Savage Camp Report (Preview of my Elite Boxing Camp report)
Nov 14, 2019 15:47:43 GMT -6
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Post by Savage on Nov 14, 2019 15:47:43 GMT -6
I'm posting this in this section because I wanted to show a style of rp I'm not used to. I'm always doing a boxing fed, and the way they set up their promos is something I've never tried before. One of the big aspects is the camp report; a journal of the training period a fighter undergoes to prepare for a fight. Seeing back eons ago, I used to fbox amateur for a spell, I approached it the same way my coach did; in an analytical, almost, scientific report on progress and areas of improvement. Let me know what you think; this is an experiment for me.
SAVAGE SOLUTIONS COMBAT SYSTEMS TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION REPORT
Subject: Savage, Anthony K.
Coaches: Arturo Gonzales (Lead trainer) Shemar Dixon, Oleg Kasalov
Physical fitness Trainer: Retired Major Declan MacAvoy, United States Army Special Forces
Cutman: James Spirillo
Site of Training: The Armory. Savage Solutions Training and Proving Grounds. Arlington, Texas
Areas of Improvement and Development: Footwork, Ring Movement, Defense
Mission Objective: To improve and re-establish Tony's rusty footwork and utilization of space in a boxing ring. Also, to develop a tighter, more effective defense, especially against attacks to the body.
Week One Training Program: Footwork Fundamentals
Arturo: *translated from Spanish*
Even during Tony's prime boxing days in the Armed Forces, he's always had problems with his legs. He's been notorious for being a tough, hard hitting brute that at times seems flat footed. His time in wrestling's not helped much, as he's focused most of his efforts on endurance and grappling instead of proper movement. His motions are stiff, and he has an annoying tendency to keep his body rigid and tense. That may work in wrestling, but in boxing, one must be able to move their entire body in smooth, relaxed movements. He already has the advantage over Bagwell in power and durability, but if he can't learn proper balance and coordination, Bags will simply dance circles around him and tag him with quick punches. He won't edge his opponent in the dancing department even after this training period, but if he can learn not to lummox around like a lumbering animal and be fundamentally solid with his legs, he stands more than a good chance to not be swarmed, and cut off escape avenues for his younger, sprier opposition.
Training regimen:
6:30 AM to 7:30 AM: 5 mile run at a 7 minute 30 second pace, preceded and followed by deep stretching. (Every day)
7:30 Am to 8 AM: Rest and nutrient replenishment.
8 AM to 9 AM: 1.5 mile swim, (Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday) or agility ladder (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.)
9 AM to 10 AM: Break and film session
11 AM to 12 PM: Jump Rope (every day except Sunday)
12 PM to 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM to 3 PM: Monday, Wednesday, Friday (lower leg strength and elasticity conditioning) Tuesday and Thursday (upper body) Saturday (full body circuit)
3 PM to 3:30 PM: Break and replenishment
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM 1 hour of in ring footwork exercises and 1 hour of sparring practice.
Declan: What impressed me them most about Tony was his commitment to constant physical maintenance and improvement. Professional wrestlers are notorious gym rats, perhaps even more than boxers or MMA fighters. These people sustain absurd levels of punishment anywhere from 1-5 times a week, so their training requirements are very strict. Tony's regimen is insane; I even learned a few things from his routine, and I've been training Special Ops soldiers for over 20 years. However, he had quite a bit to learn about speed and agility training. Tony's fighting style, whether in military combat or fighting, has always been a slower, more meticulous grind that focused heavily on power and durability over alacrity. In order to succeed in a boxing ring, he simply NEEDS TO BE LIGHTER AND FASTER! Hence, the increased amounts of cardio and fast muscle twitch exercises.
Week One: Bricks for Feet
Oleg: *Translated from Russian*
Not the worst footwork I've seen, but it isn't pretty. It is like he has bricks attached to his feet. The fundamental problem with Tony is he always steps off the heels of his feet when advancing, and his backpedal is clumsy. He also has issues with his upper and lower body moving as a fluid unit. It is like his upper body and lower body are going in different directions. It amazes me analyzing his sparring performance that he can generate so much power with those stiff and awkward legs of his. He does fine on the agility ladder, but with the rope and in sparring, his coordination is suspect. It has taken several days to instill in him to move off his metatarsals instead of his heels. This week, he learned footwork drills are not like riding a bike; they have to be constantly drilled, or else, you run into problems with balance and power delivery.
