The Anticipation

Fighters who are excited about getting in the ring and trading leather still fear losing and getting hit. The cruel reality of boxing is that you are going to get hit. Fighters often get nervous and start feeling negative (due to pressure of performing their best, not losing). Whether it’s your first fight or tenth fight, the nerves, and the anxiety is tough to control. You beat yourself up before your adversary even gets to you. You must be  able to concentrate on the positive. The more you concentrate on your abilities and how prepared you are will give you the confidence you need to perform at your best. You can’t influence how your rival performs, you can just influence how YOU perform. So concentrate on yourself.  Quit sizing up  different fighters, and comparing your skills and record with them. Believe in your training and your abilities and don’t let anxiety prevent you from achieving your goals.

Cus D’Amato, the renowned coach of champions Mike Tyson, Floyd Patterson and others, once said, “The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero uses his fear, projects it onto his opponent, while the coward runs. It’s the same thing, fear, but it’s what you do with it that matters.”