Fight Club By Stephen Allen

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Nobody told me I should do boxing. It was only my cousin Gavin who told me about the St Paul's Boxing Club when I was eleven. Gavin took me down there the first time. I didn't know what to expect. As we pulled up I saw a small brick building, with a blue sign saying St Paul's Boxing. It wasn't fancy and high-tech, the stale sweat smell of the gym hit me as I walked in. Mick, the head-trainer, greeted me. I didn't know what to say the first time I saw him. Mick wasn't tall or especially big, a sort of normal boxing build. I remember he was sound and made me feel at ease.

My training started then, at two times a week. I would use the speedball - skipping - harder than it looks; shadow boxing - standing in front of the mirror and imagining an opponent, to practice techniques; and the training ball, a heavy ball that can used for many exercises. Before I could do sparring I needed to hone my technique. Mick made sure I trained for several months before I did sparring. You don't want someone with a fast punch sparring with someone with a slow punch, or someone with a left-handed fighting style sparring with someone with a right-handed style. What style do I use? I train in both. It depends on the situation which style I use.

My first fight needed me to use both styles. I had been training three years and was now waiting in the changing rooms for the qualifier bout. Focusing in that changing room was something I find difficult to describe - I told myself I was going to win; for the first time I can remember I was 100% about what I was going to do.

In the back of mind there was always the doubt that I wouldn't do well, that I would let down my boxing club. But always I told myself I could win. Ready or not, get your arse out there now, an older trainer put his head round the door. Let's box. I can't remember his name now, but he was a boxer who had been in boxing all his life.

Walking outside there was a large crowd, large enough for the size of the gym. My eyes saw a swarm standing as I walked through the middle of them. Every seat was taken. The buzz of the crowd was filling me, I could feel the atmosphere. My opponent was standing in the ring already, trying to psyche me out. We made eye-contact. He was over 6', trying to intimidate me. I didn't break eye contact. Bear in mind I'm 5' 7" I needed to keep focussed. I knew, however, that he weighed the same as me, 11 stone.

Climbing into the ring I knew I'd psyched him out. He broke eye contact first. I knew he was scared, of what I could do. I was scared also, but I was focussed, standing in the ring for the first time in two weeks. From my first ever fight. Just standing in the ring you can imagine the people cheering even though it wasn't fight night. You can feel the tension all around the room. In a few moments the bell rang.

Now I couldn't hear any specific sound except the referee and the crowd cheering. My heart was beating so much I'm sure the person next door could hear it. My punch was the first thrown. It landed cleanly on the side of his head. The crowd might have cheered for that first punch, I wasn't listening. My left fist came round naturally to follow, hitting him as well.

We sparred from then on. A few punches thrown by him, a few punches by me. The first round ended. I was buzzing at the end of the first round. I wasn't out of breath, and ready for the next round. I sprang from my stool and went straight into him. At some point he hit me with a strong punch. Although I felt dazed, I snapped out of it immediately.

Continued...Next Page

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