Nerdcore Boxing

Boxer’s Start-Up: A Beginner’s Guide to Boxing (Start-Up Sports series)

I’ve read a number of how to boxing books and by far this is my favorite. Boxing books can be written for many different levels of boxing, some I think are a waste of time if you’re working with a reputable trainer. This book however has the depth and quality of coverage that beginners, intermediate and advanced fighters can benefit from.

Some boxing books you read and only get a few tips to improve your game. A quality boxing book can be read over and over, each time gaining new insight to aid your progress. This is definitely a boxing book that I’ve picked up 5 or 6 times during the course of my training and each time used it to add something new to my game.

Boxing Mastery covers all the topics a boxing book should: stance, punching, defense, training aids, combinations, counter punching, etc. It also covers more advanced techniques such as pivoting, waltzing, feinting, drawing and strategy.

I’ll have to buy Mark Hatmaker’s MMA striking book, No Holds Barred Fighting: Savage Strikes: The Complete Guide to Real World Striking for NHB Competition and Street Defense, and review it in the future.

In closing I really think Boxing Mastery is one of the best books out there to really get to the next level in your understanding of the Sweet Science. Go purchase it on Amazon.

I weighed in at 176 lbs today, 1 pound below last week. I was hoping for 175, but I’m still pleased.

I also got in 40 mins of cardio, lifted weights and did 6-8 rounds of bag work. Bag work involved:

• The 300 punch drill
• The Dempsey cage drill (deep crouch)
• Practiced countering jabs with straight rights
• Worked on the 1-2-3 (jab, cross, left hook), focusing on smoothly and rapidly transitioning from the right to the left hook.
• Focused on rotating hips
• Did a round of pivots/bumps

I’m still being frustrated by one particular style of boxer: guys that box out of the philly shell (lead hand low, slightly sideways stance), fighting off their back foot, swaying back and rolling my punches while counter punching. One of my trainers is very adept at this style.

When sparring against this style, I circle away from the power throwing jabs and following up with straight rights when I can. Because they fight off the rear foot and sway back I have to double and triple up on my jabs to reach him while he sways back. During this jab fest his left hook is often used to counter me so I have to keep my rear hand up and stay upright.

The problem is I make a giant predictable circle around my opponent. This makes me tired and allows my opponent to cut off the ring and lead me into his right hand. I generally do well for 1 and a half rounds, get tired, then get beaten up by this style.

I’m going to spend some time watching film of boxers defeating or doing well against this style. I’ll watch some of James Toney’s (above) more successful opponents, I’ll also watch Chavez/Roger Mayweather and maybe some others.

So I missed posting for a few days.

Thursday I did my cardio and some shadow boxing, that was about it.

Friday I went to class, but missed out on my cardio. Worked heavily on rotating during my punches and slipping punches. I feel like I made a breakthrough in my footwork and punch range.

I also got in 3 rounds of sparring against a smaller but real quick opponent. It went real well. I was parrying, catching punches, counterpunching and landing 3-4 punch combos. Defenses were sound, I slipped lots of punches and caught a lot on my forearms and gloves. I pulled off a few relatively advanced techniques:

• I threw and landed 1-2 combos while back pedaling during my opponents charging attack.
• During infighting I pivoted out to get an angle and landed combos where my opponent couldn’t reach me.