The final day of April is reserved for two high-profile matchups: Shakur Stevenson-Oscar Valdez to unify two junior lightweight titles, and Katie Taylor defending her undisputed lightweight championship against Amanda Serrano. The matchup presents another chance for Alvarez to claim a light heavyweight title. In his lone fight at 175 pounds, Alvarez struggled with Sergey Kovalev before he scored a brutal 11th-round KO. Nothing will get you hit faster in there than a distracted mind. You can’t take your mind off sparring for even a second in the ring. You have to protect yourself at all times, keep your guard up, and move your head.

Even though there are unspoken rules in sparring, sparring partners should ideally still have a verbal agreement before every session about how hard to go. Valdez has never lost, but he has been dropped. If Stevenson can finish him off inside the distance, it would be a big statement and a warning to the rest of the division as well as the elite fighters one division up, at lightweight. There is also no better exercise to build both strength and endurance in your shoulders and arms. Speed balls use so many of the arms muscles and even more so in the shoulder as you constantly keep your arms elevated while using the speed ball. Agreeing on a set intensity for a sparring session is important in keeping the action under control. It helps prevent things from getting heated, and from those sparring to lose their composure.A win for Alvarez would also set the stage for the long-awaited trilogy matchup with Gennadiy Golovkin, but this time, for undisputed status at 168 pounds. A victory over Bivol would also prove, once again, that Canelo is the unquestioned No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, a man who isn't bound by weight classes. Sparring should also be a mere tool for you to test your techniques in real fight situations, especially for beginners. Advanced fighters are used to going all out in sparring, and that’s not the kind of sparring you want when you’re just starting out. You also want your mind to be clear of distractions. Mental preparation is key to having a good sparring session. You don’t want to step into the ring with other matters clouding your mind. Egan, Pierce (1829). Boxiana, Or, Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism: Comprising the Only Original and Complete Lives of the Boxers. Vol.2. London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones. pp.300–311. It is not that one is better than the other, they both serve very different purposes in boxing training. A reflex bag has far more movement than a heavy bag and is more focused on the movement and defence of a fighter. A heavy bag on the other hand is amazing for working things like combinations and power.

One of the most iconic pieces of boxing training equipment is the punching bag. These simulate a competitor and allow you to hone the style and way you approach a fight. It’s highly recommended to have all of these pieces of equipment for sparring sessions. Don’t go in there trying to be a hero. This time around, Charlo won't have the benefit of the hometown fans (the encore encounter is in Los Angeles). However, Charlo is 1-0 in rematches. He dropped a controversial decision to Tony Harrison in 2018 but avenged the defeat via TKO one year later.Martinez is the WBC flyweight champion and ESPN's No. 1 boxer in the division. His explosive punching power combined with a frenetic fighting style have established him as one of the sport's most reliable action fighters. Gonzalez, of course, is a future Hall of Famer who is always in fun-filled brawls. His rematch with Estrada last year was one of the best bouts of 2021; they broke the CompuBox record for punches thrown in a fight at 115 pounds with over 2,500 combined shots.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a short story, "The Lord of Falconbridge", with Spring as the protagonist. Of course, the most important of all is to enjoy the process. Sparring may be a daunting task in the beginning, but once you understand it for what it truly is, you will begin to experience the fun in it.Taylor is one of the best boxers in the world ( ESPN's pound-for-pound No. 7 boxer) and this figures to be a clear victory for the Scot. Catterall is undefeated and skilled, but he's unproven on this level.

If you are looking to improve your hand speed and endurance then look no further than a speedball. Speedballs have been a favourite of professional fights for hundreds of years. This is because their complexity and technicality help fighters to improve their hand speed, hand-eye coordination, reaction time and so many other hugely important skills. Better still, the fight will headline a card at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York, and it figures to set the record (and a high bar moving forward) for live gate at a women's fight. Promoters Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul are pushing the fight hard, and the action in the ring should be just as good. Martinez, too, is known for letting his fists fly, and chances are he will do the same in his greatest opportunity for exposure in his career to date. A victory over the legend, and Martinez will shoot to stardom at the lower weights. For Gonzalez, it's a chance to add another chapter to his storied legacy and preserve the value and interest in a trilogy fight against Estrada. Punching balls are a fantastic alternative to the classic, full-sized punching bags and offer a great space-saving solution to boost your boxing performance and fitness for less. Decathlon’s range of punching balls on stands are easy to assemble, store and move around your home gym and are the go-to for those looking for some extra convenience. Boxing Reflex Ball Roman Gonzalez vs. Julio Cesar Martinez Roman Gonzalez, left, will face flyweight champion Julio Cesar Ramirez in a junior bantamweight bout. Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty ImagesOur range includes products from many leading brands, giving you plenty of options from which to choose. These include Everlast punching bags, as well as options from the likes of BBE Boxing, Pro Box, Ringside and Lonsdale. The core essence of sparring is to make you and your partner accustomed to the ebb and flow of a real fight. It’s designed to mimic specific circumstances and situations you will face either in the ring or in real life, so that you know exactly what to do when the time comes to put your skills to use.