New found respect for Boxers

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

Today when I went in for my session, my trainer could not find a partner for me. So he went off into the weight room and tried to find a suitable partner for me. The only person he could find unforunately was a 6'2 200+ black guy that happened to be an avid practioner of Savate and a streetfighter. Dude even had stretch marks all over his shoulders. I did NOT want to fight this guy. He looked like a roided version of Lil Bow Wow....only he wasnt so little. Lucky for me the guy had stated that he was too tight and stiff to fight. So my trainer asked the manager of the fitness club to spar. The catch was.....he was a former canadian pro who had retired 8 years ago.

Damn, he didnt really seem to have ring rust, except for the fact that he was sucking wind...he was rocking my world. My jabs in the first round were touching air, he was like a ghost! He rocked me upstairs and downstairs with hooks and upper cuts. After a direct blow from an overhand right to my nose, I started to get mad. Luckily, he was getting tired. I slowly turned it up and got a couple of shots in, at one point in the second round, I got him against the ropes and kept on giving left and right body hooks against his kidneys. Then finally he was knocked out of the ring. But he got back in. LOL By the third round, I was tired as well and tried to keep him away by circling and jabbing. As he leaded in with a left hook. BAM I got him with a right uppercut. The only shot that really hurt him.

Boxers are really frusterating, especially when its like hitting a ghost. But the guy asked me how much I weighed. and he commented on how I hit pretty damn hard for a small kid. Well that was my afternoon. My f uckin kidneys and ribs KILL!

But I had alot of fun....

[Maxximus]

Check your same thread at the kung fu forum...I left something for you there and I don't like you enough to go through the trouble of pasting it here.

[Patterson]

You were in a boxing match with a boxer, what did you think would happen? Thats like saying you respect wrestlers because you were pinned by a wrestler in a wrestling match. Or you respect point-karate guys or something.

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

I knew I really didnt have too much of a chance, but people speak of the "angles" and the technique that is visible in boxing. You sort of have to experience it to really appreciate it. I mean damn, punching at such a close proximity and my punches still touching air, made me realize why they call it the "sweet science." It was a really cool experience to get in with someone of such caliber.
Hell I would be saying the same thing if I got in a grappling match with a BB BJJ guy or a worldclass wrestler, I just havent gotten the chance yet. Facing someone with such skill makes you realize that you have a long way to go.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Speaking of boxers, I was wondering what you guys thought of this theory I came up with yesterday.

I remember back in high school there was a kid my size (back then it would've been like maybe 5'8 170 lbs. I've actually lost weight since then too because of more BJJ and less Pepsi) who boxed ever since he was a kid and he was great. However, it seems like the few times I saw him get in a fight he'd get his ass handed to him. Not really because he was scared, I think its because he tried to use boxing. He'd throw all the punches that boxers throw while his opponent is dropping bombs on him. It seems like if he used Muay Thai technique he would've won because they go more for the KO than boxers do. Is boxing bad for the street or is it just the technique that you can easily change in a fight to fit the situation?

[Maxximus]

Hookah,

I dunno, I tend to think that any half decent boxer would knock the $hit out of a traditional Muay thai guy in a punching match in the ring. Any good boxer strives to set up knockouts, but does it in a technical and intelligent way instead of just throwing sloppy bombs the way i see a lot of kickboxers do. But I guess everyone is different. As for your old friend, maybe you were wrong and he actually WAS scared Or maybe he wasn't half a good a boxer as he claimed. Or perhaps he simply got too used to defending against the rhythm of a boxer. Unlike a trained boxer, an untrained brawler throws messy, uncrisp, uncoordinated stiff punches. I know it may sound stupid, but sometimes when you get too used to the refined and precise rhythm of the boxing ring you get thrown off when facing someone who doesn't have that rhythm. You can easily miscalculate the precise moment the punch will land, or the exact angle its coming in from simply because you're defending as if against a boxer. It may not be too difficult to adjust to that and adapt when sparring in the ring, but in a streetfight you might not get the chance. All it takes is one good shot, depending on how much you can take punches. the easiest way to remedy this is probably to get sparring time with as many different kinds of opponents with different rhythms as you can. Sparring against a strong beginner who is untechnical, but not afraid to hit and be hit is especially valuable.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

I think your last theory is probably best. While everyone gets scared when they get in a fight, he wasn't anything to where it'll prevent him from beating an inferior fighting. I think he just didn't adapt his boxing to the street

[DanInNeckaha]

It sounds like the guy's defense probably sucked. A legit boxer should not be getting hit by wild, undiscipined punches. Nerves and adrenaline also some into play. If your heart is in your throat it will impair your performance.