questions regarding preparation for first amateur fight

[ElMeroChingon]

Hit the other guy and dont let him hit you...Now go get em champ!

If need more master instructions just go Watch Guillermo Rigondeaux pro or amateur, and your'e good, but stand up close to the tv so you can absorb the gold medal juice coming off it.

If so, Just don't feel bad when family and friends walk out during your fight

[datastream]

My suggestion to you is, that you are too old to begin to learn to box, so as to have competition fights -unless you enjoy being hit on the nose. However it's no harm to learn, but I would seriously suggest that whilst you can watch as many videos as you like, they are experienced Pro boxers who likely had 5-6-10 years of amateur experience, already. And the Amateurs are totally different, as if it were a different sport. Nowadays anyway.

I would SERIOUSLY avoid getting in to spar with anyone in a gym right now, because it's just asking to be beaten up, unless it is completely under the eye of the right sort of coach (there are some who just say "hit him hard...harder". etc.) and your spar-mate is an understanding sort of guy who is not looking for "scalps' as many in gyms are...

I would study videos of the basic punches, and stances (very important are the stance and) proper balance, movement, etc. and practice for several months on the HEAVY and MEDIUM BAGS. You have to become comfortable with your movement, you won't get it from sparring. It's different when you have to concentrate on what the other guy will do. first you must perfect what you want to do on the bag.

As to the left jab, I'd just think about a fencer making a thrust,(snap it out) and do NOT make the bad mistake of pulling back your fist before you shoot it forward (this telegraphs the punch). Try to make sure that your left shoulder automatically raises when your arm goes out. It helps to protect your chin. Also do NOT drop or wing-out your right fist when you throw your left; It looks "dapper" but is a huge error. This is called the "bow and arrow" habit..... Ali did it and was always open to a left hook..

And when you eventually throw your right cross, after your left, (both crossing in "midstream") make sure that you are bringing your left back in the same straight line, as you punched out, otherwise you will leave your chin open for a counter right following (over) your left back.

If your trainer then tells you that you can have your first amateur fight, well..then... do it at least for the experience.

There was a very interesting-in this context- happening a few years ago. There is a boxing writer named "Benny "Big Dog" Henderson, who'd been writing about boxing for years, and suddenly wanted to feel what it was like to have a pro fight. From pictures of him I'd say he was at least 400 lbs, and he said he was enormously obese, but he trained and trained for months, and would tell us how much weight he was taking off..... and then he had his 4 round fight. He got through it OK, barely, and then "retired". He wanted to do it and he did it. So he was happy.

I don't know if I have been any help, I hope I have. I don't think that any of the above posters have given you good advice, they don't seem to know anything bout boxing, but you are the judge.

As far as this guy goes telling you your too old, trying to give you advice, and then telling you the above posters don't know anything about boxing; must not know much.

First off, your never too old to learn. If you want to learn. Go for it. It is a great way to stay in shape and build confidence. Twenty nine is definitely not too old.

You should not avoid sparring. If it is a good gym, they are not going to just throw you in the ring to get beat up. If you are planning on doing any kind of competition it is a risk you are going to have to take. You can drill all day but you will never truly loosen up and be able to showcase your skills in the ring until you can do it in a sparring match. You have to do it to be comfortable. Without it you will be stiff and you won't have any speed on your punches. You also won't be able to move and slip anything as well as you could have in a drill because you will be nervous.

While working the heavy bags is good, I would not make that your only focus. If that is your only focus you will start seeing some of your technique suffer. You will find yourself only punching to the target instead of through. I think I also said in one of your threads, work on footwork and defense. Jump rope, agility ladder, slip ball, rope drills, and shadow boxing. You will be competing in the amateurs. Knockouts don't happen as much in the amateurs as they do in the pros. Work on speed, defense, and accuracy more than power.

It's good to ask for advice on this forum, but your going to get 50 people telling you 50 different things all telling you the guy above doesn't know **** about boxing. There are a million different ways to accomplish things in training. You just have to get in there, drill, and execute. Also do your research. Watch video. Read. Remember most of the boxing game is mental. Research ways to strengthen your mental makeup and make you confident when you go into that ring. Good luck sir!