Training South of the Border

[Tom Yum]

I met a gracious fellow awhile back.

I was at the gym hitting the bag and he stopped me to give a quick compliment. Turns out he was a highly ranked amateur in Laredo who was able to turn pro, but had foregone this opportunity to persue a different career.

We talked for what seemed like an hour about the sweet science. He and his team mates often go down to Mexico to get prep-fights for bouts here in the states. He told me these prep-fights were brutal because the Mexicans don't train to fight in amateur leagues, they go full-contact all the time and sometimes elbows and headbutts are regular techniques in unofficial bouts, Mexico doesn't have an amateur league; they go straight to professional.

Some of the differences he noted was that sparring is done full-contact in the Mexican gyms vs. 60-70% like we practice here. In addition, he told me that Mexican fighters are built by the focus mitts. In otherwords, he said that about every attribute that you want to build for boxing centers around you and your trainers focus mitts. But also said that rope work, calisthenics, swimming and running were important too.

Thought I'd share this tidbit of info about our buddies that train in other places.