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An African Spec offers lessons from boxing

I started boxing about four years ago as I thought it would be a good physical outlet and a break from gym and cycling. I started off slowly but have enjoyed it so much that I'm now at a level that I am used to spar with the pros at the gym when they have upcoming bouts.

Tonight I was knocked out by a young featherweight, 59kg. I weigh 79kg. My first in many rounds in front of a good crowd. Here is what I learned:

• Train hard and diligently; there is no easy route to success but repetition and hard work.

• Get the foundation right; if one's stance is not good, one's elbows tucked in and one's head not down you will not be balanced and will be an easy target.

• Learn from your mistakes or they will be exploited time and time again.

• Be humble and always respect one's opponent; bigger is almost never better.

• Don't force your punches; you will tire yourself out prematurely and make your opponent wearier. Your best punches always come when you aren't thinking about them, and aren't trying to throw them.

• Commit to your work; throw your combinations without thought of injury and they are more likely to succeed.

• Remember the law of ever changing cycles; this was my fourth session with this fighter and he worked me out; I didn't change my tactics and paid for it.

• Don't get in the ring when you don't feel like it (my blood sugar was low and I had this year's biggest and most numerous positions on).

• Pace yourself; the sport isn't about the knockout, it's about attrition and following the correct process; the knockout comes.

• Listen to good advice from your trainer and learn from others you respect, and remember you will get knocked out when you least expect it and when the most people are watching.