Tips For Your First Boxing Fight
Stepping into the ring for the first time is like taking the first step onto the moon. You have a rough idea of how to float like a butterfly and hope you can sting like a bee, but until you are facing your first real opponent and ducking and diving real blows, you’ll have only a faint idea of what to expect. Even so, like anyone facing something new you can help yourself through the pre-match nerves with a little mental and physical preparation. Here are a few boxing tips that can help the first time boxer face an opponent in the ring confidently to resist hitting the ropes or throwing in the towel.
1. Don’t Get Nervous
Allowing nervousness to get the better of you saps your strength to work on controlling your nerves before a fight and focus on keeping yourself calm. Nervousness is often a result of a lack of training or self-confidence and sometimes a fear of crowds too. Try to identify the root cause of your nervousness and work proactively on overcoming it. Adopting a pre-fight routine can help center you on positive energies. Instead of getting afraid to accept the challenge open heartedly assure yourself that winning is not an absolute necessity and prepare yourself mentally to accept a possible defeat as well. These tips will help you get rid of pre-fight nervousness and keep you motivated.
2. Never Exhaust Your Body
Your strength, endurance, mentality, and agility are the key factors that are tested in your boxing fight. You have to be fit mentally and physically and full of energy to win. To maintain and retain your strength for boxing matches the pro tip is to not exhaust your body with excessive training. Intense training immediately before the actual match will drain energy and leave your body less focused and alert on the day of the fight. Limit your practicing regime to a few essential exercises for a shorter duration at least two weeks before the fight and store excess energy for the actual match. Keep repeating the basic core workout like jump rope, speedball, and using the punching bags in the days ahead of the fight to prepare your muscles for the boxing match and maximize your chances of winning.
3. Train Your Mind
Training of mind is as essential as training your body. A positive mental attitude contributes significantly to your physical health. If you are confident about yourself and your ability your performance improves dramatically. Train your mind for a winning attitude and ensure you are capable of winning. Boost your inner confidence by repeating positive phrases to stay motivated. The use of such affirmations has been proven to work and increase self-confidence and success.
You should also take ample rest and sleep before your fight day. This will help your body repair and regain strength and keep your brain sharp and healthy. A healthy active mind has a profound role in winning the fights. Relax your mind before the fight by listening to music or watching light videos. Distract attention away from negative thoughts by keeping yourself busy with some great food or the company of some motivating pal. Staying positive and being mentally prepared is essential for rocking the ring.
4. Equip Yourself
Buy all the necessary equipment and update your boxing kit before landing in the ring. If you are associated with a boxing club you can get a detailed list of all the required equipment for boxing and there will be no chances of missing the essentials. Your boxing club can also assist you by offering trial sessions with a sparring partner of your caliber. This will prepare you for your first fight and boost your confidence and morale. Remember you have to be careful about causing any injuries to your fellow boxers and mindful about their safety. They are not your actual opponents but are there to facilitate your training only.
5. Warm Up Your Body Before the Match
Warming up is an essential part of all sports and is crucial before fights. Warming up prepares your body for intense activity by increasing the oxygen supply to the muscles. A quick set of stretches and shadowbox a few minutes before entering the ring will activate all your body muscles and bring them in an operational state.
A good warm-up workout will help your body avoid injuries and the risk of fractures and sprains due to inactive joints and muscles. It turns on the functional mode of your entire body to activate reflexes to reduce the chance of getting injured easily during a jerk or sudden twist.
It is essential to finish your warm-up exercise a few minutes before entering the ring and allow your body to cool down a little to avoid muscle exhaustion. Avoid exerting too much energy during the warm-up as this will use the energy that was stored for the fight.
6. Preparing For The Match Day
Gear up all your boxing equipment and check all your essentials before leaving for the match. Some must have things on the match day are:
- A proper boxing kit including boxer shorts, appropriate boxing shoes, and warm socks.
- Complete boxing kit including mouth gear, headgear, boxing gloves, a protector for foul, hand wraps, gauze, and knuckle pads. This equipment is essential for your personal safety to protect you from fatal injury in case of a hard blow. Sports tape is handy too and can be added to the kit.
- Always keep a first aid box with you for emergency situations.
- Carry towels for drying up your body.
- Vaseline and sunscreens can be taken as extras with you.
- Sports bottle with plenty of Drink plenty a few hours before the fight to detox your body and then limit the fluid intake just before the actual fight. Take small sips only for keeping your body hydrated.
- Carry quick energy booster snack with you but don’t eat much. Don’t enter the ring with a full stomach as it may make you nauseous and impact your performance. Take your last meal at least two hours before the fight and take a snack as a quick top up energy booster.
Conclusion
If you know you’ve done all you can to prepare your body to win, preparing your mind is the next logical step. A positive frame of a mind and a can-do attitude combined with a good night’s sleep really will sharpen your reflexes for landing the punches where you want them to go and keep you clear of those heading towards you. With good food, warm-ups and the right equipment you will stand a good chance of lasting to the final bell to finish your first bout with the satisfaction of the job well done.
