To All Who Have Entered the Square Circle

you know its funny cause boxers are like "yeah they come in here and we run wild on they ass they get beat down " and whatever thats fine but when ever your hanging out and you got that one dude you know thats in boxing or karate or whatever and you know he is because hes always going out to tournys and shit ....they're always the one at the party bragging about the 3 pound trophey they brought... then they get pissed off with someone and get there asses handed to them ..i've seen that happen sooo many times at partys and shit i guess that whole gung ho we know how to beat up everyone works on both sides Yeah, I've seen that phenomenom a couple of times too.

you know its funny cause boxers are like "yeah they come in here and we run wild on they ass they get beat down " and whatever thats fine but when ever your hanging out and you got that one dude you know thats in boxing or karate or whatever and you know he is because hes always going out to tournys and shit ....they're always the one at the party bragging about the 3 pound trophey they brought... then they get pissed off with someone and get there asses handed to them ..i've seen that happen sooo many times at partys and shit i guess that whole gung ho we know how to beat up everyone works on both sides

Trust me when I tell you.. there are pros out there that are 7-5 or 8- 6 and they can fight and are DANGEROUS.

I hope so too... well, i haven't gone golfing much, but i definitely see your analogy. a good part of the game or science of boxing/fighting either in sparring or on a competitive level is having the mental endurance to be able to keep your awareness at all times. and, especially when you're tired, it can be hard. for any of you guys who have followed my posts, that is exactly why i hate the word "bum". most people on the streets, you're regular guys, boxing fans, etc would not likely be able to handle 2 rounds of sparring against a decent amatuer fighter or trained martial artist. not even having to mention the guys who fight professionally and do it for a living. i think your initial post should give many people a lot of things to think about when they go trashing another fighter 'cause he's boring, or lost a few fights, or whatever. thanks again for sharing your experience. i hope it has opened some eyes on how hard and dangerous fighting can actually be. who the f$^#@& am I to call a guy a bum just because he may not have the same skills as the other guy in the ring...if you climb through those ropes...bum...is the last thing that crosses my mind now...especially if the guy know's he is there for the check and to keep from getting crushed...you know what I mean..you've been to fights were one guy is 16-0 and the other guy is 2-11...you cant tell me the 2-11 guy doesnt know he is in there for the payday...but that still doesnt make him or give me the right to call him a bum...if he is a bum...then you go in and take his place and we will see who the bum really is...(not u personally) figure of speech...thanks bro

Kinda like when you go golfing...if you think to long or hard on your swing that is when you probably shoot your worst...and what I found in the ring is that I had so many thoughts going through my head, I wasnt watching what he was doing or what I was doing for that matter...It's like I kinda lost my mind in there...there were so many thoughts it paralyzed me...I work with a National Amatuer Champion Coach who trained Anthony "baby" Jones and he looked me dead in the eye and said you werent boxing...you were fighting... well, i haven't gone golfing much, but i definitely see your analogy. a good part of the game or science of boxing/fighting either in sparring or on a competitive level is having the mental endurance to be able to keep your awareness at all times. and, especially when you're tired, it can be hard. I dont think I will ever call any fighter a "bum" again..... for any of you guys who have followed my posts, that is exactly why i hate the word "bum". most people on the streets, you're regular guys, boxing fans, etc would not likely be able to handle 2 rounds of sparring against a decent amatuer fighter or trained martial artist. not even having to mention the guys who fight professionally and do it for a living. i think your initial post should give many people a lot of things to think about when they go trashing another fighter 'cause he's boring, or lost a few fights, or whatever. thanks again for sharing your experience. i hope it has opened some eyes on how hard and dangerous fighting can actually be.

you are so right.... thanks for sharing. it certainly is interesting when you get your first taste of what sparring or boxing a trained fighter is like. just remember, they all went through the same things too. from your description, it sounds like you were thinking a bit too much. things like working positioning are best left for working drills. i'm glad you took it as a learning situation. that's the best way to look at it. Kinda like when you go golfing...if you think to long or hard on your swing that is when you probably shoot your worst...and what I found in the ring is that I had so many thoughts going through my head, I wasnt watching what he was doing or what I was doing for that matter...It's like I kinda lost my mind in there...there were so many thoughts it paralyzed me...I work with a National Amatuer Champion Coach who trained Anthony "baby" Jones and he looked me dead in the eye and said you werent boxing...you were fighting...

your very... excellent post!!! thanks for sharing the experience!! welcome...

absolutely... ....That's a great story. At least you got to experience a little bit of what it takes first hand. It will give you grater appreciation for what you do and what you see in the ring. It was an eye dropper full and that is all I needed..LOL...

