Handspeed: Punch out drills (hitting the bag repetitively as fast as possible for 30-60-90 sec intervals), calisthenics, 5-6 punch sparring/ focus mitt work.
Defense: Better footwork, keeping your hands up, chin tucked covered by your shoulder, good head movment and more sparring.
After a couple months to maybe a year of training, your sparring transitions from just testing out techniques, earning lumps and trying to survive
to fighting smarter. It becomes more about strategy and game.
It sounds like your really excited about your training and its contagious.