Training Diary: Week 6.1

"IF YOU want the rainbow you got to put up with the rain."

You know which "philosopher" said that? Dolly Parton. And people say she's just a...

Anyway. It pretty much sums up my week of boxing. 

After feeling like hanging up my gloves on Sunday night after my battering in the ring I decided tonight will be a fresh start. Things couldn't get much worse anyway.

Tonight we started with five rounds of shadow boxing. Tiring but it really does show how fit I have got in the past two months. 

I used to struggle to do a round, now I can comfortably do five. However this means nothing when you get into the ring as I will come onto...

After this I was once again taken to one side and spent the next 50 minutes or so sparring... absolutely knackering. 

But to my horror I was once again facing the boxer - or as I have christened him Ivan Drago - who destroyed me on Sunday.

This time Crain was in my corner giving me tips and luckily he was told to take it and not throw much back. 

Its all about building up my confidence and getting out that inner beast which I am desperate to find. And I think tonight he made an appearance. 

I unloaded using my jab, ducking, weaving and trying to connect that right hook.

I landed a few but it was about getting aggressive.

I also learnt that I need to control my punch rate as I went in all guns blazing and was kanckered after 30 seconds. And the nerves of the night won't help if I cannot pace myself.

I also keep dropping my left hand once I have thrown a jab which leave me exposed to a counter jab or left hook which I need to sort out. 

After two rounds I then did some lighter sparring with Ben, who is a similar size and ability, for 10 minutes or so. 

We have been sparring together since we started and both noticed a big improvement in each other. 

It was pretty close as Ben is great at blocking so we both got a lot out. I handed a sweet jab on his nose but we got me - as expected - with a good left hook on the chin which I am still feeling now (in my right ear surprisingly, must of jarred it).

Thinking it was over I was then thrown into the ring again to sparr with someone new. He was a bit bigger than me but I had the speed and  just kept stepping in, firing a couple of jabs, and stepping out. Got hit a few times but definitely felt a lot better and feeling more confident now. 

This will be my last update for 10 days or so as I am in Norway doing altitude training. Im going to keep on the shadow boxing though to try and make keeping my left hand covering my face a natural reaction.