My Third Boxing Fight

Back in July I had my third boxing fight. I wrote a post just before saying I was quite confident. I was. Despite not having much chance to train, I felt like I had improved a lot from my last fight, and a huge amount from my first fight. Regardless, on the night things didn't quite go my way.


I fought at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham. It was an event put on for charity, by one of Birminghams law firms. Most of the fights involved one of the many boxers that work there (it must be a job that leads to a lot of anger).


When I came out (they cut the start off my music which really pissed me off) I was boo'd, a lot. It was more of a pantomime situation, as it happened in all fights. Every time I hit him I was boo'd, and every time he hit me he was cheered. I started enjoying the boo's, as it meant I was doing something right. I had no support there as tickets cost £100 each.


Personally, I think the scoring was questionable, but regardless, for some reason I fought again without raising my hands. For some reason I feel a lot more relaxed when my hands are low. It makes me feel like I can slip punches easier, but it means I get hit a lot more, which attributed to him winning it 30 - 25.


Here is a video and pictures:

You can see the full, uncut (apart from the entrances) fight here.

My Third Boxing Fight Soon...

In a few hours I will be stepping into the ring for my third boxing fight. This one is a sold-out charity show, apparently making about £43,000 in ticket sales.
I am a bit less nervous than I was fighting Nigel, because this fight should let me box to my own style hopefully. I am still a bit nervous because I took the fight with fairly short notice (and without much training time due to being in Canada), so my fitness isn't entirely there. On top of it, the guy I'm fighting, for the first time, is heavier than me, and thus heavier-handed than other people I have gone against.

I decided not to have any personal training for this fight, instead adopting my own strategy, so we will see how it goes!
Wish me luck...

My Second Boxing Fight

Here are the good pictures from my second fight. I can't remember what the score was, but I drew. I felt a bit disappointed because I felt like I should have won it. Towards the end I had a decent point difference, but was aware of it so I went on the defensive to maintain it, instead of continuing doing what I did to get it.

Before the fight I didn't feel too confident. I felt like I hadn't eaten enough, so didn't have enough energy, and I felt like I didn't warm up enough before. It has taught me a lot for the next fight.

There is a video at the bottom.

Last minute talk.

That low left hand. Looking to pick a shot.

For some reason I decided to go for a Floyd Mayweather guard. No idea why. Haven't done it before.

I don't remember what he said.

Trying to keep my cool.

Superman!

Hopefully this was a right hook.

If in doubt, resort to wrestling.

Loading up.

Super dooper double punch!

I'm pretty sure this went right through his head. Hax.

My poor ribs. I was actually worried he was going to break them a few days before I fly to Brazil (probably because everyone told me he would).

Me getting hit. Sadface.

Jabba jabba!

Fight photo with the sponsor. He looks pimp.

And here is the video:

My entrance was the oldschool Batman theme, and in the video you can hear my mom saying that she doesn't like me boxing haha.

Second Boxing Fight: The Outtakes

... Because it's hard to get punched in the face and not look like an idiot.

Mooowwwwahhhhh.

Mmmmm... nice hand.

Double knockout.

Look at his nose.

Because sometimes you just need a cuddle.

Inevitable fail.

Nom nom, glove.

I'll put the good pictures, and possibly video on soon.

Right now I am having my second boxing fight

Well actually, right now I am pacing around the dressing room, shadow boxing and getting in the zone, ready to walk out for the co-headlining fight. I am also f*cking bricking it.


In case you haven't guessed, this post has been pre-written, and scheduled for when the fight starts. I am fighting a guy at my gym who is seen by me, and a lot of others as being the best boxer there in our weight class. 5 months ago I was eager to go against him, to show that I can be the best, but after sparring him more and more I think he can outbox me. I am most worried not about losing, but about being made to look shit in front of hundreds of people.


As your blog-reading people won't be there to see the fight, here is a video of me sparring 3 short rounds with him previously. I really hope I do much better than this in the actual fight.

Wish me luck.

My Next Fight: Blood on the Canvas, 18th March

My next boxing match has been set up. Friday 18th March, in Oceana, a big nightclub in Birmingham.

I am against Nigel Hood, an old school boxer who can quickly and easily get on the inside and unload a shite load of punches. I will have to train pretty hard to make sure I don't end up with any broken ribs.

Here is a video of him training on Saturday, with me watching, skipping in the background behind him.

Wish me luck!

January 2011 Boxing... I got punched

I thought I'd post a boxing video, since I haven't in a while. This is the last 30 seconds with me and a guy called Dan (who I think is really good). Part way through he draws me in, sits back, and then hits me as I attempt to counter punch.


