My First Fight... Sort of...

[CMaines]

My gym did this thing about 6 or 8 months ago called "Friday Night Fights". Members sign up to spar against other members the first Friday of the month. They open the gym up to families and friends to come and watch, sell popcorn and put on a little show. It’s just a way to add some excitement and give you something to work/ train towards. It’s really just 3-5 round of sparring (depending on the fighters) but with the added excitement. They did it a while ago, but since the gym has only been around for about a year most people were too scared to sign up. Anyway, the gym has grown and there are a lot more confident / experienced people now so it's back on and I signed up!!!!

I’ve only been boxing for 3 months but I LOVE IT!!!! Prior to that I had absolutely 0 experience boxing, unless you count school yard brawls. Needless to say I’m really excited about this. I’ve been going to the gym about 4-5 times a week for about 2-3 hours for the past 2 month, I absolutely love it! I know it’s just a goofy show at the gym, but this would be sort of like my first fight so now I look at the training different. (I guess that’s the whole point). So any advice? How does your training change when you have a fight coming up? What should I focus more on, and what should I not worry about so much? How do you prepare mentally? What about the week or the few days before, do you train harder or take it easy? What/ When should I eat the day of my fight… I know I sound like a little kid the night before Christmas but I'm just really excited, so any advice would be great.

Thanks-
Chris (I need a nickname) Maines!

[lilevil]

Ok, you should have your toughest training day about 1 week before the fight. Spar alot, leading up to the fight. Any chance your have get in the ring. Cut back on the running, and substitute sparring or technique training about 2 weeks out. I do not run at all once i am 1 week out. Make sure you eat right!! and get sleep. Are there winners and losers in this show?

[CMaines]

Ok, you should have your toughest training day about 1 week before the fight. Spar alot, leading up to the fight. Any chance your have get in the ring. Cut back on the running, and substitute sparring or technique training about 2 weeks out. I do not run at all once i am 1 week out. Make sure you eat right!! and get sleep. Are there winners and losers in this show?

Thanks for the tips. I want to try and get at least 25-30 more rounds under my belt by the 28th. That's about 2-4 round a night. They will declare a winner in each fight, even thought it doesn't mean **** outside the gym, it means a LOT inside the gym. My plan is to do some road work this week and try and get in about 2-3 miles a day. After that, next week I'll be working on punching, I'm goanna try and jab a LOT just so my arms don't get tired, I see that happen with a lot of newer guys, their arms get tired and they leave themselves open and can't hit for crap later on. My style is to just keep pressuring guys. It works well at my level because most new fighters are afraid to get hit, I just walk em down a keep punching. I asked that I get someone that wants a 5 round fight. I’m 194 pounds and just starting off, but I tend to be pretty relaxed in the ring and don’t tire easily so I want it to be about boxing, not just who can go all out for 2 rounds. What are some good foods to eat?

[lilevil]

When i have a fight coming up, i cut out pop, fast food, and foods with no benefit. i try to eat alot of fruits, healthy meat, water/juice, vitamin rich foods, ect. Now i assume your not cutting weight.

[CMaines]

When i have a fight coming up, i cut out pop, fast food, and foods with no benefit. i try to eat alot of fruits, healthy meat, water/juice, vitamin rich foods, ect. Now i assume your not cutting weight.

Well I'm in pretty good shape then. I don't eat fast food or drink a lot of pop to begin with. And ever since I started boxing I have really cut back on the adult beverges on the weekends too. I've started eating a lot more chicken, fish and lean beef. And I try and eat a banana or orange with breakfast and then some fruit with lunch. Sooo I guess I'll just wait and see. And you're correct, we don't have to cut weight. Although weight will be a factor in who gets matched up they're looking more at skill level. I'll let you konw how I'm coming along and hopefully I'll win!

[MarkScott]

Eat at least 3 hours before the fight. Remember to jab, jab, jab, if you are at a loss as to what to do. That will impress the judges.

