Final count….

So, a long enough gap in training, writing, painting, drawing….anything other than indulging.

Back in the ring

But its time to catch up now…..

Christmas saw me getting out of London into the mountains and the warmth of close friends and log fires. A million miles from city stress and dog-shit pavements. Good food and good walking, good air and no fighting.

On my return south, it appeared that another young pugilist was after mixing it up with me. I felt bad for my previous opponent for not having met him in competition, but also that I had missed out on a third fight. Funny tho’….the thought of entering another 8 weeks of training is monumental. The right food, the sleep, the focus….but I feel destined to do it once again.Along with all this knee trembling and posturing is the progress I have made with Sam and his magic camera..the footage we’ve been shooting just rocks, and we’re along way into producing a beautiful piece of film. At least one that evokes an appropriate aesthetic for all this obsessive research.

I’m looking at this new fight opportunity to be a finale of sorts. My own life needs to establish some security and consistency. This global recession is playing havoc with my debts….I need to get away from London, live a different life. I may have gone by summer, so the boxing will be the first thing to suffer. I cant see the boxing gyms of the deep north-west taking  to the pale, skinny southern bastard old man-who-thinks-he-can-box too kindly…and to be honest, much as I love the squared ring, do I really need to continue being punched in the head? Where could it all end.So the final count has begun. My opponent, due to enter the ring on the night of 20th March 2009, is from Essex. He’s 23, 5′8″, 60kg. I am 41, 5′7″ and 58kg. Thats about as close as I’ve ever been matched…wish he was older, but hey-ho.

He boxes out of a different gym and I wont have the pleasure of meeting him till the fight. This fact has rather dictated how I should prepare. I box well, and I move better than most. Where I am weak is age…..so conditioning will be paramount. Sprints, lunges, burpees, sparring, sprints, sprints…..

Right now I’m exhausted…..and sore.