Getting hit -- hard

As I train for my next tough man fight and reminisce about the path so far, my blogs will likely not be in any chronological order.  Today, let's talk about getting punched.

Post people haven't been in a fight in their adult life.  Fewer still have been in a fight sober.  Consequently, most people don't know what it feels like to get hit -- hard.  My first couple times in the ring sparring were playful affairs -- soft little punches to get the feel of things and build my confidence.  My third time in the ring, I took a real punch from my sparring partner. 

I'm not sure where it came from.  It looked kinda like a left upper cut -- and it broke my nose.  It was a fucking explosion of pain that radiated all the way through my skull, made my eyes tear, and sent blood flowing down my face.   At that moment, I gave serious consideration to ending my amateur boxing career with a record of 0-0.

"We got a bleeder," I heard one of the other boxers say.  The coach had him get some paper towels to squeeze my nose with for a moment to stem the flow of blood.  The coach asked if I wanted to quit.  I did want to, but I wasn't about to admit it.  I sparred for another round before going to the bathroom to clean up my face.  Punches subsequent to the one that bloodied me up had sent spatters of blood up to my forehead.

As I drove home from the gym that night, my head hurt, my face hurt, my nose was swelling, and I was already starting to get black and blue under my eyes.  But I felt strangely alive.