Up to a couple of months ago, I trained only once or twice a week, and strictly for fun. And I still smoked, drank heavily and generally did bad things.
Until recently then, it’s fair to say I was a way off what you'd call physically fit.
The smoking is over. The drinking too, mostly. But I still have a way to go on the fitness front and, honestly, right now I can't take a punch for shit.
Added to my handicaps, I'm a sensitive soul and somewhat cautious by nature. And I tend to over-think stuff. None of these are the traits of a natural fighter!
And yet, despite all this, on April 20th 2012 I’m stepping in the ring at the famous York Hall in Bethnal Green, before an assembled audience of family and friends, plus a bunch of drunken strangers baying for blood, to box some random girl...
It's probably not going to end all that well.
Nonetheless, here is where I'm loosely documenting how one prepares for such a spectacle....
And fingers crossed that this story has a happier conclusion than the Hilary Swank film.
I am 35 years old and I have fought in an amateur boxing bout.
Who’d ever have thought I’d be able to make such a statement?
When first asked (back in October 2011) if I wanted to train for this experience, my immediate reaction was: no fucking way, but thanks. Why would anyone volunteer to get hit in the face? You’d have to be crazy….
But gradually, over a few weeks of telling friends and expecting them to agree with me, instead I got talked into it. This could be a once in a lifetime type of experience. See it as an opportunity even! Really, what do you have to lose?
It turns out I didn’t lose anything that I didn’t want, unconsciously, to be well rid of anyway - namely fat, fears, fags and lethargy.
What I’ve gained is awesome too. I’m kind of an athlete now, pretty much. That still doesn’t quite fit with my residual self-image, but in practical terms, it’s true. How funny.
I’m still a sensitive soul, for sure. But I’m much more confident than I ever was before all this, and generally a bit calmer, more reasonable and balanced.
And I can definitely take a punch now too.
I entered the ring at the famous York Hall, ‘home of British boxing’, before an assembled audience of family and friends, plus a bunch of drunken strangers baying for blood, and I boxed some random girl. And I more than held my own. In fact (we think), I won. This adventure did end well, after all. Amazing.
So, what next?
Well, I think (finally) I might have found my ‘thing’ with this boxing business. But I know I can do better. That’s why I passionately want to have another go.
The plan is to take on a second fight, in the autumn. Hopefully you’ll be able to come and cheer me on….
In the meantime, thanks so much for reading this. It was fun to write. I hope you enjoyed it too.
The end x
Oh and, just for the record, I actually only watched the movie ‘Million Dollar Baby’ properly, for the first time, the night before my fight. And, I’ve got to say, I hated it! So relentlessly slow and depressing. Really awful. Sorry Clint.
1st May 2012