Shemar: Dude's got murderous power. He's flat out knocked out guys in pads in that ring. And he can take a fucking punch. But that footwork is ratchet. Against the more nimble heavyweights, he has troubles. He also keeps his core way too open, especially on the right side. I had an idea I brought up to old Artie next week, that we should have him go in with lighter or no pads to fight guys from lighter weight divisions. They won't hit as hard, but their uick feet and fists will pound in that thick skull of T's that speed kills in this game. We also spent extra time off training schedule to work on anticipating body punches. That right rib cage is an Achilles Heel.
Week 2: Good Cardio, Bad Temper
Savage: We had an incident in the gym on Monday. One of my sparring partners thought it'd be kosher to keep hitting me below the belt. Motherfucker even laughed about it the whole time. I ended up mauling him. Lost my cool and pounded him into the ground like a tent stake.
Arturo: Keeping calm under fire is important in a fight. While I understand fully why that man deserved to get beat, Tony cannot lose his cool in the ring when the lights go on. This isn't his other job where rage is a benefit. Thankfully, he understood where i was coming from, though at times, I could tell it made him a bit tentative in the ring, a little too cautious. The fitness reports from Declan are very promising.
Declan: Average 5 mile run time fell from 37:33 to 37:10. He's shaved over 20 seconds off his time in the last 2 weeks, and his swim time has also dropped nearly a full 90 seconds. His overall lift maximums have decreased slightly, but that is to be expected in a cardio heavy program. Besides Friday night cocktails with his wife, he's drank nothing but water and orange juice. Caffeine has left the building for this guy, as well as most refined sugars. besides liver, which Arturo added to his diet plan to help with iron absorption and blood clotting, all his proteins come from white meats, primarily fish and turkey.
DIET PLAN
190 TO 235 grams protein (40% derived from white meats, 25% from legumes and nuts, 15% from whey. We moved Tony away from whey as muscle mass is not as necessary as long term tissue and muscle repair and recovery.)
1300 to 2000 g/lb Complex carbohydrate intake (55% long grains and pasta, 45% fruit and pure fruit juice. No added processed sugars.)
Fat intake: 20% of caloric intake. Tony eats an average of nearly 5k calories per day, not uncommon for those in his trade. We increase his healthly (poly and mono unsaturated) fat intake with the increased seafood diet. No fried foods or refined sugars.)
Also recommended: an increase in calcium, Vitamin D, and iron intakes over his current diet.
Oleg: Nominal improvement on the agility ladder. His time on drills is still slower than we would hope, but he is focusing on maintaining a rhythm that is comfortable and keeps him from tripping. He still steps off his heel, but, he does it after analyzing footage now 40% less often. The main problem is stepping backwards. That clumsy back step leaves his core open to straight punches. Arturo loved the idea of putting Tony in the ring against lighter opposition. He,*heh, heh* not so much. You should have heard him griping about about their hand speed. But he acknowledged there were glaring holes in his defense, especially on his right side. During film analyzing sessions, we also detected a potential problem with his left jab. His punching motion is slower than we originally thought. The jab’s key to establishing control over his opponent. Like a pilot making small adjustments on the stick, the jab is key to directing an opponent in the direction he wants him to move. His jab is solid, but considering his maneuverability issues, the ability to snap multiple jabs in rapid succession and guide his opponent will help compensate for those 2x4 for drumsticks we’re trying to loosen up.
Shemar: The first few days of sparring like this were aggravating for all of us, especially Tony. He almost felt embarrassed by his iffy coordination, but by Friday, he was getting the point. His entire body moves noticeably more fluid, and he comes off the balls of his feet more and more. At times, he still tries to go off heel, and Arturo cusses him out something fierce for it.
He’s slowly getting better at the jump rope. Oleg has also got him doing these weird footwork drills around the heavy bag. Looks more like he’s trying to teach him how to waltz instead of box, but Tony’s getting a bit better.
Breakdown of training program progression. (week 2 of 4)
Pros:
-Cardio and speed have seen considerable evolution in the last two weeks. Run and swim times have dropped nicely, and his hand speed has also elevated. We may have to up his workout regimen; it’s becoming much harder to exhaust him during training session.
