By Dave Sholler

The day finally arrived. After spending the last weeks of summer barbequing and sipping adult beverages, I officially launched my amateur fight training camp yesterday. Originally slated to begin on Sept. 1, Team BoxingScene decided to allow me a few more weeks to heal some nagging injuries. Rested and recovered, I formally began preparing for my first bout, which is slated for early 2009.

A lot of writers and media-types believe they understand the sweet science and all of the preparation fighters endure. I respect that. However, I truly believe it is hard to offer a full analysis of something unless you have firsthand experience. Thus, I want to step inside a boxing ring. I want to taste a little bit of leather. I want to push my body to the limit. In essence, I just want to fight.

Call my desire to fight a personal journey. Think of it as a chance for me to test myself against another mortal. Consider it a chance for me to put down my writer’s notebook and pick up a pair of bag gloves. In the end, deem it an opportunity for me to learn how I can sync my body and mind toward a series of challenging goals.

As I prepare for the challenges of training camp, I have found myself looking to professional fighters for inspiration. I’ve assessed some attributes that I’d like to borrow from successful prizefighters, as well as some characteristics I’d rather not develop.

To that point, I have created a list of some physical and psychological traits currently owned by some of the world’s finest boxers. Many, as you’ll read, are worth trying to duplicate. Others, unfortunately, are bad habits or behaviors that I’ll try to avoid.

Throughout the journey to my first amateur fight, I plan on trying to soak up as much information as possible. I want to be well-rounded. I want to be mentally and physically capable. I want to win.

With that said, let’s take a look at a variety of the things I’ll borrow from current fighters and a bevy of things certain fighters can keep.

You can keep it! Joan Guzman’s Scale…

The former super featherweight champion did the sport dirty last weekend when he failed to make weight for his lightweight title fight against Nate Campbell. After entering training camp reportedly 40 pounds overweight, Guzman could not manage to suck down to the 135-pound limit. For that reason, I will not borrow Guzman’s scale as I prepare for my first bout.

Given that I plan on fighting at 140-pounds, I started camp yesterday at a manageable 154 pounds. A few rounds of pad work and cardio training should help me get to within 10 pounds of the junior welterweight mark relatively soon. In fact, if I find that I’m losing a lot during the first month of camp, I may even consider fighting at lightweight.

I’ll borrow Bernard Hopkins’ running shoes…

I don’t care whether they are made by Nike, Adidas, Reebok, or New Balance. Hopkins’ running shoes have helped him during his marathon boxing career. Whether it was on the streets of Philadelphia or near his current residence in Delaware, Hopkins has always made it a priority to log plenty of miles of road work. Although running is not necessarily conducive to the longevity of the body’s joints and muscles, it has made “The Executioner” one of the best conditioned athletes in the sport. Besides, running hasn’t seemed to slow down the 43-year-old, has it?

While I have never been a fan of road work, I will make sure that I have enough wind in my lungs to last for the duration of my amateur fight. I may not been pounding the pavement, but I will get my cardio work done.

You can keep them! Joe Calzaghe’s hand wraps…

Calzaghe, the super middleweight and light heavyweight pride of Wales, has long had issues with his paws. From sprained wrists to bruised knuckles, Calzaghe hurts his hands almost as frequently as junior welterweight Paulie Malignaggi. In a sport like boxing, your hand health is paramount. Power, speed, and technique depend on it.

I know all too well how hand injuries can derail training. After breaking my left hand in a weight lifting accident last year, I have spent a good deal of time trying to protect the tender mitt. It occasionally bothers me during bag work, at least until it numbs up. Nevertheless, I have to make sure that it is wrapped well. After all, I am a southpaw.

I’ll borrow Kelly Pavlik’s sledgehammer…

Boxers, mixed martial artists, and football players all agree. Sledgehammer training is simple, but effective. Often used to improve punching power and muscle endurance, sledgehammer training has become popular amongst the world’s best athletes.

Executed by swinging a sledgehammer at a heavy duty truck tire, sledgehammer training is primal, yet involves everything from the shoulders to core muscles to the legs. With this one single construction tool, fighters like Pavlik have drastically enhanced their physical conditioning.

I am borrowing this technique. If you are in the business of striking, you might as well do it hard and heavy.

Keep it! Ricardo Mayorga’s bravado…

Displaying attitude and confidence is cool. Being brash and ignorant is not. Perpetual offender Ricardo Mayorga thinks he is being a bad ass when he drops his hands and dares opponents to hit him. In reality, he is just being dumb. Why in the world would you encourage another professional fighter to hit your defenseless face? How in the world could you take the risk?

Even if you have a granite chin, why deploy such gamesmanship? Furthermore, if you want to let an opponent know that he cannot hurt you, why not floor him instead?

To be honest, I don’t know yet what type of boxing beard I possess. Regardless of how sturdy my chin is, I do know that I’m not willingly offering anyone an opportunity to test it.

I’ll borrow Shane Mosley’s humility…

The polar opposite of Mayorga (the two meet on Sept. 27), Mosley is one of the sport’s true gentlemen. Polite, articulate, and professional, Mosley is a model citizen in the corrupt world of the sweet science. Simply put, it is worth it to follow his lead.

I will try to replicate this humility in the gym. I realize that the key to developing a good boxing body is to first enhance the boxing mind. There is no room for stubbornness in the literal school of hard knocks. If you think you know it all, you’ll surely be left staring up at the lights on fight night.

STIFF JABS: Kevin Johnson wants David Haye. Just one problem: David Haye doesn’t want “Kingpin.” I think Johnson has tons of potential and deserves a big fight. When he was in Atlantic City earlier this month, I had the chance to get to know him and he’s got an infectious personality. Nice guy with star qualities. Just ask Bruce Seldon. While he is not out of the woods, it’s good to hear that welterweight Oscar Diaz has emerged from his two-month long coma. We at BoxingScene continue to pull for his full recovery. Anyone else wonder if the television show “From G’s to Gents” is fixed? I think it’s fake. DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles is awful cocky. Hey DJ, next time you want to score a touchdown, cross the goal line.

Dave Sholler covers Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts for a variety of newspapers and radio stations nationwide. Reach him at shollerholla4@hotmail.com.