Expert: Jack Rose - 11/14/2010

Question
Hey Jack i was looking at some of the questions posted for you and it seems like you are a great help to the questions. I have been boxing in a gym for 2 years. i have no amateur fights. I was training for a fight in oct and a week before it was scheduled i backed out from lack of sparring and confidence. When i was sparring i was just going through motions and i felt that i did not have that fighter instinct. I always got extremely nervous before i sparred and the session never ended up great. My coaches weren't really supportive of my decisions and i left the gym. The coaches i feel didn't really pay a lot of attention and i only had 4 weeks to train. Now i've been doing my roadwork by myself training here and there. I feel i have a passion for the sport. I'm always watching it, reading up on training programs and just so into it. A part of me wants to be a boxer but another part wants to be involved with the sport only, maybe as a trainer of some sort. I want to possess the fighter instinct. It would be a dream if i became pro but i lack confidence. Always thinking "Hell i can never be a Cotto, or Pacman etc" but then i have that part where i really wanna train hard. I am very confused wanted to know if you had any words of advice. I'd really appreciate it
matt

Answer
Matt,

It is normal to be nervous before a fight. You always will be a little nervous no matter who you are. But there are different levels. Some pre fight jitters are OK as long as they go away after the bell rings.

The only way to get rid of nervousness is to spar as much possible and get as many fights as you can. It's like when people get real nervous speaking in front of people, the answer is to do it more often. People usually avoid doing it which just increases the anxiety. But you should start small and work your way up to larger crowds. Same with boxing. You have to get in the ring, spar as much as possible and take as many fights as you can get. Novice fights are where you take care of this. By the time you get to the open division you will have alot more confidence in your abilities.
Guys who win titles KNOW they are good so they get in the ring they expect to win. If you ever think you might lose, you probably will.

good luck