[David Bolton]

First of all thanks to Sonny for deleting my old workout logs, allowing me to create a new one.

WHERE I TRAIN
I train at a boxing gym which is in a garage at my trainers house. Not exactly a posh gym, but it gets the job done. We have at the moment, 5 amatuers, 2 pro's and 2 trainers. We have gloves, pads, two heavybags, a double end bag, makeshift ring for sparring and assorted weights and skipping ropes. It is not a very large gym so there is not much space. We train very hard and there are good fighters at this gym to spar. I spar with two amateurs, one a tall quick boxer and another a short brawler and a pro who recently had a draw with the Australian champion. Our sparring sessions are always hard, as is every training session. At the moment our gym is closed but should be open again soon.

About my two trainers. One of them trains me most of the time, whilst the other just watches from a distance occasionally (and fine tunes me). My main trainer is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He trains me hard but cares about who I fight and how I am feeling. My other trainer is a tough bastard who trains us really hard as well. Always has a beer in his hand and has a wicked sense of humour. He's opinion of skip-rope for rounds is hilarious and jokes about a lot of other funny shit. I will quote some of it in my log. With both these trainers I beleive I can go far in amateur boxing, and maybe even pro.

ABOUT ME
I am a 6 foot tall, 80kg (approx) counterpuncher/boxer who has natural punching power. This year my trainer/s has been working a lot on my hand speed. He says I hit very hard but lack speed. When we ended just before christmas they said that I have got the fitness, but it is just a matter of fine tuning a couple of things (technique, defense and handspeed). He also has said another weakness of mine is I don't take body punches very well (althogh it was improving), so I really need to harden up my stomach.

MY PLANS FOR THIS YEAR
Have a lot of fights this year and if I am ready, compete at the Australian titles at the end of next year. To start off I need to get down to middleweight (75kg), and stay there. I think i would be weak any lower than that. Shoudn't take long if I run a lot. i would also like to improve the things I mentioned above.

I will add some videos and photos down the track and I appreciate anybody who offers advice/critisiscm in my quest to become a champion boxer...

Cheers

[dexbot]

Good luck man!

[David Bolton]

Thank you sir

[David Bolton]

BTW I will probably not lift weights until I get down to my target weight. Just in case anybody is wondering. I can't afford ANY muscle gain.....

[King Kabuki]

I remember you asking me Boxing questions a long time ago, and now you're training with actual Pros? Good job.

How is the Boxing scene out in Australia? I read an interview recently with Katsidis, and he was describing it as pretty bleak. Like right now he's one of Australia's best and his fights are hardly ever even televised out there, or advertised. Then with Anthony Mundine ruining his eye, Sam Soliman too high in weight and losing fights (though I imagine he's benefited from being on The Contender as far as fame goes), and Jeff Fenech pleading guilty to thievery which will no-doubt hurt his credibility as a trainer, it doesn't bode well.

Though through all of that shit I'm sure Sakio Bika's success on The Contender might revitalize things a bit since he's got a good story and despite being Cameroonian, he bases himself in Australia.

[David Bolton]

I remember you asking me Boxing questions a long time ago, and now you're training with actual Pros? Good job.

Thanks. Yeah I remember sending you a few questions about roadwork a while back. I asked a question in your training log recently about Gerald tucker, but you didn't answer lol. Your training logs have actually changed me from HIIT training to more distance roadwork. And the benefits have been superb. I have known Ross Enamait for a while now and he gives me some good advice in regards to training. Yes, training with the pro's has improved me a LOT. They beat the shit out of me at first but now I have earned their respect.

How is the Boxing scene out in Australia? I read an interview recently with Katsidis, and he was describing it as pretty bleak. Like right now he's one of Australia's best and his fights are hardly ever even televised out there, or advertised. Then with Anthony Mundine ruining his eye, Sam Soliman too high in weight and losing fights (though I imagine he's benefited from being on The Contender as far as fame goes), and Jeff Fenech pleading guilty to thievery which will no-doubt hurt his credibility as a trainer, it doesn't bode well.

Yes, he is correct. It is pretty bleak. Mundine and Green are the two big names in the country at the moment. Green and mundine haven't done much since they fought each other last. You should look out for a fighter named Daniel Geale. He won a very convincing victory over Daniel Dawson recently. He is on the way up and could make something of himself on the world scene. Only concern is that Jeff Fenech is his trainer. He was a world champion and shit, but I don't beleive he is the right trainer to take Geale to the top.

Though through all of that shit I'm sure Sakio Bika's success on The Contender might revitalize things a bit since he's got a good story and despite being Cameroonian, he bases himself in Australia

Yes, I agree.