-Dilligent with his diet. We had the doctor from the Nevada State Commission give him a preliminary checkup. The guy is a picture of health; near perfect blood pressure, and his blood and tox screens are clean. The physician did recommend higher dose of copper and zinc in his nutrient plan. We’re also always concerned about any injuries he sustains while wrestling; even a minor cut can be problematic in a fight.
-Despite more emphasis on alacrity, his punching power is still bone crunching. Very little loss of strength; in fact, as his ability to launch a punch his entire body for torue improves, it will only get stronger.
Cons:
-Still relies on heel stepping too much. If his keeps using the back of his feet as launch pads, he will get knocked on his ass or trip over himself. He’s made great strides to wean himself off that habit, but it still happens too much. We also need to work on his ability to sidestep.
-Still keeps that right body way too open. Even fighters who hate southpaw can still exploit that weakness in his defense.
-Needs to loosen his core. His wife convinced Tony to take up yoga. A lot of the guys in the gym tried to give him shit for it, but after he bit some heads off for mocking his old lady, they stopped talking about it. Not a bad idea; not only will it improve his flexibility, but help maintain a rhythm to his breathing.
Overall conclusion:
Still a lot of work to do with his coordination, but he is improving. It will take at least another training period or two to really transform him into a floater, but he is very committed to elevating his ring movement and presence. The main focus is to ensure he doesn’t get caught flat footed or have his opponent buzz around him like a mosquito. The right ribcage is still an exposed nerve. Despite his freakish durability, all it takes is a few well places hooks to crack his ribs or sap him of gas, and our plan falls off the rails. He needs to keep his temper in check. It is understandable that sparring partners who pull dirt-bag tactics are annoying, but he cannot rage out in a fight and lose off a technical penalty. This isn’t Planet Spandex; you lose your cool in the ring, you lose…Period. Very satisfied with Tony’s progression, but we still have miles to travel.
Week 3: Family comes first
Shemar: Arturo nearly got his head knocked off when he tried to scold Tony for cutting out of a training session premature to pick his kid up from school early, since he was sick. Ranting and cussing about lack of work ethic and being lazy. The old Cuban obviously has never had kids; that statement offend everybody with a family in the gym. He wound up with a gaggle of angry brawlers shit talking him and circling him. To Tony's credit, he kept his top from blowing. Instead of lighting up the old man for his shitty commentary, he told him to split for the net couple of days. Mano had to realize you can only rant and rave so much. Tony has been patient, but that shit with his fam was over the line.
Tony: Yeah, training sessions get heated. That old ball busting ex-commie went too far when he said this was more important than blood. He apologized to me in the back, but that stubborn geezer will never admit publicly he fucked up. Pendejo! *laughs*
Arturo: No comment. *also laughs*
Arturo: Declan increased his swim distance to 1.75 to 2 miles per day, and we compensated by reducing Tony’s run days. Plus, after that nasty PPV match in Vegas, we’ve upped his protein and iron content. Tony now eats 250 to 350 g/lb of protein er day to help augment his ability to heal and recover. Like I told him, that liver will keep you from bleeding all over the place.
Tony: Tastes like shit, and smells like PVC pipe burning, but the old man was right. That stuff keep me from being a quart too low in my other job. The wife complains about the kitchen now being a toxic dump site. Then again, she’s English. Bangers and mash aren’t exactly aromatic, either.
Oleg: The work pertaining to movement around the heavy bag is paying off. Up close, his sidestepping and ability to shadow his rival is progressing nicely. And those short range hooks and uppers to the midsection are brutal. He doesn’t step off the heel nearly as much now, but when he does, it’s actually more pronounced. At times, I observe him forgetting his fundamentals and trying to improvise. No. He is simply not nimble enough to act like roy Jones or Mayweather. Keep stepping off the balls instead of the heel. His times on the ladder are dropping, but there’s still an issue when he moves from right to left.