I am in black and red.

So, must keep my left hand higher, and straighten out my punches.

I still might be having my next fight on March the 19th.

Tonights Boxing Fight

Yesterday morning I found out that the guy I was meant to be fighting has been rushed to hospital with a kidney infection, so I won't be going against him after all. I was offered a new opponent, but it is someone that I haven't sparred with before, and his style would require me to be really fit, and keep moving a lot. I wouldn't usually turn him down, but I didn't want to accept it on the grounds that there is a good chance I would lose, but deep down I know that if I had more than a week to train for the fight I would win.

I have said I will be a stand-in, and I have brought my boots and gum shield in case somebody backs out last minute. I am hoping I don't have to fight, and can watch the event with a couple of ciders instead.

Announced: Second Boxing Match

After fighting and winning in a boxing event in October (video and pics here) I had decided to skip the following show, and train hard and fight again in March. This would give me a bit of a break from the intense training, and allow me to become a better boxer. Over the last few weeks I have been trying to take on guys in the higher weight category, as that is my biggest weakness.

Yesterday it was confirmed that one of the guys fighting in the show has broken a few ribs in training, and I will be stepping in with 7 days notice to fight this Friday! Scary stuff. This time the fight will be in Oceana, another big club in Birmingham.

I have been training hard since the last fight, so my boxing skills are sufficient.. but my main worry is my fitness. The guy that I am going against is a pressure fighter, so I will be using a similar game plan to the last one, but going to have to conserve a lot of my energy.

Anyway. Wish me luck!! Here is the original poster, but with an edit I have just made:

Boxing: 6 Months of Sparring

I have now been sparring 6 months! Initially my aim was to just have a boxing fight, win or lose. Then my aim was to try and be the best under 168 pounds at the gym. I kind of have a new aim, but I want to see how I progress a bit.

Anyway, the training has been going really well, and I think I am getting better and better each time. More recently I tried to address my problem that I get owned by anyone that is bigger than me (due to me having the longest reach in my weight category), so I have been going to a different class, and sparring guys that are bigger than me.

The guy in this video is a really good boxer, and could pick me apart at any moment. He is mainly working on his defence and counter punching, and I am just trying to land shots on a guy that can hit me twice before I get close enough to hit him once.

I am hoping to have my second fight in March, and hopefully a third fight in the summer.

56) Have an MMA/Boxing fight, 118) Win A Boxing Match

It started with my 2010 New Years Resolutions, in which I said I wanted to start boxing, with the aim to spar competitively by next year. Then on 22nd February I joined the boxing gym. Things were looking up after my first week of boxing. By the 30th June I was sparring with almost full contact.

Then... on the 13th September I was told I had been selected for the next boxing show. I was nervous, and new it meant loads of training, and started taking it seriously, and when the poster was printed and put around Birmingham it felt a lot more real. One week before I was counting down the days.

Friday night was the big night. I was getting more and more nervous through the week, though was able to ignore the feelings mostly. Lots of training had gone in and I couldn't let myself down. My arm wasn't fully healed, so I was worried how it would hold up.

Andy, a heavyweight fighting, invited me and some of the others from our team to his place before to calm the nerves and meet up. When I got there I was a little bit relieved to see that I wasn't the only nervous one. While others queued for the toilet, I sat and watched Rocky III (the part where Apollo Creed is killed in the ring. Brilliant).

When we finally got to Gatecrasher the nerves had gone. I was ready to jump in the ring right away. I paced around the dressing room shadow boxing. I did some pad work, and waited until it was time.

I heard the announcer saying my name and measurements (of which he got my reach incorrect!! 74" instead of 71"!!). Then the music started. I think it was a good choice (watch the video below to hear). For those who don't know, its the Shawn Michaels WWF theme. I think it got some laughs.

I will upload the full fight at some point, I am waiting to get the DVD in the post.

When I watched the video back, it was like I was seeing it all for the first time. All I really remember from the fight is:

• Ed starting off really fast, and landing a lot cleaner and more powerful than I expected.

• My lip cutting in the first few punches and tasting blood the rest of the round.

• Thinking that every time I caught a combination I had to come back out of it swinging to get back a point.



• The bell going after the first round. Sitting down and having water sprayed in my face to try and get me focused again. Drinking the water instead of spitting.

• Going to touch gloves at the start of the second round, and Ed hitting me.

• The game-plan of stepping back and hitting with the right landing cleanly a couple of times.

• Feeling very, very tired, but Ed seeming as if he wasn't getting any slower.




