Anxious/excited/unsure golden gloves Chicago

[FrostyUSMC]

CLIFFS:
very new to boxing
supposed to fight in golden gloves 5 months from now
feeling some pressure
anxious to spar but unsure how well I'll do
trainers see something in me.. but I don't know what.


I started boxing about 4 weeks ago now, and I've picked up on a lot of things kinda quickly. I'm already in good shape, so I was mainly just looking for a new sport to get into since I'm done with football. After these past few weeks of starting out, it looks like my trainer sees some potential in me. When we were training on the heavy bag he called out my name and told me I'll be fighting in the Golden Gloves tournament this year.

At first, my mind was like "GOLDEN GLOVES? Is he serious??". Then he asked me if I'd like that, and I said sure, I can't wait. Going to the gym is the highlight of my day now. I'm excited, learning new things every day, but something in the back of my head is telling me "Do you really deserve this? Is it too soon for you?" There are other people who have been training for years and will be fighting in this tourny. I JUST STARTED, and I'm supposed to be fighting in it too? Part of me thinks that my trainers may change their mind and not allow me to fight. I have yet to get any sparring in, but I guess that's normal since I've only done this for about a month. My coach says he'll get me to spar with some trainers soon, and I'll have plenty of time to prepare since the GG is still 5 months away.

I'm willing to put in 110% effort in and out the gym. I'll work harder than I've ever worked for anything else in my life. I guess I'm just wondering what are you're thoughts about this? Is it too soon for me, is it possible for me to do well if I put out in the gym? One of the trainers told me conditioning for golden gloves starts this Saturday.. it's going to be a lot of roadwork and some of the hardest training I've ever had, and that a lot of people quit. I know I'll never quit though.

Also some stats:
17 yo
5"11
168lbs
10% bf

[MeBig]

You'll be fighting in the novice gloves....don't sweat it, it's gonna be other noobs like you, but probably more out of shape.

[anubismcdeath]

Originally Posted by FrostyUSMC

CLIFFS:

trainers see something in me

I've picked up on a lot of things kinda quickly.

Going to the gym is the highlight of my day now. I'm excited, learning new things every day,

I'm willing to put in 110% effort in and out the gym. I'll work harder than I've ever worked for anything else in my life.
it's going to be a lot of roadwork and some of the hardest training I've ever had, and that a lot of people quit. I know I'll never quit though.

Keep slugging man, you answered your own questions. You have exactly the right mentality to succeed in boxing or whatever else you choose. Even if you lose your first time out, don't let it defeat you. You can't teach the hunger that you have.

[The Fan Man]

It's kind of similar to the first time you put on pads on the football field. After you get hit a few times, you'll be thinking 'this isn't so bad'. It'll be a fun few months as you see the progression week by week.

[MC Paul Barman]

Great to hear, Frosty.
Stick with it and keep us posted with how things are going.

Don't be frustrated if your first sparring sessions don't go that great (who knows, maybe they will). I let that frustration eat me up back when I was about your age (1996) and walked away from trying to pursue anything with boxing. Very few days go by that I don't regret at least riding it out and trying to overcome that feeling of failure.

Best of luck & God bless.

[FreshPrince]

I've been attending the last few Chicago Golden Gloves. I was training to fight in them last year and broke my ankle. I'm going to fight in the 2010 tournament. It's a cool event to watch, but I can see how it can be intimidating, especially if you haven't had many fights.

The Golden Gloves is a lot of guys version of running a marathon. They set a goal, and acomplish it. They don't set out to be world beaters, they just want the experience of it one time. You won't be the least experienced, I've seen guys who looked like they're right off the street and have never hit a bag. Good luck to you.

[FrostyUSMC]

Thanks for the support guys. I'll keep everything posted on how my training will go. So far, the main issue for me is staying relaxed. My coach says I'm too tensed, I just need to relax a bit more. Today was a great session though, I felt like my punches and footwork were smooth and effortless, very little tense at all.

I think it's a habit that I tighten up my shoulders just from having more muscle mass or from being explosive in football. I feel like I need to tighten up like I had when I went to tackle someone. Hopefully old habits will die fast in this case =/

[krusher]

I am interested in trying novice as well next year. I do have a question on gear, don't they always want to match up blue vs red, how do you know what color to get. Or is this a stupid question haha.

[mschatz]

Originally Posted by krusher

I am interested in trying novice as well next year. I do have a question on gear, don't they always want to match up blue vs red, how do you know what color to get. Or is this a stupid question haha.

They will match you up after weigh-ins, and the schedule will tell you red or blue.

[Corrosion]

Don't be that nervous, you'll be in the novice division, with guys that have under ten fights.

Start sparring ASAP and try to get in the best shape possible.