Expert: Jack Rose - 2/28/2009

Question
Hello, my name is Tyler I am 23 years of age. I have been boxing for around 6 years off and on. I have never done any true competitive  fighting. I have done allot of sparring and have had several un official bouts with guys coming down from other gyms. I have done alot of work with Plyometrics for conditioning through out this 6 years as well. I am now signed up to fight in the Gold Gloves coming up. I have been logging allot of hours on training. Yet I have had no previous fight will this be an issue? Also what would you recommend doing for training and conditioning with only a month before the gloves. I sadly have to train on my own and spar on weekends because of school. I have access to mitts, heavy bag,track andweights.

Answer
Tyler,

Don't over think it. This always happens in your first few fights. Your wondering about the guy, who he is, is he from a rough neighborhood, how good is he, what if he's a bad ass...etc etc. The truth is, your first few opponents are a glorified sparring session. Your going to be matched with a novice fighter just like yourself. Your skill levels will be very close to the same.
Remember this, your first few fights will be decided on conditioning and your will to fight. Neither of you have developed enough skill to where it has a major bearing on the fight. You are still learning technique and strategy and even more, when and where to do it. So don't over think it, he is thinking the same thing you are, I promise!

This is what the novice division is all about, developing you into quality open fighter. Always look at your novice fights as the prelude to the big dance, being open division. It takes the pressure off yourself and you'll learn to just relax. When you relax in the ring, your are ten times the fighter.

Training as your first fight approaches:  run and then run some more... condition your body.... focus on keeping your punches straight, don't worry so much about the hook and uppercut right now, most novice fights are won with a busy straight jab followed by a straight hard righthand.
Defensively, focus on keeping your hands up, plain and simple. Until you learn to move your head effectively your hands will block 99% of punches thrown at you, what you don't block will hit you.
good luck in the gloves, I hope you get a victory....

Jackson