Anger

 “Anger provides the No. 1 difference between a fist-fight and a boxing bout. Anger is an unwelcome guest in any department of boxing. From the first time a chap draws on gloves as a beginner, he is taught to “keep his temper” - never to “lose his head.” When a boxer gives way to anger, he becomes a “natural” fighter who tosses science into the bucket. When that occurs in the amateur or professional ring, the long-head fighter leaves himself open and becomes an easy target for a sharpshooting opponent. Because an angry fighter usually is a helpless fighter in the ring, many prominent professionals tried to taunt fiery opponents into losing their heads and “opening up.” Anger rarely flares in a boxing match.” (Dempsey, Jack. “5.” Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2015, pp. 20–20. ) 

Written by Jack Dempsey over 70 years ago, there are many things outdated. Such as the word “chap” and the lack of reference to female fighters, which are welcome changes to the boxing world. But the one thing outdated that shouldn’t be is the message: ‘anger rarely flares up in a boxing match.’ Anger frequently flares up for numerous fighters, and sometimes encouraged by coaches! In this I agree with Dempsey, to not let anger be a guest star in the ring.

I agree with Dempsey’s assessment that anger can cause a fighter to lose sight of strategy and open up to an opponent’s attacks, but that is not always the case. I have also seen fighters get angry and channel that anger into effect boxing. But just because it is effective, should it be utilized? I believe it should be avoided at all costs. To give into anger in the ring is to let a negative emotion control you, not only risking the well being of your opponent, but your own emotional well being. I have known many fighters who after losing a match, or being beaten during sparring, develop a vendetta against a certain individual. This motivates them to get back in the ring with that person, in order to prove their worth, or in other words, justify their ego. But at the end of the day, leaving the ring and letting another person get under your skin to cause such lasting anger creates a different type of loss. You have lost power to this opponent, power of your thoughts, of your time and emotional energy. This opponent that beat you gave you valuable information: information about how to improve and get better. Or the poor judgement of refs or judges in an official match gives you future insight into how to work the system next time. A favorite quote of mine about revenge: Revenge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. The anger produced against another boxer can create motivation, but at what expense? 

Another aspect of anger is instinctual anger. It is natural to get hit and immediately feel the click to retaliate: to hit back even harder. This isn’t a horrible reaction, for in a fight it can be a valuable tool to react quickly and effectively. But we should not let this instinct overcome us to the point of turning into the hulk, swinging wildly and losing sight of the game. As humans, we can override this response, controlling our actions and emotional jerks. And I honestly see this as a beautiful aspect of boxing: the ability to control our base instincts in the middle of a fight, so that we can see and think clearly. If we can control our knee jerk reactions in the ring, when our physical well being is threaten to an extent, we can control our reactions to friends, family and coworkers. Boxing is giving us a valuable tool for everyday life.