Sunday 28 August 2016 08:27, UK
What is a boxer thinking in the build-up to a big fight? Are they getting pumped up or relaxing? What are they eating? Who do they call for a last-minute boost?
Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko may be serenading each other in Germany, but before their heavyweight world title fight, there are bigger boxing headlines awaiting at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on Thursday night.
Sky Academy Sports Scholars Savannah Marshall and Jack Bateson are back in the ring for the GB Boxing Championship as selection for the Rio Olympics hots up.
Marshall (middleweight) takes on Natasha Gale, while Bateson (flyweight) faces Romanian Ionita Alexandru after injured Muhammad Ali withdrew. So how do Marshall and Bateson prepare for showtime?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WITH 24 HOURS TO GO?
Jack: Staying relaxed and focused on the job in hand. I like to think all the hard work is done and competing is the fun part of the sport so I enjoy it.
Savannah: I am mainly thinking about what I am doing at that moment. I don't think about the job in hand until I have to.
DO YOU VISIT THE ARENA BEFORE THE FIGHT?
Jack: Yes. It's nice to have a walk around the venue on arrival so you can go through what you want to happen in your head and visualise what's going to happen in the fight.
Savannah: I always visit the fight arena before I box if it is possible, although sometimes the venue is miles away from where we stay.
WHO DO YOU SPEND TIME WITH IN THE FINAL BUILD-UP?
Jack: I like to get in the zone with about an hour to go - just me and my coaches so I can get my full concentration on the fight.
Savannah: I like to keep myself busy before a fight. If that means spending times with friends then that's what I will do.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WEIGH-IN? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT?
Jack: If you're overweight the fight doesn't happen. I've never failed the weight but you'd get the weight off if possible with a work-out. The weigh-in is on the morning of the fight, usually 8am. Plenty of time to fuel up and get all the electrolytes and nutrients back into your body.
The day before weigh-in, fluid is minimal and you try to cut out the carbs. As soon as I've weighed in I drink plenty of fluids with electrolytes and good slow release carbs.
ANY TRAINING IN THE BUILD-UP?
Jack: No training is needed if your weight is OK. Your body should be well rested and you should be eager to get in and compete. Some people like to hit the pads to make them feel sharp.
Savannah: I don't do any training on the final day. I just like to relax and focus on what I've got to do.
IS IT EASY TO RELAX IN THE FINAL HOURS? DO YOU EVER NEED TO GET PUMPED UP?
Jack: All the hard work is done and so it's comforting knowing you can't do anymore than what you have and the hard work will pay off. I don't need to find ways to get pumped up. As soon as the bell rings and your opponent tries knocking lumps out of you, you soon wake up!
Savannah: My way of relaxing before a fight is just focusing on what I'm doing in the present moment. Maybe watch a film or go for a walk with my team-mates.
DO YOU ANALYSE YOUR OPPONENT WITH YOUR COACH?
Jack: Yes, and if we have footage of the opponent we sit through it and do video analysis.
Savannah: The morning of the fight we have a video brief where we watch our opponent and go through tactics. The tactics change with each opponent. For example, if the opponent struggles with fighting on the back foot then I would be more aggressive and try to push them back.
ANY MUSIC TO HELP PREPARATION?
Jack: I listen to RnB, Hip Hop, Reggae. It helps me relax or get pumped up.
ANY LAST MINUTE CALLS FOR CONFIDENCE BOOSTS?
Jack: I like to ring my old man before I leave for the venue. He always inspires me to do the business.
Savannah: I work closely with my psychologist Dave Collins. If ever I need a boost he is the man. He just reminds me who I am and what I have go to do to keep my focus. I don't want to go into too much detail - it's top secret!
ANY PRE-FIGHT SUPERSTITIONS?
Savannah: I don't have any rituals before a fight. I used to wear the same boots every time I fought but I got myself out of that.
WHEN DO YOU GET TO THE ARENA?
Jack: I like to be there at least an hour before my fight. I wouldn't like to sit around all day at the venue playing the waiting game. Time goes by slowly when you're looking forward to getting in there.
Savannah: I like to get to the arena when I need to. I don't like waiting around when I don't have too.
WHAT STATE ARE YOU IN WHEN YOU GET CHANGED?
Jack: Once your kits on, you sit down and get your hands wrapped. Warm-up then begins before a smack of the pads so you feel sharp and get your heart pumping. Then it's time - you're ready to go to war.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU WALK OUT?
Jack: I'm in my zone, I'm focused with my eyes on the job and the opponent in front of me. At the end of the day, that's all that matters and he's the only thing standing in the way of winning.
Savannah: When I walk towards the ring I am just thinking about the job in hand.
...AND WHEN THE BELL FINALLY GOES?
Jack: You're not thinking about anything - you're just in the zone. Everything becomes clear and flows.
Savannah: When that bell rings I am just thinking about what I have to do. The tactics and what I am good at.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS
NOVEMBER 28: Jess Judd, European Cross Country Championship trials
NOVEMBER 21-29: Sam Oldham, Tokyo training camp
NOVEMBER 31: Elise Christie, World Cup Shanghai
25 NOV-DEC 21: Holly Bradshaw, South Africa training camp
