I had been down to fight a guy at 67kg in the Colours competitions on Tuesday against the local university. I'd been losing weight to get down to 67kg to make the weigh in and it was going to be my first competitive fight. In my club I had been sparring against guys 1, 2 and 3 weight classes above me and been doing well. I've only been boxing since the first week of November. The only problem I've had is my fitness, I slack off in the last 30 of the 2nd round and then can't really cope in the third round. But the guys were telling me I'd win on my first round. Even if I lost I was still happy to fight.

Today I found out I'm not fighting on Tuesday. One of the coaches told me he wanted everyone to have a good first fight. For it to be an enjoyable fight. He said I showed up and wasnt able to throw a left jab and I've come on in strides and am a very technical boxer. He let me spar tonight.

I had to spar a girl who will be competing in my weight class on Tuesday and has been boxing for 2 years. I stepped in the ring wondering whether I should go easy or show her a fight like she would want. So I saw her as a sports woman and decided to do my best. I can't imagine there being a difference between the standard of a male boxer and a female boxer. And the guys always fight the girls in my club, so it was nothing special.

Anyway, I threw about 3 jabs and then caught her in the cheek with the right and she had to stop. That was the first time I ever hit a girl. And the coach stops us and says 'Right there's a big weight difference' implying I'm heavier which is why I'm just all over her and he tells me just to throw at jabs. Which I do. Then he stops and tells me just to put my guard and walk around while she hits at me. Thats all I did. The coach asked how much we weighed I said 67 and she said 69 so she was in fact heavier than me. We were the same height. She was more experienced. And yet I won in the first 5 seconds....and I'm not competing.

Anyway she came up to me afterwards and said 'You were fucking brilliant. I couldn't get a punch in. How long have you been boxing?'

I say 'since November'

She says:

'Is that all. You're gonna win on Tuesday, you know that?'

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Punctured bicycle on a hillside, desolate,
Could nature make a man of me yet?