Shemar: Blocking’s improved. Guess he got tired of the little guys lighting him up with those quick strikes. Right side body blocking has improved by leaps and bounds, but we’re worried he might be compensating too much and leaving his face open for a flurry. He can take a whooping, but if his eye gets split, swells up too much, that’s the end of our night. I’ve never seen a guy this eager to get hit and deliver a counter-punch. I saw him take a jhook to the temple from one of our heavyweights that should have floored him. He took that shit like a champ and sent three more like it at the other guy. That’s one of the best aspects; no fear of taking a blow to land punches in bunches.
The last part of week three sparring and most of week four will be mostly devoted to fighting defensively. In fact, we’ll have several sessions where he won’t be even allowed to throw a punch. And against the lighter weights, he will not have any padding whatsoever. Straight up live fire exercise. If he gets peppered, that’s his own damn fault.
Tony: During Thursday and Friday, I noticed my right shoulder aching and showing some signs of swelling. The Doctor tried to put me on low dose Cortisone to reduce inflammation. I was reluctant until the Boxing Commission approved of the prescription. Another reality of boxing over wrestling: the commissions DO NOT fuck around when it comes to what you put inside you. I’ve been in wrestling feds where they didn’t give a shit what you cram in your system, but the N.B.C (Nevada Boxing Commission) constantly monitors what you use. I had to provide a full list of all foods and supplements I take.
Adjustments to training: Substituted 50% of sprint time to increased rope drill and jump rope sessions. Also 2-4 times a week, suggested Tony do more low impact exercises like yoga to increase overall flexibility.
5 mile run time has also dropped considerably. Average time this week peaked at 33:41. Swim time has also decreased by another 60 seconds. Speed’s not the problem; it’s staying stable at high velocity that worries our camp.
Week 4: Higher Aspirations
Update: The last week of camp has been relocated to Fort Bliss, Texas for higher altitude training. Also, protein content has been increased 15%, as well as vitamin ingestion to compensate for increased physical strain due to high altitude adjustment.
Declan: Under 32 minutes in 7,000ft altitude. No complaints here. We subbed out pool sessions to focus more on cross training. With the thinner atmosphere, we decided to test those re-developed muscles of his over more solid ground. Endurance is no issue at this point, and his form when deploying a punch looks cleaner and smoother. His performance on the ladder still concerns me. It’s as if he’s so focused on getting it right, he is sacrificing too much speed for correct form. Shemar reminded him sometimes you have to rush in; fighting too defensively is just as bad as fighting too aggressive.
Shemar: Most of his major footwork flaws have been fleshed out, though he still makes a few too many minor errors for my taste. Oleg’s rope and bag drills have paid off; up close, Tony’s a deadly dance partner, but too much separation in the ring starts to amplify his inconsistencies. The rope drills have been a small miracle; his head movement is exponentially better than we started nearly a month ago. He evades most straight punches with ease, by he can be erratic at times against hooks. The straight defense spars are also gold. He protects his body much better than before, but he is still prone to occasional put too much weight on his heels.
Arturo: Many of the skills that are reemerging are those that Antonio knew by heart during his military days; he just had to be reminded. Being a wrestler for so long has instilled some bad habits that we are fixing, and the more Antonio spends time in a boxing environment, he realizes he has to forget what he learned in that other world for one night. However, his time in the squared circles has been beneficially in ways I never conceived. His capacity for sustaining damage is frankly the best I’ve ever seen in a fighter I’ve trained. Trying to knock him out would be a daunting task. His endurance, work ethic, and strength are also impressive. His greatest flaw at this point is knocking the rust off the boxing textbook. Good footwork, proper mechanics, and rhythm are what make a good fighter great.
This training period has by no means eradicated all his flaws. No fighter will ever negate all their weaknesses. But Tony is progressing swiftly, and withing a few more training periods, we will have him back to prime boxing condition. He just has to remember the fundamentals.
Final Analysis and Recommended Strategy
-Tony must continue to work on his footing and movement in the ring. Many of his problems have been smoothed out. He will not out-dance many opponents, but his power and form have elevated due to fixing his form. He also must be careful not to lean on his back feet.
-He’ll benefit from keep the fight close and moving forward. The less space he leaves open, the better. Like Mike Tyson, his best route is to dig in the body with those strong inside punches, The more he pokes hole in the gas tank, the more he can use his stamina and durability to grind down the fight and his opponent.
-Use jabs and crosses to guide his opponent. Tony also must limit the avenues of escape.
