Last minute fight preparation tips

Fighting in a ring with audience’s eyes on you is a different experience from fighting during your training. The situation can be more intense if it’s your first boxing match. Getting yourself stressed and worried is a natural thing at that moment. Therefore, today I am going to share some useful tips, that would help you get yourself fully prepared at the eleventh hour of the game.

Essentials for tournament preparation

1. A proper amount of sleep

Getting restless and sleepless just before the night of the fight is a natural phenomenon. In such a case diverting your tension is always a good way to reduce your anxiety and stress. People look for different ways to divert their attention. Some would hang out with friends or family, some watch their favorite TV shows or movies. Others would prefer shadowboxing over any other activity. Shadowboxing is most preferable or just stretching to relax your muscles and to stay active. Just stretch out in front of the TV watching your favorite channel and then go to bed. There is no need to perform strenuous activity or practice at night before the match as all the training and hard work has already been done. Moreover, you don’t want to exhaust yourself before the match, keep your energy reserved for the battle.

2. Don’t forget to bring your essentials

Do not forget your important stuff. Always remember to check the following list!

• Joggers, socks, robes
• Pack your boxing boots, socks, robes (including shirts and sweats).
• Boxing gloves and mouth guard are the most essential accessories.
• Keep a towel or a cloth to rub off the blood and sweat.
• Headgear, handwraps, knuckle covering, groin protector, sports tape.
• Pack a bucket, first-aid box, scissors, petroleum jelly.
• A bottle of water.
• Bring healthy fruits.

3. Make pre-arrangements for your family and friends

Do not let yourself be interrupted while you are warming-up. Keep your phone aside so that you are not distracted by it. Let your acquaintance be in charge of your family and friends’ seating arrangements, so you do not have to worry about their seating, finding places, or looking for parking.

4. Keep yourself warm

Warming-up is the final and the most important part before entering the ring. A good warm-up would enhance the impact and force development, response timing, and enables ample oxygen supply. All hard work and training would be only useful when you get an effective warm-up.

5. Put on the sweats

Prepare yourself to get your body and muscles heat up. Always put-on sweats for a warm-up to remain heated for a longer time. Do not take off your sweats after you finish your warm-up to avoid cooling your body. Keep yourself hydrated in case you sweat a lot.

6. Starting warm-up at a good time

The time you start warming up is an essential factor, if there are hours left until the fight do not warm-up too early. Your body would cool just before the match and would be in rest mode. Remember to start your warm-ups nearly 1-2 hours before the match. You can take breaks during warm-ups after every 30 minutes but still do not sit or lay down, take a brisk walk during the resting time.

7. Keep yourself in motion

Look for techniques for dynamic stretching of your body muscles. Extend your limbs and stretch out. Start with throwing the punches and shadowbox for a warm-up. Keep punching the bags. You may also go for a run or skip a rope.  

8. Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of water hours before the fight, but once an hour or two is left for the fight just sip a little amount of water. Your stomach must be empty during the fight to avoid vomiting if you get a blow at the abdomen or to avoid getting tired fast. Also, stop eating any kind of food 2 hours before of the fight.

Eleventh-hour fight preparatory measures

It is the time just before you enter the ring and face your opponent head-on. The things you need to do at this particular moment are discussed below.

1. Get yourself padded and wrapped up

It is the time you get wraps for your knuckles and protection for the groin. A simple hand wrap procedure can be used or it would be even better if you use the professional wrapping method. Use all the extra coverings and tape to cover your hands. Wrapping yourself professionally would provide you more protection and assists your knuckles and hands and would also enhance the punching force. Put on an extra layer of the 1’’ tape around your wrist to have an extra impact for a cross.

2. Check for your essentials

 Make sure you have your mouthpiece with you, keep it in your pocket. Make a checklist of all the important stuff so that you do not have to remember when you’re in the ring. Check for the credibility of all the accessories i.e. groin protector, headgears, and mouth guard.

3. Apply lubrication

Use a Vaseline or petroleum jelly to put on to the exterior of your headgear, making your opponent's punches slip past yours. Also apply a layer of petroleum jelly over your face i.e. chin, cheeks, eyebrows, forehead. Also, apply it on your chest and shoulders if you are fighting without your shirt.

4. Shadowbox

Have a partner shadowbox with you, let him throw slight punches and you must keep dodging them or give a response to their attack. Have your partner throw punches and jabs to condition your fight.

5. Stick with your pre-planned strategy

Do not think about developing new tactics and techniques just before entering the ring. Go on with the strategies you have been training for and have planned to adopt during the battle. Planning out a new strategy at the eleventh hour would confuse and distract you from what you are best at.  

6. Relax your mind before the fight

Do not stress yourself out by talking and thinking about emotional thoughts. Take the fight as easy as a piece of cake. Do remain confident in the ring, recall your practice and training in the ring. Fight like you enjoy it and hit your opponent as if you are hitting a bag like back in the training. Be excited about your first battle and make it a memorable one.

Keynote: A successful boxing performance is based on a good blend of technical, tactical, physical, and psychological preparation. Training and strenuous exercises would prove fruitful with an effective warm-up and by relaxing your mind. Getting your focus diverged completely towards your match is necessary.