Sparring with someone that is bigger and more athletic than you?

[discodave]

Keep at it. If you are good enough you will improve loads from it.

Correct. You will improve much more when sparring guys who are technically better than you, rather than beating up the newbie's or less skilled boxers than you.

To be the best, you've gotta beat the best.

[j]

I'm 160 pounds and 5'9" and they make me spar against a dood that's 170 and he's like 6'2" with incredible reach not to mention he's pretty much ripped...I'm not out of shape or anything but the other guy is ripped like a pro...They always make me spar with him because no one else can take his punches or even wants to spar with him, and I'm about the biggest guy he can do that against but I honestly feel like crap everytime I do spar with him...I feel like my confidence goes down and my dreams of boxing going down the drain...I have sparred with the smaller guys at 145-155 and I feel like it's pretty even and that I can adjust well...but when I spar with this bigger and more athletic guy I can't cut off the ring and I can't fight him on the inside because of his reach but when ever I do get inside he's not hard to keep on the ropes because I'm a pretty strong dood myself...do you think it's good for me to keep sparring him if I can't put any of my training work into the sparring match?

i have quite many experiences with bigger guys. as long as you arent taking a beating, it shouldnt be too detrimental. your bigger sparring partner should know to not unload on you. if he does than he is plainly a bad sparring partner and is not looking to improve his own game.

since he has longer reach, try to exploit the moment he commits to anything with substance. that right there is your room to counter.
another proven strategy is to bait him into throwing something. the better you get at this, the more you can bait him into doing what you want. and remember to always have at least 3 set counters for each baiting tactic.

remember, because he is bigger, you probably dont wanna try to out power him in a conventional sense. and generally not best to walk straight into him. u have to use a slight angle while appearing straight in that case.

btw, i am about 5'8" , 5'9" or so, and 170-180 maybe. one of my old boxing partners was 6'3" and 275. that was the biggest guy i boxed and i learned a lot from that. and it was fun! so, if u can, keep it up and look to improve.

[Megamasterking]

I'm 160 pounds and 5'9" and they make me spar against a dood that's 170 and he's like 6'2" with incredible reach not to mention he's pretty much ripped...I'm not out of shape or anything but the other guy is ripped like a pro...They always make me spar with him because no one else can take his punches or even wants to spar with him, and I'm about the biggest guy he can do that against but I honestly feel like crap everytime I do spar with him...I feel like my confidence goes down and my dreams of boxing going down the drain...I have sparred with the smaller guys at 145-155 and I feel like it's pretty even and that I can adjust well...but when I spar with this bigger and more athletic guy I can't cut off the ring and I can't fight him on the inside because of his reach but when ever I do get inside he's not hard to keep on the ropes because I'm a pretty strong dood myself...do you think it's good for me to keep sparring him if I can't put any of my training work into the sparring match?

Not good, if you don't learn from it and get hurt, i would talk with the trainer, my trainer was a Pro trainer and from ive learned you should stop. Ask yourself: Would i like to sparre with a smaller guy who can't defend himself ? In that situation, you are both having a bad training, what will he learn if he keeps hitting you without opposition ? Ive been boxing for 30 years, trust me on this...

[paulsinghnl]

u gotta learn from it bro.. i had 3 years of experience in boxing total, i had to be main sparring partner for a veteran MMA pro. gave me the first concussion in boxing, cuz i got real insecure. u have to be confident in your abilities. if you can't fight harder, fight smarter. and LEARN from all the sparring as much as u can, it's so valuable learning. a champion rises up from defeat, so don't ever give up.

i think you need to work on a hard jab and timing. for example, Cotto v. Mosley, Mosley was supposed to run rings around Cotto because of his speed. but Cotto trained on a monster jab and PERFECT timing. whenever u step in on him, jab him hard on the plexus/chin, **** on his body and slide out of the way sideways. when he adjusts, attack him hard again on the inside, hooks to the body, uppercut to the head, slide out. KEEP YOUR HANDS UP!

stop getting discouraged, you can do it, you decided to be a boxer, there will always be someone better, u need to learn and get better than that person.

[FM3O]

If he's bigger and more athletic, then you have to fight smarter and with better fundamentals. How "ripped" he is doesn't make any difference. A 10 pound difference isn't that much when sparring. You should first off work on getting in the best shape you can. While you aren't sparring him, you need to think of new methods to try to be able to land. There is always a way, you just have to figure it out and not be afraid to attempt to execute. The guy I spar regularly beats me every single time during sparring. I still get my shots in though, and it doesn't mean I'm a poor fighter as I win matches more often then he does. You can't be getting down on yourself.

[Gorilla Dogs]

just hide behind that jab all night. When he gets close in go into the shell and let him gas himself out. Try to knock him out in the late rounds