I believe it...whole heartedly... Quick story... about three years ago i was in the gym and this huge guy (maybe 6 ft 3, 250 pounds) who did some type of MMA was there and he wanted to spar me. I am 5 ft. 10, about 180. So I said OK and we sparred... I was moving around keeping my hands up etc. and at one point I landed a quick, but light, right hand that caused him to stop briefly and shake his head, saying he was dizzy. It surpised even me because I didnt hit him with anywhere near my besy shot and, like I say, he was a big guy who had fought in MMA type events before against guys his size. So we get done boxing and he never touched my face even once and, really, the sparing was as easy as boxing with a 12 year old boy. A few weeks later I am on AOL and some guy IM'sme and tells me he knows who I am, he is a big boxing fan etc and he knows a guy that sparred with me once. It was this guy that was 250 pounds. I honestly expected him to say something like the guy banged me up or something but he told me "Yeah, Keith told me that he couldnt believe how easily you were able to hit him and how he couldnt touch you even once." I couldnt touch my guy...the only reason I got him up against the ropes was in hindsight, I think he let me, cuz he knew I was tired, and he could give me one little shot to the bread basket and I was through...I cant tell you how much more I respect these guys today...I described it to my dad this way...ya' know how you respect your mom because she is a woman, and you respect your wife because she is too, but as soon as you see a woman deliver a baby, that respect level goes to a whole new level, almost like Mount Everest level...thats what it was like for me on Saturday at the gym...the only time I will enter those ropes again...is to work my skills, what I am good at, contribute in my own way, and that is not SPARRING! Please dont see this a ballsucking fighters cuz thats not my intent...I know a lot of fighters dont deserve my respect outside the ring based on how they handle themselves...but for inside the ring...there is one credential you must have...warrior courage! And that is what I salute!

Hey Iceman...thanks for the thoughts... I have seen this same exact story play out dozens of times over the years in my gym... (not that you thought this), but guys come in the gym all the time and think they can box. They are tough, in good shape, they got hands in the street etc. Uusally we just let them spar, get tired and take them out. But for the particularly cocky ones we sometimes let them feel a little something to remember us by. ANYBODY who thinks they can come off the street with no experience and last in a ring is NOT thinking straight. The smart ones, like the coagulator, realize the truth and respect it the funny thing is that I knew going in I was in trouble..lol..I wasnt cocky or a smartass or nothing I just truely wanted to see what it was like...and a lesson for a lifetime...and thank God I wasnt down at Kronk or with people who didnt care about me...these people I consider my friends...and I am very appreciative of that...best part is..if someone does come in without experience and wants to go...I get to watch them get their ass handed to them this time...I am amazed at what it must take to be able to handle 200 shots to the body in one night from someone who really wants to hurt you bad...let alone the 200 more to the head...I imagine most fighters regardless of weight class could knock me or any "average man" out with just a glancing blow...now more than ever...MY PROPS TO ANYONE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING OR BECOMING A CHAMP in the ring...you are all better men that me.....and I give this credit where it is due...to the Warriors...as a side note, I dont think I will ever call any fighter a "bum" again.....

iceman, i'm guessing stand-up fighting may have not been a big part of his game. that, or you just completely outclassed him. i sparred(boxing style) once with a guy with nearly the exact dimensions that your mma guy was, and he wasn't able to hit me neither. he had a huge reach advantage against me and a good 6" or so hieght on me as well as over a 50 lb weight advantage. what i found odd, was, that punches to the breadbasket worked surprisingly well against the big guy. i wouldn't think they would, obviously. one of the keys to fighting the big guys, i found, was to be very mobile and use 30 to 40 degree entries on them. most of the time, the smaller guys a quicker, which can be a huge advantage if you know how to use it.