-Tony’s issue is still protecting the body. Even if he can tolerate more punishment than normal, the fight can still be easily lost due to points. If he can stay mindful to protect that right side, he can avoid being number crunched by the judges.
-The counter-punch game is key. Those fists of his must always stay moving. He has the toughness to take a punch, and the good sense to make his foe pay a penalty for every blow landed.
Subject: Savage, Anthony K.
Coaches: Arturo Gonzales (Lead trainer) Shemar Dixon, Oleg Kasalov
Physical fitness Trainer: Retired Major Declan MacAvoy, United States Army Special Forces
Cutman: James Spirillo
Site of Training: The Armory. Savage Solutions Training and Proving Grounds. Arlington, Texas
Areas of Improvement and Development: Footwork, Ring Movement, Defense
Mission Objective: To improve and re-establish Tony's rusty footwork and utilization of space in a boxing ring. Also, to develop a tighter, more effective defense, especially against attacks to the body.
Week One Training Program: Footwork Fundamentals
Arturo: *translated from Spanish*
Even during Tony's prime boxing days in the Armed Forces, he's always had problems with his legs. He's been notorious for being a tough, hard hitting brute that at times seems flat footed. His time in wrestling's not helped much, as he's focused most of his efforts on endurance and grappling instead of proper movement. His motions are stiff, and he has an annoying tendency to keep his body rigid and tense. That may work in wrestling, but in boxing, one must be able to move their entire body in smooth, relaxed movements. He already has the advantage over Bagwell in power and durability, but if he can't learn proper balance and coordination, Bags will simply dance circles around him and tag him with quick punches. He won't edge his opponent in the dancing department even after this training period, but if he can learn not to lummox around like a lumbering animal and be fundamentally solid with his legs, he stands more than a good chance to not be swarmed, and cut off escape avenues for his younger, sprier opposition.
Training regimen:
6:30 AM to 7:30 AM: 5 mile run at a 7 minute 30 second pace, preceded and followed by deep stretching. (Every day)
7:30 Am to 8 AM: Rest and nutrient replenishment.
8 AM to 9 AM: 1.5 mile swim, (Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday) or agility ladder (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.)
9 AM to 10 AM: Break and film session
11 AM to 12 PM: Jump Rope (every day except Sunday)
12 PM to 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM to 3 PM: Monday, Wednesday, Friday (lower leg strength and elasticity conditioning) Tuesday and Thursday (upper body) Saturday (full body circuit)
3 PM to 3:30 PM: Break and replenishment
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM 1 hour of in ring footwork exercises and 1 hour of sparring practice.
Declan: What impressed me them most about Tony was his commitment to constant physical maintenance and improvement. Professional wrestlers are notorious gym rats, perhaps even more than boxers or MMA fighters. These people sustain absurd levels of punishment anywhere from 1-5 times a week, so their training requirements are very strict. Tony's regimen is insane; I even learned a few things from his routine, and I've been training Special Ops soldiers for over 20 years. However, he had quite a bit to learn about speed and agility training. Tony's fighting style, whether in military combat or fighting, has always been a slower, more meticulous grind that focused heavily on power and durability over alacrity. In order to succeed in a boxing ring, he simply NEEDS TO BE LIGHTER AND FASTER! Hence, the increased amounts of cardio and fast muscle twitch exercises.
Week One: Bricks for Feet
Oleg: *Translated from Russian*
Not the worst footwork I've seen, but it isn't pretty. It is like he has bricks attached to his feet. The fundamental problem with Tony is he always steps off the heels of his feet when advancing, and his backpedal is clumsy. He also has issues with his upper and lower body moving as a fluid unit. It is like his upper body and lower body are going in different directions. It amazes me analyzing his sparring performance that he can generate so much power with those stiff and awkward legs of his. He does fine on the agility ladder, but with the rope and in sparring, his coordination is suspect. It has taken several days to instill in him to move off his metatarsals instead of his heels. This week, he learned footwork drills are not like riding a bike; they have to be constantly drilled, or else, you run into problems with balance and power delivery.
