Page 141 - Doug Werner Boxer's Start-Up

Journal

It’s ridiculous BUT THAT CAN’T BE ME!

– here I am 1-6-98: Lesson #39
Al video tapes our session today from
boxing and bag to sparring.Quick looks after each
round reveal ugliness ...God, I’m slow!
getting so Look how I drop my hands! I’m a
bum! ... cheez ...
mad I wanna
hit something Sparring is fun.I dance while Al stalks.
We go four rounds. By the third he’s
– but I can’t. throwing his padded right hand as
well as the gloved left. I slip a few ...
it’s not a bad showing. But every now
and then I let up and my confidence goes.I start watching his hands
and hesitate to throw. I shake my head and force myself to hang in
there.

Later in the Day ...
Time to really look at the tapes ...
After first review:
1) I need to pick up the pace, especially with the jab.
2) My hands are too low. They drop when I get tired.
3) I’m still too predictable. I need to work on mixing up my
movements --- offensive and defensive.
4) I need to throw more punches during the sparring work
--- especially the right hand.
5) I still paw and lean back a little.
6) In general I need to work on the side-to-side stuff and develop
quicker movements.
7) My left hook has a wind-up --- needs to be thrown from guard.
8) My one-twos need a stronger, more full jab.

HEAVY DUES 1-13-98: Lesson #42
After four rounds on the pillar, Al puts on two gloves and inserts a
mouthpiece.We’re gonna spar.

I ask where’s your headgear and he says I don’t need it.Well, OK.

Like the first time, it takes me a minute or two just to stop from
racing around. I get so tense! I try to come in with some jabs, but it

140