree about pro fighters - and it’s one thing I try to tell people who have never really been involved with the sport. People box for a lot of reasons, and not everyone even wants to be a world champion, so there’s guys with upside down records who are very tough, crafty, and skilled. I’ve seen guys with 50/50 records who on a good night could compete with anyone. I also tell people that not a single fight “feels” easy even if it appears to be. My second pro fight I stopped the guy in the first round - but he was awkward as hell, head butted me and gashed my eye brow open. Sure, it was over fast and a dominant win, but in the moment, it didn’t feel easy.

Agreed 100% with your last statement - and I think being a competent fighter has given me a confidence to where I’m perfectly okay avoiding street fights and understanding the risk/reward in them… you said j/k, but that’s real! Crazy world out there, lol!

 

It was a DMV joke.

Street fighting is for fools.

 

I've been fighting for 8 yeras now, and I would say three things to my younger self:
1- It's normal to change gyms in the beginning, do not get stuck with the first coach you find. It's very important to find a place you enjoy staying in and where you feel like you belong, everything else follows

2- Take it easy in the beginning and focus on technique more than volume of training or working out. Once you master the basics and have good technique you will be already above 80% of people training and will improve much faster once increasing the pace

3- If you want to improve you have to be surrounded by people that are better than you. It sucks to always be the worst but it pays off.

 

Solid advice there.

My advice...... Save your nads for the ring, women can wait.

 

I was thinking about this one......

Being the worst for a short time I would think is how it should workout.

If you did it too long wouldn't you get "opponent syndrome".

He would just have to suck it up and see them again the next day.

Constant ass kickings are just not good for you.

With the pays off comment I agree 100%, it will build a fighter.