Seeking Sparring Advice

Hello everyone, I have been at the local boxing gym for roughly 7 months now and have been working very hard to get in the best shape I possibly can because I want to have an AM fight. So I started boxing very late and had my first sparring match a around a month ago. There are multiple coaches at my gym. The head coach generally is not there on Fridays when a different coach is in. I have done lots of mit work and so one day Friday coach approaches me and another guy in the gym and asks if we want to spar. I agree and so does the other guy. He was heavier than I was but certainly not as good shape. It was both the first sparring match we had. First round everything stayed light, but after that the second and third punches were being thrown much harder. I believe my fight or flight completely activated and I REALLY started going hard in the last round. Noticeably harder than what I should of been I believe... I was certainly not "boxing" as much as I was "brawling" by the feedback I received. We still shook after the fight and all but coach was pissed. I mean real pissed. I have never even seen the guy mad before. Next week I see him again and he claims I was going way to hard and was not doing anything to make either of us better and I will not be allowed to spar when hes in there anymore also saying he should of just stopped it. Now the head coach is getting me in the ring with some seasoned fighters on other days and I am struggling to stay calm in the ring or keep up with the pace difference. These guys are much better than my first sparring session partner. I get all tense and what not and waste tons of energy keeping my arms up rigidly and just covering my face as opposed to bob/weave and head movement. So my question is how do I stay calm in the ring? Also will I eventually begin to pick up the timing to dodge and counter or do I simply not have it at this point? All advice is appreciated.

Comments (2)

BeatnickBenny

Ok I will keep that in mind. Thanks. What about timing, do you just learn that with time (Bob a d weave/evasions) and such? I used the equipment to try and increase my reflexes but have not had much luck carrying it over to the ring.

7y ago

Longhaul

Sparring is key to your development but you have to have coaches who are in control of the sparring and he should have got involved and settled the sparring down.All coaches I was around were very hands on with amateurs and settle things down to keep everybody safe and learning.Sparring when you are over your head and trying to survive you learn nothing.You have to learn to relax and control your breathing which comes with exp.

7y ago