‘Scale’ Back: Training Camp Begins

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

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. [details]

[rossle]

In the artical it says about Ricardo Mayorga holding his chin out and say if you want to prove how tough you are why not deck your opponent instead.

How does punching hard (which Mayorga does, as he knocked out Forrest, Mosley couldnt) prove you can take a shot (which Mayorga can, he gave Forrest free clean shots that Mosely got dropped by)

[MANGLER]

Decent read. Funny.

[schizzleE]

well intentioned but ignorant article

1-most pro boxers box cause they have to as an financial way out of out poverty.

2-ur just recycling whie collar boxing wall street types

3)U WRITE U MUST EXPERIENCE IT TO REPORT IT......

yeah i guess that's explains why the worst announcers in most sports are ex-jocks----

a writer writes what he knows about--from within the soul--ur coming after the fact..............

like a ride-along in a cop car who wrires a police book--you're observing, not experiencing-- as it's not a job .......

clean the kitchen mats at taco bell and tell us about this

[edgarg]

What have we got here I wonder?/

I don't like this article. It is largely about....nothing. It seems to me to be the result of a hopeless (seemingly the writer's feeling) casting about for an interesting subject. I believe it failed. But I have no doubt that he will get better.

What it DOES say is that the "boxing" writer, knows nothing about boxing, was never in a ring under any kind of pressure, and, since he wants to be a legit boxing writer, and feeling the pain of a pro is neccessary, NOW wants to experience those feelings-no matter how far removed.

In the past, dedicated writers, who had similiar ideas, would get permission top do an in-depth story of a boxer in training for an important fight, and, to throw himself deeply into the mood and mode, would put himself under the same training regimen, even to getting into the ring to spar with the pros.

The main result would generally be a damn good story, as well as the ancillary rights to a few black eyes, and a broken nose or two..both accompanied by a ringing in the head which would cause the poor guy to keep answering the telephone....with nobody at the other end.

But we, me, I, the reader, would be brought right into that camp and right into the ring to vicariously experience the "slings and arrows of outrageous" bashing around.

And it would be almost impossible for the writer to believe that the pro had gone VERY EASY on him.

Maybe....but what an article........

If it were me, that heading of Stiff Jab would be immediately followed by the name of Wladimir Klitschko or Winky Wright.

Just my opinion.