• Knowing I couldn't keep catching hits like he was giving.

• Hearing my mom shout "you're winning", but not knowing if it was true.

• Ed's corner say less than a minute left, and knowing I had to keep hold of my potential lead.

At the end of the fight, I still had no idea if I won. I wanted to go back to the dressing rooms and get water. I only found out when I went out to speak to my mom and friends after. All of which I am very grateful for their cheering, which I could hear in the back of my mind during the fight.

Massive props to Ed. He was a very, very difficult opponent, who was beating me to the punches a lot of the time, and packing a lot of power with them, and at no point seemed to back down after getting hit.

A big thanks to all the people at Fighting Fit City Gym, including Neil Perkins, Paul Gough and Jamie Cahill for the training, the other boxers for their advice, and to my parents and friends who turned up to support me.

After months and months of training I have finally crossed off '56) Have an MMA/Boxing fight', with the added bonus of crossing off '118) Win a Boxing Match'.

I remember in year 4, my school put on a production of 'Bugsy Malone'. The 5 people I mainly hung around with were all cast to be boxers, and the teacher decided I should be a priest. Blatantly only to be nasty, but I think I got the last laugh there.

Fight Countdown: 2 Days

This week hasn't been good. On Saturday I got a massive b*llocking for going out drinking on the Friday night, a week before the fight. On Sunday I woke up aching all over, and with some sort of bite on my elbow. Throughout the day it hurt more and more, to the point that if it just brushes against anything it's agony.

Monday it hurt so much I considered going to the doctors, but decided not to. On Tuesday it still really hurt. I did some light pad work in the gym, but just lightly jabbing hurts a lot. If I have to block a body shot with my elbow I will cry.

Today is Wednesday, and there is no signs of the pain subsiding. Perfect timing. I phoned the doctors today and they said to phone back later to try and get an emergency appointment.

Regardless of what happens I will be going ahead with the boxing match, but it's going to be a lot more painful than I predicted.

One week until the Big Fight

On Friday I will be having my first boxing match, in front of 550 people (and completely sold out) in Birmingham's biggest club!

Originally I was going to be boxing a guy called Joe Phillips, but on Tuesday he had his rib broke while sparring. The week before another guy had to drop out, also in my weight class. This means that I have been matched with a new opponent, Edward Clark, a guy who started boxing around the same time as me, and a guy who I have been found drunk, raving in clubs with.

... but alas...

He is going down.

The training is going really well. I have started having private sessions with Neil Perkins, who was on the Sky Sports Contenders: Heavyweights III (that Audley Harrison won). I am working on my range, and boxing on the outside.

Wish me luck! And I am going to get really drunk after!

Andy vs Victims of Cancer

The last week I have been training hard. I usually don't put effort into things, but this I have. If I applied the same amount of effort to my College A Levels, I perhaps wouldn't have forgotten to turn up to 3 of my exams.

I have been trying to go to the gym twice a day, and the days I can only manage once I am cycling 7 miles. I am fully burnt out but trying to power onwards.

With that said, I noticed something on the website of the boxing gym, to do with the boxing event I will be participating in.

"There is a catch this time as Red Team will be representing Help for Hero's and the blue team representing Macmillan Cancer Support. Their will be a charity pot on the night (estimated to be £5,000) and the teams results will dictate how much of the pot is divided to each charity."

So basically... All my training is towards stopping cancer victims getting support. I can just picture it now, we will be exchanging punches, there will be a tense atmosphere, everyone on the edge of their seats to see the outcome... and I will look across at the crowd and catch the eye of a small, bald, wheelchair bound child, looking up at me with tears in his eyes.

Poster now plastered around Birmingham

(ps. I am on the second row)

56) Have an MMA/Boxing fight - The Countdown

On Monday 22nd February 2010 I joined a local boxing gym. On Friday 26th February I had had two personal sessions. By Wednesday 30th June I was sparring (though quite badly).

It is now Monday 13th September. I have been training for over 6 months, and have found out I will be having my first boxing match next month. It will be on the night of Friday the 8th of October in Birmingham's largest club, Gatecrasher.

Two weeks ago I had a spar between me and Joe videoed.

I had became quite confident with my style, and was using it as a good base to improve. This was until last week. On Tuesday I sparred against someone who had a similar reach to me, which was enough to neutralise any attack and defence I had and people were learning my weaknesses, and being able to land shots before I could react. On Saturday I sparred a much bigger guy, which showed me how badly I am at combos. The guy was really nice, and helped show me some new things.

I found out it is Joe (in the video) that I will be fighting next month.