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[RightCross94]

its always good to do these sort of things before you get in the ring for a proper bout, it gives you confidence etc

you dont really have anything to lose doing this, so just remember the basics, tight defence, pump your jab, side to side movement, stay off the ropes etc. just work on what you have been doing in the gym and keeping your cool, if he tries to take your head off, just cover up, stand your ground and fire back, then move

[CMaines]

Well Friday was the night and I had GREAT time!!!! I fought twice. Once with a much more experienced fighter and a second fight with a guy who had about the same experience as me. We went for 2, 2 minute rounds. During normal sparring I can go 3,3 minute rounds pretty easy but this was at a whole other level. I’m a little embarrassed to say but these 2 rounds wore my ass out! I have video that I’ll post soon if anyone want to see, (kind of crappy it was taken from a phone) but all and all it was a great experience. I had about 15-20 people come cheer me on which I was nervous about. I actually thought earlier in the week about telling everyone it was canceled so that I didn’t embarrass myself, but then I realized that no one coming to watch me can do what I do so even if I look bad at least I had the balls to go through with it and put myself out there which is more then all the spectators can say.

The day of the fight I took off of work, drank lots of water (up until about 2 hours of my fight) had some pasta for lunch and just chilled. I thought about shadow boxing or running that day, but I realized that at that point I was a good as I was going to get physically so why were myself out. I listened to lots of music and tried not to think much of my fight. When I showed up to the gym I found out that about 6 other fighters bailed apparently they got “The Fighters Flu”. My trainer said that no matter what level you’re at, you always get people who bail which made me feel even better for having the guts to go through it.

My second fight was apparently the fight of the night according the other fighters and the 2 owners of the gym. I think because we were the 2 most evenly matched fighters, we went at it! It probably was a little sloppy at times but we kept decent form and good punching technique and movement. My nose was swollen a bit and his was bloody along with his mouth and there was even more blood on my white gloves. But at the end we both shook hands and I think he had as good of a time as me. It was a blast! Like I said I’ll try and get video up ASAP for anyone who want to see. But I can honestly say that my first fight in front of people was a success!

[CMaines]

Well Friday was the night and I had GREAT time!!!! I fought twice. Once with a much more experienced fighter and a second fight with a guy who had about the same experience as me. We went for 2, 2 minute rounds. During normal sparring I can go 3,3 minute rounds pretty easy but this was at a whole other level. I’m a little embarrassed to say but these 2 rounds wore my ass out! I have video that I’ll post soon if anyone want to see, (kind of crappy it was taken from a phone) but all and all it was a great experience. I had about 15-20 people come cheer me on which I was nervous about. I actually thought earlier in the week about telling everyone it was canceled so that I didn’t embarrass myself, but then I realized that no one coming to watch me can do what I do so even if I look bad at least I had the balls to go through with it and put myself out there which is more then all the spectators can say.

The day of the fight I took off of work, drank lots of water (up until about 2 hours of my fight) had some pasta for lunch and just chilled. I thought about shadow boxing or running that day, but I realized that at that point I was a good as I was going to get physically so why were myself out. I listened to lots of music and tried not to think much of my fight. When I showed up to the gym I found out that about 6 other fighters bailed apparently they got “The Fighters Flu”. My trainer said that no matter what level you’re at, you always get people who bail which made me feel even better for having the guts to go through it.

My second fight was apparently the fight of the night according the other fighters and the 2 owners of the gym. I think because we were the 2 most evenly matched fighters, we went at it! It probably was a little sloppy at times but we kept decent form and good punching technique and movement. My nose was swollen a bit and his was bloody along with his mouth and there was even more blood on my white gloves. But at the end we both shook hands and I think he had as good of a time as me. It was a blast! Like I said I’ll try and get video up ASAP for anyone who want to see. But I can honestly say that my first fight in front of people was a success!

[Pork Chop]

Yah, that's why I like smokers/interclubs (what you did).
You get a taste for the pressure without having to worry about someone sandbagging or getting seriously hurt.
Cong**** on getting in there.