Fighting in a scheduled match?

[Ralphie]

I read an Article about Floyd Patterson, who recently passed away. He was a heavyweight champion (boxing) from the 50's and 60's. One interesting thing about him was that he did not like fighting, really. He had good skills, but was described as not having a "zeal" for brutalizing people. After one particular loss, he put on a disguise and fled the country, describing himself as a "coward" (I don't believe that, he just couldn't deal with a component of the fight game).

Anyway, my question is: is training for a scheduled fight tougher psychologically than an actual street fight?

A guy I know who fights mma recently said he thought it was, because you're not thinking when you get in a street altercation, just reacting. Where as in a scheduled fight, you have so much time to think about all the crazy things that could happen. Including how you could get beat.

Any thoughts on the mental part of fighting in the ring vs. a random altercation?

[David Jamieson]

I recently read an Article about Floyd Patterson, who recently passed away. He was a heavyweight champion (boxing) from the 50's and 60's. One interesting thing about him was that he did not like fighting, really. He had good skills, but was described as not having a "zeal" for brutalizing people. After one particular loss, he put on a disguise and fled the country, describing himself as a "coward" (I don't believe that, he just couldn't deal with a component of the fight game).

Anyway, my question is: is training for a scheduled fight tougher psychologically than an actual street fight?

A guy I know who fights mma recently said he thought it was, because you're not thinking when you get in a street altercation, just reacting. Where as in a scheduled fight, you have so much time to think about all the crazy things that could happen. Including how you could get beat.

Any thoughts on the mental part of fighting in the ring vs. a random altercation?

think of it it this way.

is it easier to get and give loving when you're in the mood?

or

would you rather get and give loving on demand?

fighting is as emotional an experience as sex. ergo the analogy

[Ralphie]

That "analogy" doesn't really answer my question in any kind of meaningful way. My question was not "Is David Jamieson a lonely person who answers every question on KFM, no matter how irrelevent, inbetween surfing for porn on the net?"

[Ray Pina]

Yes it's harder to fight for a scheduled fight for the reason you listed, the anticipation that you'll be meeting someone on a certain day who is going to try and punch and kick you face in.

Added to this fact is that the other guy has also prepared for this day, and has been training and is most likely skilled.

So you know you'll be fighting a skilled, trained, conditioned and motivated fighter on a certain day .... sleep tight.

[hjt]

i think the problem with floyd was he didnt have the switch, something inside you that clicks once youre in the ring.

but as for being more afraid about a ring , its true, when i fought in the past. all these those went through my mind what if i get knocked out? what if i hurt myself? theres a bunch of what if? but at the same time this motivates you to fight harder, better and stronger than the other figther. its a natural reaction.

as oppose to a street fight, its random and its more survival and instict kicking in.

[David Jamieson]

That "analogy" doesn't really answer my question in any kind of meaningful way. My question was not "Is David Jamieson a lonely person who answers every question on KFM, no matter how irrelevent, inbetween surfing for porn on the net?"

riiiight.
I'm sorry you don't understand. My analogy is more or less the same things these other fellas are saying.

ring is switch on/off | street is primal instinct.

probably easier to go with the flow that you have to go with. IE:fight or flight kicks in.

In a scheduled fight, you have to create the responses to get you were you need to be to win. You have to create the intention and you have to have purpose.

On the street. No. You just have to have survival instinct.

so, what's harder? Creating? or letting something occur naturally.

Now pass the porn, Im feeling lonely. Smart ass.

[Ralphie]

I find that psychology fascinating, and thanks for the answers. I compete a few times a year, and have similar experiences. I get a little nervous/scared, but it pushes me, too. I also forget about it all once I get going. It's a sharp distinction between emotion and instinct that defines the somewhat "opaque" aspects of human nature/behavior. Thanks to you too, David. I know I ragged on you a little, but thought your initial answer was kind of lame, even though "lovin'" is emoitional and instinctual. I just don't think it quite fits. Thanks for the second answer.

Patterson did lack that certain killer instinct, but at the same time he still fought and won. Being that we only know he fought in the ring, we know first hand what he was feeling emotionally, due to documentation and interviews. He was beaten bad by one guy, and in a re-match later knocked that same guy out. He picked the guys head up and kissed his cheek while he lay on the mat, ktfo.

[Pork Chop]

Floyd's one of my personal favorites.
I believe Ingemar Johannsen was the man Ralphie was talking about.

JFK pleaded with him not to fight Sonny Liston.
Floyd said the heavyweight belt wouldn't mean anything and he wouldn't want it if the best man didn't have it.
He got destroyed by Liston, but was still brave enough to keep on going, even signing a rematch with the guy who brutalized him (ending in much the same fashion).
I think it was after the liston fight(s) he donned a disguise and snuck away.

Fought in the heavyweight tournament during Ali's forced sabbatical.
Youngest kid in a big family.
Trained by the same trainer as Mike Tyson.
Later became the NY State boxing commissioner.

Knocked down more times than any other heavyweight champion, a record that still stands today, but the important thing to remember is that he always got back up.

All Time Great.

[David Jamieson]

all time great = Ali

the dude was magic.

also the person who inspired me into getting into martial arts.

[Pork Chop]

not a huge ali fan, he got a way with a ridiculous amount of blatant cheating in his second career. it's funny to read about boxing photographers and their troubles in finding good in-fight pics of Ali to sell because of all the fouling he was doing. Don't get me wrong, a lot of fighters are "crafty" (ie that they use dirty tactics) but for me, that takes something away from the Ali mythos whereas another fighter i mighta been okay with it (ie Hopkins aside from the 2nd Echols fight).

[David Jamieson]

well, i got to watch him live...because im a relatively old besterd in that sense.
and I never saw anything like him. Amazing.

[Pork Chop]

Don't get me wrong, I consider him AN all-time great, just not THE all-time great.

There's an animated gif running around of him standing in one place, hands at his sides, dodging about 5 or 6 shots from Floyd Patterson without taking a step. Amazing.

[David Jamieson]

I would also add that for sheer power. That grinding meat slab truck in the head power punching... I liked Larry Holmes.

That guy was a coke machine with a head an 50 cal guns for arms.
Not a lot of razzle dazzle, but wow! what a fighter.

[Mr Punch]

think of it it this way.

is it easier to get and give loving when you're in the mood?

or

would you rather get and give loving on demand?

fighting is as emotional an experience as sex. ergo the analogy

That is stupid. Giving loving on demand is also often switch on/switch off, but with loving somebody else has the switch. Either way it's crap. Love is connected to emotions, and so is fighting... and so... what? It doesn't mean they are connected in any other way. Plus loving is generally considered a good thing and fighting bad, except for money... somehow...

That "analogy" doesn't really answer my question in any kind of meaningful way. My question was not "Is David Jamieson a lonely person who answers every question on KFM, no matter how irrelevent, inbetween surfing for porn on the net?"

Now that was relevant and very very funny!

In street fighting who's to say the fight response is the natural one? For many (most?) people it would be flight. But many times you don't have the option of flight - you are forced to fight. Plus, it's very dependant on mood... some days I would fight anyone, some days I'd rather run a mile. The randomness of your situation takes away the autonomy of your response.

In a pro-fight you at least have autonomy of a response. You can plan and psyche yourself up. And the training becomes the mantra to get rid of your fear... for some people (obviously not Patterson - although with him it seemed to less fear and more compassion).