Shemar: Dude's got murderous power. He's flat out knocked out guys in pads in that ring. And he can take a fucking punch. But that footwork is ratchet. Against the more nimble heavyweights, he has troubles. He also keeps his core way too open, especially on the right side. I had an idea I brought up to old Artie next week, that we should have him go in with lighter or no pads to fight guys from lighter weight divisions. They won't hit as hard, but their uick feet and fists will pound in that thick skull of T's that speed kills in this game. We also spent extra time off training schedule to work on anticipating body punches. That right rib cage is an Achilles Heel.
Week 2: Good Cardio, Bad Temper
Savage: We had an incident in the gym on Monday. One of my sparring partners thought it'd be kosher to keep hitting me below the belt. Motherfucker even laughed about it the whole time. I ended up mauling him. Lost my cool and pounded him into the ground like a tent stake.
Arturo: Keeping calm under fire is important in a fight. While I understand fully why that man deserved to get beat, Tony cannot lose his cool in the ring when the lights go on. This isn't his other job where rage is a benefit. Thankfully, he understood where i was coming from, though at times, I could tell it made him a bit tentative in the ring, a little too cautious. The fitness reports from Declan are very promising.
Declan: Average 5 mile run time fell from 37:33 to 37:10. He's shaved over 20 seconds off his time in the last 2 weeks, and his swim time has also dropped nearly a full 90 seconds. His overall lift maximums have decreased slightly, but that is to be expected in a cardio heavy program. Besides Friday night cocktails with his wife, he's drank nothing but water and orange juice. Caffeine has left the building for this guy, as well as most refined sugars. besides liver, which Arturo added to his diet plan to help with iron absorption and blood clotting, all his proteins come from white meats, primarily fish and turkey.
DIET PLAN
190 TO 235 grams protein (40% derived from white meats, 25% from legumes and nuts, 15% from whey. We moved Tony away from whey as muscle mass is not as necessary as long term tissue and muscle repair and recovery.)
1300 to 2000 g/lb Complex carbohydrate intake (55% long grains and pasta, 45% fruit and pure fruit juice. No added processed sugars.)
Fat intake: 20% of caloric intake. Tony eats an average of nearly 5k calories per day, not uncommon for those in his trade. We increase his healthly (poly and mono unsaturated) fat intake with the increased seafood diet. No fried foods or refined sugars.)
Also recommended: an increase in calcium, Vitamin D, and iron intakes over his current diet.
Oleg: Nominal improvement on the agility ladder. His time on drills is still slower than we would hope, but he is focusing on maintaining a rhythm that is comfortable and keeps him from tripping. He still steps off his heel, but, he does it after analyzing footage now 40% less often. The main problem is stepping backwards. That clumsy back step leaves his core open to straight punches. Arturo loved the idea of putting Tony in the ring against lighter opposition. He,*heh, heh* not so much. You should have heard him griping about about their hand speed. But he acknowledged there were glaring holes in his defense, especially on his right side. During film analyzing sessions, we also detected a potential problem with his left jab. His punching motion is slower than we originally thought. The jab’s key to establishing control over his opponent. Like a pilot making small adjustments on the stick, the jab is key to directing an opponent in the direction he wants him to move. His jab is solid, but considering his maneuverability issues, the ability to snap multiple jabs in rapid succession and guide his opponent will help compensate for those 2x4 for drumsticks we’re trying to loosen up.
Shemar: The first few days of sparring like this were aggravating for all of us, especially Tony. He almost felt embarrassed by his iffy coordination, but by Friday, he was getting the point. His entire body moves noticeably more fluid, and he comes off the balls of his feet more and more. At times, he still tries to go off heel, and Arturo cusses him out something fierce for it.
He’s slowly getting better at the jump rope. Oleg has also got him doing these weird footwork drills around the heavy bag. Looks more like he’s trying to teach him how to waltz instead of box, but Tony’s getting a bit better.
Breakdown of training program progression. (week 2 of 4)
Pros:
-Cardio and speed have seen considerable evolution in the last two weeks. Run and swim times have dropped nicely, and his hand speed has also elevated. We may have to up his workout regimen; it’s becoming much harder to exhaust him during training session.
-Dilligent with his diet. We had the doctor from the Nevada State Commission give him a preliminary checkup. The guy is a picture of health; near perfect blood pressure, and his blood and tox screens are clean. The physician did recommend higher dose of copper and zinc in his nutrient plan. We’re also always concerned about any injuries he sustains while wrestling; even a minor cut can be problematic in a fight.
