The things no one tells you.

The bright lights, the money, the girls, the glory, we only see parts of the worlds toughest sport. We don’t really get to see what its like to be a boxer or what they go through.

Former EBU British Light Heavyweight Champion, Josh Stanley, tells us the things he didn’t know before starting out. The retired former Champion is now a trainer.

Winning is addictive .

People start boxing for different reasons. Getting bullied, want to be fit, friend boxes or parents make them. But once you get good and start winning, its hard to ever walk away. Nothing will ever compare to that feeling. You get hooked.

Its depressing.

December and its 5am. You want to be tucked up in bed. You see its raining and the house is cold, its colder outside. You need to go running, but its the last thing you want. All you pals are going out on a lads night out. not you though, you are tucked up in bed. Recovery is important. You will miss out on so much.

Training is always hard, that’s the point.

I remember my first day in the gym. I didn’t do much, I couldn’t. After 10 minutes I was sick. It was, and still is hard. You would think it gets easier, it doesn’t. You go from sparring 2 rounds, to 3,4,5,6….. and so on. before you know it, you are running 6 miles in the morning. Then training for 5 hours throughout the day.

Friends reveal who they are.

Boxers have after parties. They are great. After months of hard work you get to let your hair down. When you win, the party is awesome. The girls want to talk to you and the blokes want to buy you a drink. I remember my first loss. 20 people came to my after party. They fight before that had 350. Everyone wants to be around the winner. 

Raymond Farmer