Quick story... about three years ago i was in the gym and this huge guy (maybe 6 ft 3, 250 pounds) who did some type of MMA was there and he wanted to spar me. I am 5 ft. 10, about 180. So I said OK and we sparred... I was moving around keeping my hands up etc. and at one point I landed a quick, but light, right hand that caused him to stop briefly and shake his head, saying he was dizzy. It surpised even me because I didnt hit him with anywhere near my besy shot and, like I say, he was a big guy who had fought in MMA type events before against guys his size. So we get done boxing and he never touched my face even once and, really, the sparing was as easy as boxing with a 12 year old boy. A few weeks later I am on AOL and some guy IM'sme and tells me he knows who I am, he is a big boxing fan etc and he knows a guy that sparred with me once. It was this guy that was 250 pounds. I honestly expected him to say something like the guy banged me up or something but he told me "Yeah, Keith told me that he couldnt believe how easily you were able to hit him and how he couldnt touch you even once." Once again, proof positive of the "art and science" of boxing. It ain't getting in there and "goin' at it" like with some guy who pisses you off in a bar or at a sporting event. Props to ya Scully, you were at the pinacle; and no one can take that away from ya. ...and don't forget to let us know when your book is finished. I want one of the first copies.

Quick story... about three years ago i was in the gym and this huge guy (maybe 6 ft 3, 250 pounds) who did some type of MMA was there and he wanted to spar me. I am 5 ft. 10, about 180. So I said OK and we sparred... I was moving around keeping my hands up etc. and at one point I landed a quick, but light, right hand that caused him to stop briefly and shake his head, saying he was dizzy. It surpised even me because I didnt hit him with anywhere near my besy shot and, like I say, he was a big guy who had fought in MMA type events before against guys his size. So we get done boxing and he never touched my face even once and, really, the sparing was as easy as boxing with a 12 year old boy. A few weeks later I am on AOL and some guy IM'sme and tells me he knows who I am, he is a big boxing fan etc and he knows a guy that sparred with me once. It was this guy that was 250 pounds. I honestly expected him to say something like the guy banged me up or something but he told me "Yeah, Keith told me that he couldnt believe how easily you were able to hit him and how he couldnt touch you even once."

I have seen this same exact story play out dozens of times over the years in my gym... (not that you thought this), but guys come in the gym all the time and think they can box. They are tough, in good shape, they got hands in the street etc. Uusally we just let them spar, get tired and take them out. But for the particularly cocky ones we sometimes let them feel a little something to remember us by. ANYBODY who thinks they can come off the street with no experience and last in a ring is NOT thinking straight. The smart ones, like the coagulator, realize the truth and respect it i second that. we get that in the martial arts world as well.

I have seen this same exact story play out dozens of times over the years in my gym... (not that you thought this), but guys come in the gym all the time and think they can box. They are tough, in good shape, they got hands in the street etc. Uusally we just let them spar, get tired and take them out. But for the particularly cocky ones we sometimes let them feel a little something to remember us by. ANYBODY who thinks they can come off the street with no experience and last in a ring is NOT thinking straight. The smart ones, like the coagulator, realize the truth and respect it

thanks for sharing. it certainly is interesting when you get your first taste of what sparring or boxing a trained fighter is like. just remember, they all went through the same things too. from your description, it sounds like you were thinking a bit too much. things like working positioning are best left for working drills. i'm glad you took it as a learning situation. that's the best way to look at it.

Nice story.

