So after the PAC/bradley weigh-in, I decided to ride by the gym. Their was a white lambo outside and the parking lot was packed so I knew he was here. I was able to get in and at that point it was on.
The gym was cool, was a lot of people there, and boxers working out. Shortly after, I saw SR walk in. Sr is pretty fit, and looks better in person, as in living a healthy lifestyle. I met him, took a photo, and then asked him about a few boxing moves that I always see him do when training others, but never knew the value. So he explained it to me and had me do some drills to make sure I comprehended. Very cool person. He is fast as hell. It's always good to see the old boxers like him, SRL, etc... still retain speed and skills.
When Floyd entered, he ordered all doors to be closed, which immediately made the gym scorching hot. He put on his gloves and went straight to the ring for sparing. No warm ups or shadow boxing, just straight to sparring. The music shut off and as the sparring partner was getting ready, everyone starting beating the ring apron. It really intensifies the atmosphere. The first guy he sparred fights at 168 and was probably close to 180. you could see the difference in size quite easily. The big guy was tagging floyd well in which his dad started giving instructions to floyd. Floyd responded that he was going to break him down for a little bit then he will get him. Rd 1, 15 mins later went to the challenger.
Now as big of a fan of Floyd's as I am, I always called "bullshyt" when watching all access or 24/7, because in my mind floyd "isn't busting a grape in a fruit fight" much less making someone bleed. I said it was all theatrics for show. I stand corrected. Imagine when a lion is stalking really slowly then pounces...that's what floyd resembled when he stalked this guy and threw a laser right hand. When it connected blood went everywhere. Floyd laid some vicious jabs to the body, and later started firing some gatti combos. He fought in the pocket the whole time toe to toe.
In contrast, with his next sparring partner who was a smaller faster guy, he fought him on the move.
Sparring Summary:
I kinda wish Floyd fought the way he spars...this guy is so ruthless and vicious in the ring. To see his combos us close was a thing of beauty. I watch a lot of his fights and you can see how he sets things up but that's also only because it is what the camera view showed, but to see it in person so closely, I gained a different understanding about things I interpreted a certain way from TV viewing. I was truly impressed by his footwork. So light footed...once again seeing it in person up close is so much better.
Than I expected from TV. I was so drawn into it I almost yelled "hit that muthafukka, he is right there", but his foot work is so subtle. I remember I used to say "you can tell when he is going to throw a RT hand or a pull counter by the way he positions his foot; on TV you can definitely tell, but in person, hell no. You have no time to think. After the first rd first guy, Floyd, yelled "anybody can win rd one, now let's see what's going to happen down the stretch."
He sparred 2 guys, 3 rds, 15 mins per rd. The breaks lasted in the amount of time it took floyd to change headgear. Not long
He hopped out of the ring and went straight to the heavy bag for 35 good minutes. Floyd is very attentive...he was focused on the bag but could see everything that everyone was doing as if he was security. He was clearly agitated when don king walked in and started calling floyd "the greatest"
He hit the bag nonstop...The only break he took was to stop and talk to the bag..."maidana, why you do that to broner, why you do that to broner, why you beat the hell outta that fake ass me? I'm going to show you how it is done?" He looked directly into the camera and yelled, "I don't give a fukk"
From there he went straight to the ring for mitt work and body bag work. 30 mins.
Speed bag for 5 mins, jump rope, weights and push-ups for 30 mins.
G
He then went to the ring and did ab work for 20 mins and end with pull-ups and dips.
I was standing by his father and he walked over and said to his dad "it hurts"
His father responded, "you are doing well" in which floyd walked back to the pull-up bar and did 10 dead hang pull-ups before retiring to the locker room. His encourage to include the women all were hard at work ensure that he would move from station to station with no lull between exercises...everyone was so engaged and it was well organized.
I have been to toccoa gym as well as Wild Card and now I must join the crowd of pros whom says that they have never seen anything like the way floyd trains. It is not a knock on any other because they all work hard but there is truly levels to it and floyd is on a different one. I have seen khan, malinaggi, PAC, toney, and RJJ train.
My highlight came at the end of the night when he was trying to hurry to get to the hall of fame induction, I was standing on the other side of the car, and as he was moving to get in the car, he saw me holding a copy of the black enterprise magazine with him on the cover and he walked all the way around and up to me and asked me if I would like for him to sign it...of course I said yup and took a few photos. Great ending to the day.
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