Psychology of a journeyman

[lefty]

I know this forum has got a lot of ex pro's on it and people just in the know in the sport generally- however, i'm particularly interested in hearing from either current or ex journeymen of the sport.......

What i'm interested in is how you enter into fights pretty much knowing you're going to lose? The reason i'm curious is because boxing isn't like other sports whereby if you lose, then well you lose but that's it. In boxing or any combat sport for that matter, there's a good chance if you lose, you could end up taking a real pasting and getting hurt.

The psychology of that is interesting to me because it takes a lot of balls to get into a ring even if you're confident that you're going to win so I can't imagine (as a non fighter) what it's like trying to prepare yourself to enter the ring pretty much knowing deep down you're going to lose!

Anyway, I hope this isn't a daft question and thanks!

[Stuarty]

I've always said boxing is more about mentality and preparation than it is about talent. If you go in to the ring in survival mode and you have a bit about you then you'll more than likely survive. There are a few journeymen that can quite clearly fight a bit. A lot of them would've left the ring thinkzing 'I should've beaten him there'. William Warburton is a good boxer and knows the ropes.

[lefty]

I've always said boxing is more about mentality and preparation than it is about talent. If you go in to the ring in survival mode and you have a bit about you then you'll more than likely survive. There are a few journeymen that can quite clearly fight a bit. A lot of them would've left the ring thinkzing 'I should've beaten him there'. William Warburton is a good boxer and knows the ropes.

Yeah that's a fair point. It must be tough mentally to enter into a fight knowing there's a strong chance you're going to lose and could also get knocked out aswell. Must take a lot of mental strength.

[reggaereggae]

I've always said boxing is more about mentality and preparation than it is about talent. If you go in to the ring in survival mode and you have a bit about you then you'll more than likely survive. There are a few journeymen that can quite clearly fight a bit. A lot of them would've left the ring thinkzing 'I should've beaten him there'. William Warburton is a good boxer and knows the ropes.

What nonsense. It s a mix of both. Like most things in life.

[Stuarty]

I've always said boxing is more about mentality and preparation than it is about talent. If you go in to the ring in survival mode and you have a bit about you then you'll more than likely survive. There are a few journeymen that can quite clearly fight a bit. A lot of them would've left the ring thinkzing 'I should've beaten him there'. William Warburton is a good boxer and knows the ropes.

What nonsense. It s a mix of both. Like most things in life.

What is 'nonsense' about what I said?

[Stuarty]

I've always said boxing is more about mentality and preparation than it is about talent. If you go in to the ring in survival mode and you have a bit about you then you'll more than likely survive. There are a few journeymen that can quite clearly fight a bit. A lot of them would've left the ring thinkzing 'I should've beaten him there'. William Warburton is a good boxer and knows the ropes.

What nonsense. It s a mix of both. Like most things in life.

What is 'nonsense' about what I said?

There is a long line of fighters who are not naturally talented but prepare and work hard. I don't think my comment is nonsense at all.

[Stuarty]

Someone that works hard and prepares beats someone with talent that doesn't prepare properly. That's a fact. It isn't 'nonsense' at all!

[reggaereggae]

What nonsense. It s a mix of both. Like most things in life.

What is 'nonsense' about what I said?

There is a long line of fighters who are not naturally talented but prepare and work hard. I don't think my comment is nonsense at all.

The nonsense is that you say boxing is more about mentality and preparation than talent. I'm saying it's about both.

If you're not athletic, haven't got good reflexes, have a poor chin, are slow.... There is no way you're making it in boxing or any other sport... Regardless of 'mentality' or 'preparation'....

[Stuarty]

What is 'nonsense' about what I said?

There is a long line of fighters who are not naturally talented but prepare and work hard. I don't think my comment is nonsense at all.

The nonsense is that you say boxing is more about mentality and preparation than talent. I'm saying it's about both.

If you're not athletic, haven't got good reflexes, have a poor chin, are slow.... There is no way you're making it in boxing or any other sport... Regardless of 'mentality' or 'preparation'....

Did I say that you could walk into a ring a talentless donk? No! You obviously need a bit of talent. You also need to dedicate yourself as well though. You've jumped down my throat at the first opportunity.

[Sklar]

Casually move around for four rounds, stay covered up, get paid, go home, no stress; versus pester your friends and family until they'll no longer reply to your texts or pick up the phone because they're scared you're going to guilt trip them into buying a ticket for your latest non-fight with the kids' dinner money.

[Shirow]

I'd suggest it's not so casual and may be even stressful when you have a much younger fitter boxer who has had the luxury of preparation to rehydrate by 15lbs chasing you around the ring to add another KO to his ledger.

If you're the kind of journeyman that is very good at the boxing but terrible at selling tickets I can see how you could cope mentally. You show up the prospect and give him a few clumps but ultimately let him outwork you all the while showing the crowd you are the more talented fighter.

If you're the other kind - shit at boxing and is wheeled in to be stretched out by a young KO artist who the promoter is trying to build a buzz around. It must be very mentally hard to go through the motions again and again knowing the script and how it is most probably going to end up.

[Sklar]

I don't class the guys in your concluding paragraph as journeymen though. I class them as desperate fools. Proper journeymen remain in control with all but the very best and seldom get banged out. Do you not agree?

[Coco]

While you know you are the heavy underdog, it doesn't stop you doing the best you can, often though in fact performing at the top of your game is only good enough to get you through the fight, if that!
Nevertheless you console yourself with the fact that you have gone the distance against a quality fighter and at worst that the rent has been paid that month.

[Coco]

Casually move around for four rounds, stay covered up, get paid, go home, no stress; versus pester your friends and family until they'll no longer reply to your texts or pick up the phone because they're scared you're going to guilt trip them into buying a ticket for your latest non-fight with the kids' dinner money.

If you are in against a good fighter there is nothing casual about 'moving around' in fact there is a lot of stress when you are matched against a puncher.
Not having to sell tickets is a huge plus though.

[REEVE]

The tickets bit is what makes me go on the road - why box at home and have to sell 90 tickets at £35 (pure fornicate on) and that is only to make what you'd make as an away fighter with no tickets to do ....rather go in w top lads n when I retire I can say "I fought him" instead of bashing sum Slovakian they have dragged off the street to impress y mates who 90% have no idea what is going on