This past weekend I had the honor of lacing up the gloves for the first time ever and went 2 sparring rounds with a professional boxer. Needless to say, I got my ass handed to me. It was amazing. I have been watching fights as a fan all my life. I have been watching fights for the past 5 years or so as a student. I am able to recognize the things that I learn from the gym, standing outside the ropes, with the boxers I watch on T.V. But what I didnt realize is that I DONT HAVE A CLUE as to what it takes and what it is to be a prizefighter. I got in the ring and I immediately became very fearfull. I thought to myself...OK Rod, since he is a southpaw, keep your lead foot to the outside of his and catch his jabs and throw your own. Move your head and watch out for his straight left hands. Because he is a pro, (and his sparring partner didnt make it) I thought that the best thing I can do to help him is to bring it all, be aggressive, try to land something early and make him work. SO the bell rings and I move forward and focus soley on keeping my lead foot outside his and started throwing jabs, a swing and a miss, a swing and a miss, a swing and a miss...moving around the ring I notice I am already winded (pack a day for 30 years). Jab and a miss, jab and a miss, jab and a miss. Before you know it, my left elbow is beginning to hurt from hyperextending my arm throwing my jab. I realize I may not even get throught he first round. (half the round is over and our pro hadnt thrown one punch and I am already out of gas). So, I think to myself...I cant even get in range with my jab, I know if I get in range he is going to lay it on me and I didnt want to be hit..I was very fearfull of being hit!!!! I was scared! This is a light heavy pro and I am a completely out of shape dad of 4 who eats anything he wants at anytime, Im 215 and 6 ft. So, instinct takes over and I say to myself, since you cant catch him with even a jab, trow a double jab, bring your feet with you and grab a hold of him and use your weight to push him up against the ropes and then start going to the body and maybe score some short shots. So I did it and it worked. I got him up against the ropes where I start throwing bombs to the body which none landed very well or with any power, and I threw a right and left uppercut which I found I wasnt so bad at.........then it came..... a straight left hand right on the belly botton....and he goes down in a heap....I realize that not only am I completely out of gas from doing almost nothing, and he just removed any life that I had left. Now please realize that this pro is my friend, he probably only hit me with 1/100 of what he's got and I was out!!!!! I gasped for air, gasped and gasped and gasped. All my people in the gym said come on get up suck it up, you can do it....the bell rings, round one is over and I am thankfull. Very thankfull. I started to wonder, why does 3 minutes inside the ropes seem like an eternity and the 1 minute between rounds feel like the speed of light..LOL....I come out for the second round and I started again to land a jab, keep my foot outside his, forgot that head movement was a very important thing, I have always known that head movement is very important but I was so worried about getting hit, throwing my jabs and trying to survive, head movement wasnt even on my mind. I throw a jab and before I could even get my hand back to my chin...bip...on the forehead, and that gave me an excellent look at the gyms lighting system, I didnt go down because he wasnt throwing them with any meat, but every time I would try to throw a jab in this round he made me miss and bip...right to the forehead...bip...bip....bip...then one of those bips was my nose...and then the round ended with me hanging on for dear life, gasping for air and wondering to myself "What the fuck was I thinkin'? I learned so much in that short 6 minutes. I learned it takes courage to step in there, it takes massive discipline to get in fighting shape, it takes stamina, and knowledge, and self confidence, and skills. It takes a warrior. All the people at the gym got a great chuckle seeing an out of shape almost middle aged cutman trying to land shots against a ring savvy, pro southpaw. Everyone got a good laugh and I dont mind a bit. SO, to all of you, amatuer and pro alike, active or retired, I SALUTE YOU!!!! I respect you for your courage, your motivation, your WARRIOR HEART!!!! My hats off, and I have made the decision that it is best for me to stick to what I am good at, taking CARE of you warriors, so that you have the best shot possible of living your dreams and reaching all your goals inside The Square Circle...God Bless all fighters!!! Take care. Great story, bro!! Great story. :D

excellent post!!! thanks for sharing the experience!!

I am so sore today, not from being punched, but from punching. My left arm, bicept, tricept, traps, lats are killing me from missing my shots. Its amazing how alone I felt in there. I learned many lessons...lol.... imagine if you are that sore from that short amount of time, how those fighters feel after getting the 100% power punches after SEVERAL rounds :eek: like pbds said, i am sure that it has given you a much greater appreciation and understanding of what they do.