I like watching boxing. If it's on the TV, I can't help but put everything else down and watch it. I wouldn't like to box myself, the risk of damage is too great for me.

Muhammad Ali Vs Joe Frazier

There are two fights I watched recently on KOTV (Knock Out TV?) that now stick in my mind. The first was Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier. Unfortunately I joined the fight late and saw only the last few rounds which were a bit boring to tell the truth. I probably missed the snappy energy of the first rounds because in those in those that remained, the two boxers were so tired that they were just staggering into each other, guards lowered and very little could you call 'good technique'. I couldn't help thinking that in these latter stages, a boxing match just doesn't resemble a real fight. I would wager that there aren't many street fights that last as long as that Ali - Frazier fight. But then, whoever said that boxing purpose was supposed to resemble a real fight? And don't get me wrong - after such a gruelling fight I'm not surprised they were staggering into each other.

I can't help myself. I was going to embed a youtube video of just the bit I've been moaning about, but got distracted by mucg more impressive footage of the fight from round 3 onwards! Damn you youtube!

That's not to say that an experienced boxer couldn't whoop my ass! Because they probably could. I think that the training a boxer undergoes is good for self defence. A boxing match, however, is far removed from a real street situation where nasty people pick debris up off the road to use as weapons and kick you in the head when you are down.

Naseem Hamed vs Kevin Kelley

The other fight I saw was Naseem Hamed vs Kevin Kelley and the thing that struck me about this fight was Naseem's precision. I dare say that precision was present in Ali's and Frazier's fight but I came in towards the end of that and probably missed it. There were a couple of occasions where Naseem was virtually crouching and staring intently at Kelley as Kelley snapped out a vicious jab. Naseem didn't even flinch as Kelley's glove reached its full extent a matter of millimetres from his face. But of course he knew he was out of range. That's something I really envy (obviously aside from the speed, power, endurance, oh and cut physiques that these guys have). The precision to know that you are a few millimetres out of range. The two opponents are so close, but each knows the limitations of the their own and the other's reach.

I can't be bothered trawling through all of youtube's bad quality footage of this fight, so here's the one where Naseem gets floored (just because it made me smile). You'll have to endure PN's obligatory ego self massage at the start I'm afraid.

Struggling With Range

This is something I really struggle with. Range. Half the time when I'm chi sauing with someone I don't even know when they are in range. I know that this kind of awareness will come with experience, but I wonder if there is something I can do to speed up the process. Perhaps stand facing a wall and alter the distance until I can/can't reach it with my fist. Stand facing a door at what I think is a distance that puts me just out of range and use my full reach to punch - hopefully not messing up my knuckles? Or just watch more boxing matches and learn by osmosis. All three I reckon.