[King Kabuki]

Thanks. Yeah I remember sending you a few questions about roadowrk a while back. I asked a question in your training log recently about Gerald tucker, but you didn't answer lol. Your training logs have actually changed me from HIIT training to more distance roadwork. And the benefits have been superb. I have known Ross Enamait for a while now and he gives me some good advice in regards to training. Yes, training with the pro's has improved me a LOT. They beat the shit out of me at first but now I have earned their respect.

Awesome. Earning respect in the Gym among Pros is one of the best feelings I've ever had from Boxing. Even though my goal has been to go Pro, and they treat me like one of them already, I still always felt like a bit of a hobbyist UNTIL I started routinely sparring with them (which was within the first month at Top Rank). It elevates your perspective on the Sport, and galvanizes your resolve both in and out of the Ring I feel.

And on the distance cardio, it's funny you mention that because when I went to Florida to train with my MMA friend Jacob, he does mostly HIIT oriented stuff and he gassed out MUCH quicker in our training sessions than I did. I reiterated to him that distance is necessary because it conditions your breathing for exerting effort over long periods of time. When we sparred one of the things he said was tough was that I never stopped moving. After a chuckle I recommended he get his roadwork back up from only 2-3 days a week.

Yes, he is correct. It is pretty bleak. Mundine and Green are the two big names in the country at the moment. Green and mundine haven't done much since they fought each other last. You should look out for a fighter named Daniel Geale. He won a very convincing victory over Daniel Dawson recently. He is on the way up and could make something of himself on the world scene. Only concern is that Jeff Fenech is his trainer. He is a world champion and shit, but I don't beleive he is the right trainer to take Geale to the top.

Yeah Jeff has always been a bit of a headcase, and Katsidis isn't much different what with his breaking people's faces in public. lol Though I believe him when he says it's largely in self-defense, still when you involve yourself with shit like that or hang around in those scenes, that's what happens.

What Australia needs is for Kostya to either train some high profile Fighters, or get more directly involved in the Sport with either the Olympic Team, or some kind of facility or Promotional venture. I know Mundine has his own promotion, but with his political antics he's as hated as he is accepted.

[David Bolton]

Awesome. Earning respect in the Gym among Pros is one of the best feelings I've ever had from Boxing. Even though my goal has been to go Pro, and they treat me like one of them already, I still always felt like a bit of a hobbyist UNTIL I started routinely sparring with them (which was within the first month at Top Rank). It elevates your perspective on the Sport, and galvanizes your resolve both in and out of the Ring I feel.

Yeah, it is a great feeling. Training under the bodysnatcher himself must be special for you man. Along with seeing guys like Roger Mayweather and Chad Dawson. Pro boxers are some of the hardest training athletes in the world. Roger Mayweather is one guy you wouldn't want to piss of though lol.

And on the distance cardio, it's funny you mention that because when I went to Florida to train with my MMA friend Jacob, he does mostly HIIT oriented stuff and he gassed out MUCH quicker in our training sessions than I did. I reiterated to him that distance is necessary because it conditions your breathing for exerting effort over long periods of time. When we sparred one of the things he said was tough was that I never stopped moving. After a chuckle I recommended he get his roadwork back up from only 2-3 days a week.

I don't know what it is, but distance running is like magic for boxing. My recovery between rounds is fantastic when I incorporating distance. And it turns your legs to steel. I have heard it all in regards to distance running being worthless (muscle catobolism, reduced strength etc), but it usually comes from people who have never run more than 5 miles in their life. They hear it from some 'expert' and then believe it to be true.

What Australia needs is for Kostya to either train some high profile Fighters, or get more directly involved in the Sport with either the Olympic Team, or some kind of facility or Promotional venture. I know Mundine has his own promotion, but with his political antics he's as hated as he is accepted

Yeah, hopefully that happens. I don't know what Kostya is doing these days. The pro at our gym has actually trained with mundine beofre. He said the gym was like some Disco nightclub lol. Mundine had a HUGE stereo in the middle of his gym and all these flashy lights. He also said that there was about 5 camera man taping him while he was putting his boxing shoes on. Crazy.

[David Bolton]

There will be no training for me today. I want to work out a few things in regards to my training routine. It is okay though, I have the luxury of taking a day off at the present time. I have a video somewhere on this computer of one of my fights (the last round of it). I might post it if I find it, along with a few pics from a fight/s.

[King Kabuki]

Did you want a Fighter Tag? If you've competed already you probably should have one, especially if your presence here does anything at all to bring life to Boxing or any Combat Sport in Australia.