3 Mistakes I Made in Boxing (So You Don’t Repeat Them)

Why This Matters

Every boxer looks back and thinks about what they would do differently. I was a national top 5 amateur and a respected professional prospect, but even with talent I made mistakes that slowed me down. If you can avoid them, you will progress faster and save yourself years of frustration.

Here are the three biggest mistakes I made, and how you can dodge them.

Mistake 1: Wasting Rounds on the Heavy Bag

I used to hit the bag with no plan. Random punches, no structure, just swinging until I got tired. It built bad habits and wasted years where I could have been building real fight skills.

The Fix

• Go into every round with a purpose (for example jab accuracy, counter shots, inside fighting).

• Track your rounds so you know you are improving, not just sweating.

• Add defence after every combo, never finish square.

👉 That is why I built the Heavy Bag Training Guide. It gives you 12 structured rounds with trackers so you never waste time on the bag again.

Mistake 2: Avoiding Sparring When I Felt Nervous

There were times I skipped sparring because I did not feel ready. The problem is you are never really ready. By waiting, I missed opportunities to sharpen my decision making under pressure.

The Fix

• Accept nerves as part of the process. Everyone feels them.

• Spar regularly, even when you do not feel sharp. That is where growth happens.

• Go in with one simple goal each session, not to win the spar.

👉 My Sparring Survival Guide breaks down how to deal with every type of sparring partner: southpaws, brawlers, slick movers, pressure fighters and big punchers.

Mistake 3: Training Without a System

When I was not with a coach, I drifted. I would shadowbox a bit, hit the bag, maybe run, but without structure my progress stalled. I was working hard, but not smart.

The Fix

• Use a training plan, not guesswork.

• Balance skills, conditioning and mindset every week.

• Review your progress so you are not just going through the motions.

👉 That is exactly what the Training Without a Trainer 6-Week Plan delivers. A full self-coaching framework to keep you moving forward even if you are training alone.

Final Thoughts

Every fighter makes mistakes. What matters is whether you learn from them. Do not waste rounds, do not hide from sparring, and do not drift without structure. Master these lessons now and you will build a career, or a training journey, you can be proud of.

Explore the Marksman Digital Hub for more boxing guides and bundles designed to help fighters avoid the pitfalls I learned the hard way.