-Despite more emphasis on alacrity, his punching power is still bone crunching. Very little loss of strength; in fact, as his ability to launch a punch his entire body for torue improves, it will only get stronger.
Cons:
-Still relies on heel stepping too much. If his keeps using the back of his feet as launch pads, he will get knocked on his ass or trip over himself. He’s made great strides to wean himself off that habit, but it still happens too much. We also need to work on his ability to sidestep.
-Still keeps that right body way too open. Even fighters who hate southpaw can still exploit that weakness in his defense.
-Needs to loosen his core. His wife convinced Tony to take up yoga. A lot of the guys in the gym tried to give him shit for it, but after he bit some heads off for mocking his old lady, they stopped talking about it. Not a bad idea; not only will it improve his flexibility, but help maintain a rhythm to his breathing.
Overall conclusion:
Still a lot of work to do with his coordination, but he is improving. It will take at least another training period or two to really transform him into a floater, but he is very committed to elevating his ring movement and presence. The main focus is to ensure he doesn’t get caught flat footed or have his opponent buzz around him like a mosquito. The right ribcage is still an exposed nerve. Despite his freakish durability, all it takes is a few well places hooks to crack his ribs or sap him of gas, and our plan falls off the rails. He needs to keep his temper in check. It is understandable that sparring partners who pull dirt-bag tactics are annoying, but he cannot rage out in a fight and lose off a technical penalty. This isn’t Planet Spandex; you lose your cool in the ring, you lose…Period. Very satisfied with Tony’s progression, but we still have miles to travel.
Week 3: Family comes first
Shemar: Arturo nearly got his head knocked off when he tried to scold Tony for cutting out of a training session premature to pick his kid up from school early, since he was sick. Ranting and cussing about lack of work ethic and being lazy. The old Cuban obviously has never had kids; that statement offend everybody with a family in the gym. He wound up with a gaggle of angry brawlers shit talking him and circling him. To Tony's credit, he kept his top from blowing. Instead of lighting up the old man for his shitty commentary, he told him to split for the net couple of days. Mano had to realize you can only rant and rave so much. Tony has been patient, but that shit with his fam was over the line.
Tony: Yeah, training sessions get heated. That old ball busting ex-commie went too far when he said this was more important than blood. He apologized to me in the back, but that stubborn geezer will never admit publicly he fucked up. Pendejo! *laughs*
Arturo: No comment. *also laughs*
Arturo: Declan increased his swim distance to 1.75 to 2 miles per day, and we compensated by reducing Tony’s run days. Plus, after that nasty PPV match in Vegas, we’ve upped his protein and iron content. Tony now eats 250 to 350 g/lb of protein er day to help augment his ability to heal and recover. Like I told him, that liver will keep you from bleeding all over the place.
Tony: Tastes like shit, and smells like PVC pipe burning, but the old man was right. That stuff keep me from being a quart too low in my other job. The wife complains about the kitchen now being a toxic dump site. Then again, she’s English. Bangers and mash aren’t exactly aromatic, either.
Oleg: The work pertaining to movement around the heavy bag is paying off. Up close, his sidestepping and ability to shadow his rival is progressing nicely. And those short range hooks and uppers to the midsection are brutal. He doesn’t step off the heel nearly as much now, but when he does, it’s actually more pronounced. At times, I observe him forgetting his fundamentals and trying to improvise. No. He is simply not nimble enough to act like roy Jones or Mayweather. Keep stepping off the balls instead of the heel. His times on the ladder are dropping, but there’s still an issue when he moves from right to left.
Shemar: Blocking’s improved. Guess he got tired of the little guys lighting him up with those quick strikes. Right side body blocking has improved by leaps and bounds, but we’re worried he might be compensating too much and leaving his face open for a flurry. He can take a whooping, but if his eye gets split, swells up too much, that’s the end of our night. I’ve never seen a guy this eager to get hit and deliver a counter-punch. I saw him take a jhook to the temple from one of our heavyweights that should have floored him. He took that shit like a champ and sent three more like it at the other guy. That’s one of the best aspects; no fear of taking a blow to land punches in bunches.
