Three ways boxers get into the mindset for a fight

For boxing enthusiasts and even MMA fans who regularly engage in boxing and MMA betting online, understanding boxing psychology and the mental preparation of fighters can provide vital insights into their performance.

Boxing psychology – aim for success, but don’t avoid failure

Mauriely Colmenares wrote for the World Boxing Association about the importance of a fighter directing their motivation towards success. The idea of failure shouldn’t be avoided – almost every boxer is going to lose at some point. But the more successful boxers take a loss as an opportunity to improve their preparation for the next time they step in the ring.

In other words, the idea is to aim for success without fearing failure. This brings to mind the famous quote of Kwame Nkuramah: “The secret to life is to have no fear.” It’s a line recalled by Fela Kuti in his song ‘Fear Not For Man’. (The Nigerian musician has since had a direct influence on boxing when Anthony Joshua walked out to another of his songs, ‘Water Get No Enemy’.)

Another take on fear was one of Muhammad Ali’s many famous quotes, “We can’t be brave without fear.” Ali suggested that bravery wasn’t the absence of fear, but a fighter’s ability to act despite it. A boxer may be thinking about what will happen if he loses a fight, but if he is to be successful, he must act. Ali’s quote brings us to another important part of boxing psychology.

Understand the opponent

Before his fight with Sonny Liston, Ali researched his opponent extensively. In her book Mindset, Carol Dweck quoted Ali as saying he “read everything [he] could” about Liston. He talked with people who had met Liston. He would even lie in bed and think about what he’d been told and try to understand how Liston’s mind worked.

Boxing experts consider Liston to be the more physically gifted of the two fighters. Despite his immense success, Ali was not a natural boxer. He failed the so-called “tales of the tape”. If you judged a boxer by his fist, or his weight, his reach, his chest… Ali was not the greatest. But his mental strength, dedication and perseverance paid off. A big part of that was his research. He wanted to understand his opponent so that he could understand how to win.

Boxing psychology – practice mindfulness

Mindfulness and meditation have swept across the globe in the 21st century. Everyone from monks, armies and sportspeople have felt the benefits. Boxers are no different: the Olympian Vijender Singh spoke of his mindfulness practice and how it helped him focus “on the right things.” If a fighter is too focused on being punched, they can’t possibly concentrate on what will help them.

Singh wisely noted you don’t have to spend hours under a tree to feel the benefits. It only takes a few minutes. A boxer might choose to focus on his breath and notice his stomach expanding and contracting as they breathe in and out (that is, practice abdominal breathing). Or choose a positive affirmation, or simply shut their eyes and listen to a calming song. When a thought arises – and it will, because our minds like to drift – the idea is to simply notice it and let it go. Then you return to whatever your focus is: breath, mantra, or sound, for example.

For a boxer to win a fight, they often need to be on the top of their game physically, tactically, mentally and emotionally. It’s no wonder fighters like Ali have gone to great lengths to prepare.