Expert: Alan Kahn - 11/19/2007

Question
hey its sean how are you?
my coach says im ready to start fighting competitively, but i need to get my medical done. my doter wont do it because she does not approve of boxing ive tried many other doters and they have the same views. what should i do just keep trying?

the other day i spared against the best boxer in our club. he is 20 and about 2 stone heaver than me, it was a really good spar, and i used some of your previous advice and i did really well against him. but he has really really fast hands and its hard to tell when his punches are coming, do you have any advise for me?

this is embarrassing for me to say but im not as mature as most people my age, and am not looking forward to my medical at all. is it absolutely compulsory? and also when i fight people will see that im not that mature im getting there but is there any thing i can do? it might not seem like a big deal but it is where i live. lol  

thanks very much for your time and your advise is really helping me! this site is really cool and your the firs person i have ever told about my problem, and it feels good :)

cheers

sean

Answer
Hi Sean,

I completely understand about your age and development, for I was a late developer also. For a while all the kids in my high school days were larger than I was. I didn't catch up until my early college days. So I know how you feel on that.

If you are planning to compete in sanctioned amatuer events, you are going to have to get a physical. I don't know of any way around that, nor would I advise it. A doctor should examine you before any kind of serious contact sports, particular one as head contact intensive as boxing.  Keep looking for a doctor that will examine you, and perhaps your coach can help you find one that is "boxer friendly".

For someone with really fast hands, you need to try and concentrate on his "Tells" or some physical movement that telegraphs his intensions. They are often very slight, and you may need more ring experience to pick them up (your coaches need to help on that also..). Everyone except the most highly trained fighters have slight "pre-punch" movements or actions that let you know somethign is comming. You might not know what punch exactly, but it telegraphs his movement. It takes time to learn that, and your coaches may be a better position, only because they are not dodging those punches like you are.

Also, consider the fact that this man was bigger, probably stronger, and probably faster than what you are used to. Maybe you just have to get used to that level of speed, and improve your reaction time.  That is the greatest value of more ring experience. You will adapt to his speed and increase your accordingly.

Good luck and keep the faith about your physical maturity. Your body will eventually kick in for your age.   

take care and train safe.

sincerely

Alan Kahn
author, The speed bag bible