AboutJackson Rose Expertise I can answer any questions related to boxing and training. I can help anyone prepare for professional or amateur bouts. My trainer/boss of 24 years is in the Golden Gloves Hall of Fame and trained the heavyweight champion of the world. Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Taylor, Billy Bridges, Frankie Randall just to name a few of the boxers who have passed thru the Southerns and/or trained at our gym.
Experience I have been in the sport of boxing since 1984. I started as a boxer and advanced quickly. I was lucky enough to have some of the best sparring in the country with 3 top ten pros in my very gym. I am fortunate enough to live near one of the better boxing programs in the country. In the mid 90's I became a trainer for Golden Gloves. I train amateur and pro fighters. I have worked in many corners at USA and Golden Glove tournaments. My friend, boss and coach is the former President of Golden Gloves. I am also one of the trainers and cornermen for a promising professional heavyweight.
Organizations I am a certified Golden Gloves/USA Boxing Coach. I am also a licensed Second for pro bouts.
Question QUESTION: I am a 25yo female who started boxing about 5 years ago. I am just wondering how much can I progress if I am only training with guys especially those who are much taller and stronger than me. I am asking this question because none of the ladies in my gym are willing to spar and that my coach has to put me with guys.
The problem is that those guys usually go light and easy on me, not as serious as when they spar among themselves. I don't mean that I want them to knock me out, but I'm just frustrated that I can't progress if I keep going like this. I do have a very good coach who works on the mitt with me and ask the guys to spar with me. However, would that really help me to improve? How would I know my standard without having a partner who's same sex and weight as me?
And also, I live in asia where boxing is not a popular sport. It's hard to get ladies to train with. And I wonder if you know of anyway to get a fight in Asia?
ANSWER: Hi Jess,
Sparring is very important but if your not sparring the right way with the right people it can do more harm than good or your just spinning your wheels.
The best thing to do is get a guy who is an advanced level fighter with tons of experience. They know how to adjust their speed and power appropriately to work with whoever there in the ring with.
If they just throw you in there with guys who don't have a lot of experience they cannot monitor their punches well enough to help you and usually go too light because they are paranoid about hitting a girl.
Being in the states I just don't have enough knowledge about boxing in Asia to help you with getting a fight.
good luck
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QUESTION: Thanks Jack! By the way, as for sparring the right way with the right people, my coach does make me spar with experienced fighter. What I am concerned is that I don't get a feel of sparring with someone about my size and level. I have this confidence problem in sparring as time goes by, cause I never know if I improve. Sparring those advanced guys who are much taller and heavier is a good thing, but I never get to fight my way. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Answer Jess,
You should avoid sparring guys that much bigger than you unless that's all you have. You should be sparring guys closer to your size so you can spar on equal ground. You need to be able to spar someone that you can box the same way you would in a real fight. But you only need to do this twice a week (sparring full speed I mean). If you spar too much you will become a gym fighter and that is a curse that is hard to break.
Sparring is always an issue in every gym. Sometimes you just don't have the right sparring partners to work with. So you have to learn how to use what you have to be most effective. If you have a tall who is much heavier then he shouldn't be throwing at all. He should work on his defense while you go full speed.
It is very hard to find female sparring partners. You just have to do the best you can with what you have. Just stick to your game and don't change anything just because he's bigger. If you do you'll start hesitating or pulling punches and it will throw your rhythm off.
When the bell rings you have to focus more on what your doing than what your opponent is doing. Until you get into that frame of mind you confidence will waiver. Do your thing. Be a thinker. If there is a consistent issue, make a mental note for the next round.