Anyway, as of today I am going to take the training a lot more seriously in run up to the fight, to the point where I am even adding a new item to the list... '118) Win a boxing match'. I am going to stop drinking (I think) and try and enlist the help of friends to make it so I am doing training at least 4 days. I am going to completely change my style, as at the moment he knows exactly what to expect from me, and how to beat me. Hopefully I will be able to shock him.

I found this clip from the last show. The last thing I want is to be knocked out.

... Wish me luck...

Fouth Month Boxing (With Video)

It has now been 4 months since that first week of boxing, and I would like to think I have slightly improved. I am still finding it quite fun, though the amount of time it takes up, and the money, not to mention how often I am tired, is a bit of an issue.

I now try and spar every Tuesday. It is really good practice, and shows where I need to improve, which is mostly everywhere at the moment, but specifically throwing more jabs to put people off, and to keep eye contact when being caught in a combo.

At the weekend, in a private session, I had my legs tied together to make sure my stance doesn't widen too much. The trainer then videoed the sparring so I can see if it has improved. I thought I would upload one of the videos for your viewing pleasure.

I'm still one of the most inexperienced, being one of the only people not to have had a proper fight. Oh - and I am in the white and red.

March Review

It is April already. Wow. And yes, I know I said exactly the same last month, but it has gone really fast. Quite a bit has happened this month. The biggest thing, something I think has gone unnoticed by a lot of people, is that me and Melissa split up last week. Facebook official and stuff. I won't go into the reasons, but hopefully my blog shouldn't turn too emo because of it.

Anyway, in relation to the original new years resolutions, and my 100 things to do list:

Pros:

Got my website to connect to the database. Not difficult but I was being lazy.

Went to Stonehenge.

Completed the UKs longest hedge maze.

Explored a derelict building.

Visited Prague.

Cons:

Haven't cooked once.

Haven't looked at my finances. Is it a bit late to bother now?

Still haven't finished the first months book. Wow, I really should give up.

Haven't got any better at the drums.

Overall:

On paper it looks okay... though most of the pro's happened in the same day. I am going to try and have another adventure this month, or at least plan a load for May.

Aims for April:

Start sparing in boxing.

Go on 2 decent bike rides in preperation.

Cross one thing off the list.

Book another flight.

February Review

It is March already. This year is going very, very quickly. Before I know it I will be 200. Here is an update, referencing last months update:

Pros:

Joined the boxing gym

Downloaded a money management program

Able to play a few songs on Guitar Hero drums on expert

Had a good photoshoot

Still blogging!

Cons:

Haven't touched website

Haven't touched book

Haven't used money management program

Haven't started to learn IPA

Crossed nothing off the list

Haven't made a list of moral English companies

Only cooked once

Left £10 in the cash point (still bitter...)

Overall:

On paper February looked like a bit of a fail. I think it wasn't at all. February is a short month. If there was a 29th then I would have done loadssss more. Actually starting boxing is a big step to getting fit and crossing off 'have a boxing match'. Although I only cooked once I shall cook three times in March.

Aims for March:

- Get database to connect for the website (the only thing holding me back)

- Open money managing program and have a poke around

- Cook three times

- Keep going to boxing

- Cross one thing off list, dammit!

- Finish this damn book.

First Week Boxing

This week I joined the boxing gym. My first personal training session was on Tuesday. I went in knowing I need to work on my cardio, and came out really knowing I need to work on my cardio. He tested my fitness, and although he said I wasn't bad for my first time doing inteval work, I know I need to be a lot better before I can consider competing.

By the end of the hour, and after many breaks which I couldn't help, I was sweating like a bitch. I was worried about getting a migraine, as whenever I do exercise I manage to get one, but when I got home I didn't have one. For the first hour. Argh. Ruined my night.

My second session was on Thursday, with a guy who is an undefeated unlicensed boxer. He seemed really happy that I said my main aim was to get into sparing and eventually have proper fights. He said it is unusal for someone to want to do that up front, most go there for an alternative way to keep fit. I find that quite surprising, that is the very main appeal to me.

After working with him for a while, he said that if I keep at it, there is a chance I could be in the June event, but if not I should definetly be good enough to by September. This made me muchos happy.

They both taught me a lot about boxing stances that I hadn't learned in my 6 months at MMA (though most of that was spent doing kickboxing and muay thai). And thankfully I didn't have a migraine Thursday night.

Fulfiling my new years resolution is looking positive at the moment. The next time I am going in is Sunday for a mixed class. I am going to work on my cardio before I go too intensive on technique.