The Noble Art

At the start of March in 2010, I weighed 24st, or in American, 336lbs, I knew I had to do something to change and I took the decision to walk into a boxing gym. It’s now November of 2011 and I weigh 14st 6lbs (202lbs American). I can credit boxing with that but it doesn’t really tell the whole story. I couldn’t say everything in one post as it is but I am going to go into more depth here.

I like 2 sports, namely football and boxing. The football I grew up living and the boxing I had handed down to me from my grandparents and stepfather. I would avidly read books about the famous fighters of yesteryear and I would eagerly wait up till the early hours of the morning to watch the big fights and especially those of my childhood heroes Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

For the obvious reasons of sloth and gluttony (thankfully I’m not a Catholic!) as a teenager and adult I reached the size I did. Looking back now, I would overeat out of boredom and to make myself feel better. I would guzzle things like family sized bags of crisps and wash them down with 2ltr bottles of full fat Coca Cola. I would devour kebabs and chips and on more than the one occasion I would monster 2 18” pizzas, garlic bread, family sized desserts and chicken wings from Pizza Hut. Once I had started in the gym, I swapped gradually and am now eating porridge or toast for breakfast, perhaps a salad for lunch and grilled chicken breasts with rice for dinner. I still eat crap now but it’s not everyday.

So when I did go into the gym for the first time, I asked the owner if I was wasting my time there, if they could do anything for me. I was made right at home and to be honest with you, that’s what made it for me. People would encourage me and I was never made to feel like a joke for being there. After a time, maybe 3 months or so, the room in the gym I used would get busy so I wandered into the room next door and that’s where John , one of the coaches, took me under his wing. Without wanting to seem gushing, if John hadn’t made the time he still does for me, to bring me on, then I don’t know if I would have stayed there. His coaching style, is 90% boll locking whilst instructing you and 10% praise. The thing is, the 10% of praise is worth each and every drop of sweat, every bit of blood shed. I realise that I am training for myself, to get my fight but now I can see that I am also doing it to make John proud. I do get frustrated when I don’t get things quite right straight away but when I do crack the thing that’s been irritating me then it’s brilliant. There’s nothing as satisfying as hearing that special noise when you land a punch properly or when you have a good sparring session.

I’ve got the first goal I set for myself in losing weight. I’ve dropped 12 inches off my waist as well as going down 4 sizes in shirts. I’m getting ancillary benefits such as a wider choice of clothes, increased confidence and more success with the ladies. I’ve made friends I never would have before and I’ve been to boxing shows all over the south east. At a home show, back in November of last year I was called up to the ring and was awarded a trophy for all my hard work. I honestly don’t think I can express quite how much that meant to me. My ultimate objective though is to get matched for a fight and that’s getting closer and closer now. I am confident it will happen and I do have the butterflies in the stomach when I think about it but I do want to get in there and smash my opponent. Boxing has gotten right under my skin, it occupies my thoughts and on occasion my dreams. I have to sacrifice a few things but the sheer glory of fighting will be worth it.