The last part of week three sparring and most of week four will be mostly devoted to fighting defensively. In fact, we’ll have several sessions where he won’t be even allowed to throw a punch. And against the lighter weights, he will not have any padding whatsoever. Straight up live fire exercise. If he gets peppered, that’s his own damn fault.
Tony: During Thursday and Friday, I noticed my right shoulder aching and showing some signs of swelling. The Doctor tried to put me on low dose Cortisone to reduce inflammation. I was reluctant until the Boxing Commission approved of the prescription. Another reality of boxing over wrestling: the commissions DO NOT fuck around when it comes to what you put inside you. I’ve been in wrestling feds where they didn’t give a shit what you cram in your system, but the N.B.C (Nevada Boxing Commission) constantly monitors what you use. I had to provide a full list of all foods and supplements I take.
Adjustments to training: Substituted 50% of sprint time to increased rope drill and jump rope sessions. Also 2-4 times a week, suggested Tony do more low impact exercises like yoga to increase overall flexibility.
5 mile run time has also dropped considerably. Average time this week peaked at 33:41. Swim time has also decreased by another 60 seconds. Speed’s not the problem; it’s staying stable at high velocity that worries our camp.
Week 4: Higher Aspirations
Update: The last week of camp has been relocated to Fort Bliss, Texas for higher altitude training. Also, protein content has been increased 15%, as well as vitamin ingestion to compensate for increased physical strain due to high altitude adjustment.
Declan: Under 32 minutes in 7,000ft altitude. No complaints here. We subbed out pool sessions to focus more on cross training. With the thinner atmosphere, we decided to test those re-developed muscles of his over more solid ground. Endurance is no issue at this point, and his form when deploying a punch looks cleaner and smoother. His performance on the ladder still concerns me. It’s as if he’s so focused on getting it right, he is sacrificing too much speed for correct form. Shemar reminded him sometimes you have to rush in; fighting too defensively is just as bad as fighting too aggressive.
Shemar: Most of his major footwork flaws have been fleshed out, though he still makes a few too many minor errors for my taste. Oleg’s rope and bag drills have paid off; up close, Tony’s a deadly dance partner, but too much separation in the ring starts to amplify his inconsistencies. The rope drills have been a small miracle; his head movement is exponentially better than we started nearly a month ago. He evades most straight punches with ease, by he can be erratic at times against hooks. The straight defense spars are also gold. He protects his body much better than before, but he is still prone to occasional put too much weight on his heels.
Arturo: Many of the skills that are reemerging are those that Antonio knew by heart during his military days; he just had to be reminded. Being a wrestler for so long has instilled some bad habits that we are fixing, and the more Antonio spends time in a boxing environment, he realizes he has to forget what he learned in that other world for one night. However, his time in the squared circles has been beneficially in ways I never conceived. His capacity for sustaining damage is frankly the best I’ve ever seen in a fighter I’ve trained. Trying to knock him out would be a daunting task. His endurance, work ethic, and strength are also impressive. His greatest flaw at this point is knocking the rust off the boxing textbook. Good footwork, proper mechanics, and rhythm are what make a good fighter great.
This training period has by no means eradicated all his flaws. No fighter will ever negate all their weaknesses. But Tony is progressing swiftly, and withing a few more training periods, we will have him back to prime boxing condition. He just has to remember the fundamentals.
Final Analysis and Recommended Strategy
-Tony must continue to work on his footing and movement in the ring. Many of his problems have been smoothed out. He will not out-dance many opponents, but his power and form have elevated due to fixing his form. He also must be careful not to lean on his back feet.
-He’ll benefit from keep the fight close and moving forward. The less space he leaves open, the better. Like Mike Tyson, his best route is to dig in the body with those strong inside punches, The more he pokes hole in the gas tank, the more he can use his stamina and durability to grind down the fight and his opponent.
-Use jabs and crosses to guide his opponent. Tony also must limit the avenues of escape.
-Tony’s issue is still protecting the body. Even if he can tolerate more punishment than normal, the fight can still be easily lost due to points. If he can stay mindful to protect that right side, he can avoid being number crunched by the judges.
-The counter-punch game is key. Those fists of his must always stay moving. He has the toughness to take a punch, and the good sense to make his foe pay a penalty for every blow landed.
